Careers Education
St Mary’s Catholic High School is committed to providing all our students with a comprehensive programme of careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) and work-related learning (WRL). We believe that giving students the best careers education and guidance is vital to improving their motivation to learn and helps them to achieve.
We are committed to ensuring that students have high quality advice on career opportunities and that they progress onto appropriate courses or employment on leaving the school. It is very important to us to know that all leavers have a plan for their next step.
Student destinations
St Mary's Catholic High School is an 11-16 school. Students are prepared for the next stage of their educational/career journey, with most continuing to local sixth form colleges, school sixth forms or colleges of further education.
One of Government's measures for assessing the effectiveness of a school is Year 11 leavers who are considered to be NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training).
At our school, we are pleased to report that the number of year 11 leavers who are considered to be NEET students is:
2020 - 1.8%; 2019 - 5%; 2018 - 5%
2021 - 0% (currently)
The 2020 national average is 6.8%
Aims:
Through our Careers programme we aim to provide all students with:
- a stable careers education programme
- the ability to learning from career and labour market information
- support which addresses the needs of each pupil
- the opportunity to meet employers and for work experience
- experiences of workplaces
- curriculum links to real-world careers
- information on all post-16 options (apprenticeships as well as further education)
- encounters with further and higher education
- support in CV writing, interview preparation, public speaking and financial awareness.
Our school is committed to achieving The Gatsby Benchmarks through a well-planned careers programme for all students.
Curriculum Overview
The Careers Education programme is delivered both in and outside the classroom environment. The school's PSHE curriculum includes units of work for ll students in Years 7 to 11 which are age-specific and appropriate to the educational stage of students development.
In addition to the PSHE curriculum students will have access to a wide range of experiences which will enhance their understanding of further education and the world of work. These include:
- Work Experience for all students in Year 10
- Mock interviews with local employers e.g. Mott McDonald, Croydon
- St Mary's annual Careers Fair
- STEM enrichment activities
- Jack Petchey's SPEAKOUT! Challenge
- Mock Bar Competition
- Visits to post-16 providers - e.g. Christ the King Sixth Form College
- Visits to Higher Education - e.g. St Mary's University, Twickenham
- Engagement with the National Citizenship Service
Key Stage 3
Year 7
Developing skills and aspirations - careers, teamwork and enterprise skills, and raising aspirations
Students Learn:
- how to be enterprising, including skills of problem-solving, communication, teamwork, leadership, risk-management, and creativity
- about a broad range of careers and the abilities and qualities required for different careers about equality of opportunity
- how to challenge stereotypes, broaden their horizons and how to identify future career aspirations
- about the link between values and career choices
Year 8
Community and careers - equality of opportunity in careers and life choices, and different types and patterns of work
Students learn:
- about equality of opportunity in life and work
- how to challenge stereotypes and discrimination in relation to work and pay
- about employment, self-employment and voluntary work how to set aspirational goals for future careers and challenge expectations that limit choices
Year 9
Setting goals - learning strengths, career options and goal setting as part of the GCSE options process
Students learn:
- about transferable skills, abilities and interests how to demonstrate strengths
- about different types of employment and career pathways how to manage feelings relating to future employment how to work towards aspirations and set meaningful, realistic goals for the future
- about GCSE and post-16 options skills for decision making
- about young people’s employment rights and responsibilities skills for enterprise and employability
- how to give and act upon constructive feedback
Key Stage 4
Year 10
Work experience - preparation for and evaluation of work experience and readiness for work
Students learn:
- how to evaluate strengths and interests in relation to career development
- about opportunities in learning and work strategies for overcoming challenges or adversity about responsibilities in the workplace
- how to manage practical problems and health and safety
- how to maintain a positive personal presence online
- how to evaluate and build on the learning from work experience
Year 11
Next steps - application processes, and skills for further education, employment and career progression (Living in the wider world)
Students learn:
- how to use feedback constructively when planning for the future
- how to set and achieve SMART targets
- effective revision techniques and strategies about options post-16 and career pathways
- about application processes, including writing CVs, personal statements and interview technique how to maximise employability, including managing online presence and taking opportunities to broaden experience
- about rights, responsibilities and challenges in relation to working part time whilst studying how to manage work/life balance.
Careers Education - Latest News from St Mary's
National Careers Week 2022 at St Mary's - Mar 2022
Year 11 Careers Event - Nov 2021
Former Head Girl Breea returns to inspire Year 10 students - Oct 2021
Year 11 Summer Term Careers Activities Success - July 2021
Useful Links
i could - careers videos, job information and ideas for your future
Success at School - choose your next steps
SACU - careers information for students, parents and teachers
Careers Companion - careers advice
Find an Apprenticeship - search and apply for an apprenticeship
How 2 Become - careers and educational information
All About Careers - wide ranging careers information and advice
First Careers - preparing young people for the world of work
Start - information on careers (guest user)
Please note: St Mary's Catholic High School is not responsible for the content of external websites.
Labour Market Information
Skills Match - London Labour Market Information
London Datastore - Labour Market Information
Nomis - Croydon Labour Market Information