Careers Policy Statement

Kirkby High School hope to develop engagement and aspiration of our young people through a variety of events, activities and talks.

Our Careers curriculum begins in year 7 where students are encouraged to consider their skills and personality to better understand the options that they might choose. This is supported by opportunities to engage with apprenticeships and Universities so that they can develop an understanding of what is possible. Students will be taken on a trip to a local university to raise their aspirations and given access to Unifrog, an incredible careers resource, so that they can begin to understand what careers would best suit their personality.

In year 8, students are given the opportunity to speak to a variety of experts including employers and college staff during our careers fair. Additionally they are able to engage in the ongoing activities during form time and PSHCE days. We hope by the end of year 8 they will have a detailed understanding of the breadth of careers that are available to them and what skills an employer might be looking for. In addition to this, year 8 students will embark on a trip to a local college so that they can consider what qualifications are available to them once leaving school.

In year 9 our young people make their subject choices and we encourage them to really reflect on their opportunities by providing a detailed choices curriculum with the support of Apprenticeships, University and College staff. Through our annual careers fair, our year 9 student will have the chance to meet representatives from local colleges and training providers that they can apply to when leaving KHS which will provide impartial guidance for all students. All year 9 students will also have an opportunity to visit another local university to showcase the range of higher education opportunities and courses that are available. We hope this will help to break down barriers to HE and help students realise that university is an option regardless of their current situation.

In year 10 our focus changes to developing aspirations and striving for achievement. In addition to the annual careers fair, students will have the opportunity to engage with representatives from a variety of colleges and universities as well as understand the various levels of apprenticeships on offer. The year 10 work experience will provide our young people with the opportunity to experience work places first hand, and are encouraged to seek a placement which is in line with their career aspirations. Finally, small groups will be offered the chance to gain 1:1 mentoring to further enhance/support their progress.

In year 11, students will be given the opportunity to receive a 1:1 interview with a member of staff from careers connect to discuss their plans for life after Kirkby High School. Here they can map out their career goals and the various routes to that career. Students will be guided by University and college admissions staff on CV and application writing as well as revision skills. In year 11, students’ form time and PSHCE days will focus primarily on their options in post-16 education and the application process.

Parents, staff and employers can access information of further and higher education as well as apprenticeships and training providers using the Unifrog website as well as using the links below.

Measuring Success

To ensure a successful careers curriculum, we review our programme annually every autumn Term. Additionally, we will measure the success of our careers programme against the Gatsby Benchmarks, a nationwide framework of guidelines that define the best careers provision in secondary schools.

Access Arrangements

Please refer to the provider access policy: https://kirkbyhighschool.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/KHS-provider-access-policy-statement-2021-22-1.pdf

Useful Links

Provider Access Policy

CIEAG Careers Policy 2022-23

Gatsby Benchmarks

Unifrog

Careers Connect

Information for Parents

https://investin.org/pages/parent-events?mc_cid=32f4493b14&mc_eid=cdc8272373

Employers

If you are an employer and would be interested in supporting our school, we would love to hear from you. Please use the contact details above to get in touch.

School and College Open Evenings

Remember, you can apply to as many colleges and 6^th forms as you want and delay making a decision about which one to go to, until you have your GCSE results. Some may have closing dates in spring but you should apply before Christmas anyway.

List includes sixth forms and colleges around Liverpool and nearby.

City of Liverpool College – Thurs 28^th September 2023 4pm – 6pm

www.liv-coll.ac.uk

Tel: 0151 252 3000

• Vauxhall Road campus - Construction and building services, Engineering, Motor Vehicle, Apprenticeships
• LEX campus - Health and Social Care, Childcare and Early Years, Sport and Uniformed Public Services, English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL)
• Arts Centre campus - Performing Arts, Music and Media, Fashion, Art and Design, Photography, Digital Academy
• Clarence Street campus - Sixth Form, A Levels and BTECs, GCSE programmes, Access to Higher Education
• Duke Street campus - Hair, Beauty and Aesthetics, Catering, Bakery and Hospitality, Travel and Tourism, Retail

Keep an eye on the below table which details the upcoming college open days.

If you are considering University after college it would still be useful to see what they have to offer. Here is a list of possible Universities in the area, so check the websites for details of virtual open evenings for each University.

University of Liverpool https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/

John Moores University https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/

Edge Hill University https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/

Liverpool Hope University https://www.hope.ac.uk/

Apprenticeships

There are many degree level apprenticeships you can apply for once 18

Apprenticeships: https://www.theapprenticeshiphub.co.uk/

Register for apprenticeship notifications: https://www.gov.uk/topic/further-education-skills/apprenticeships

Rate my Apprenticeships: https://www.ratemyapprenticeship.co.uk/

Construction Information:  https://mailchi.mp/successatschool/careers-in-engineering-your-complete-guide-1277051

Careers in Rail:  https://mailchi.mp/successatschool/careers-in-rail-1277047

In keeping with our commitment to provide students with outstanding careers guidance and tailored support when choosing their next step after school, we will now be using Unifrog; an award-winning, online careers platform. All students in Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, now have access to this excellent website.

The Unifrog platform is designed to support learners in making the most informed decisions about their futures and has a range of tools that are suitable for all year groups. Each student has their own personal account that provides a wide range of information related to their interests and aspirations.  Key features of the platform include:

• Exploring Pathways – personality quizzes, career and subject profiles, MOOCs and webinars
• Recording – self-reflection about extracurricular activities and key employability skills
• Opportunities – search tools showing live vacancies/courses/placements for apprenticeships, universities (in the UK and abroad), FE, virtual work experience and much more
• Applications – tools to help students build applications for a range of pathways (e.g., CVs, Personal Statements, Common App Essays)

Students access the platform by clicking a link in their welcome email, where they create a password and can begin using the platform. They login to Unifrog using their email address and password and they can do so from any computer, tablet or smartphone. We would encourage you to use the platform with your child so you can support them through the process of deciding their next step.

We have also set up a parent login so that you can use Unifrog as if you were a student yourself, allowing you to support your child throughout the process. The form code you need is: KRBYparents and you can sign up here: www.unifrog.org/code

Tasks will be set through MS Teams for students so that they can both familiarize themselves with the platform as well as utilize and access the information effectively.

For more information, go to www.unifrog.org or contact Mr Jackson

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