Careers

Mr S Moss: Director of Careers           
Email: smoss@tpc.academy        
Phone: 0208 590 3808     

Mrs John: Personal Careers Adviser (Prospects)

Providers, parents/carers & students: please contact Mr Moss by email or phone regarding any career education related enquiry.


Entitlement Statement

“Students to have the right information to make the right choice at the right time”

Careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) is an essential part of the support we offer to all students at The Palmer Catholic Academy. Effective CEIAG can help to prepare young people for the many opportunities, skills, responsibilities and experiences of life; it can help them to make informed decisions and manage transitions as learners to workers. As pathways for young people become more varied, we will support them to develop the knowledge and skills they need to make appropriate and informed choices for their future.

Personal Guidance

We offer all of our students the opportunity for independent and impartial careers advice and guidance through our work with Mrs John from Prospects. All students will receive at least three separate careers advice sessions at key transition points [Year 9 options, Year 11 Post-16 pathways and Year 13 post-18 pathways].  There is an opportunity for a ‘drop in’ advice session for any students who have further career related questions. Students and parents/carers are welcome to contact Mr Moss directly if they wish to discuss any careers questions or book additional careers advice.

Use the link below to gain more information on Prospects

http://www.prospects.co.uk/What-We-Do/Education-and-Learning/Careers-AdvicePlus

The academy has a dedicated Careers Library containing computer access to career related websites and a range of resources for students to conduct independent research into potential careers and courses.  The Careers Library is located in the Kolbe building.

Parents/carers and students can use the National Careers Service website to investigate potential careers further by using the link below or call free on 0800 100 900 Support is available by phone, online, email and text for anyone aged 13 and over.

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/

GET INVOLVED:  Students and parents/carers are welcome to contact Mr Moss in advance to arrange ‘drop in’ sessions during lunch times.

Career and Labour Market Information [LMI]

In an ever-changing economic environment it is important to stay informed and up-to-date about labour market information (LMI). 

The website below gives up-to-date LMI for students, parents/carers and teachers.  Search for any LA from the drop-down list.

https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/contents.aspx

To gain specific information on an industry, use the link below to Career Smart. It has a wealth of information on pay, jobs with the longest and shortest working weeks with a breakdown of employment in each sector for all the standard occupational roles.

https://careersmart.org.uk/industries

Parents/carers that want to find out more about careers and how to help their child(ren), use the link below to iCould.  Their online guides regarding key decision points outline the options open at each key stage and feature information to help inform your child(ren)’s decision-making.  The second link allows parents/carers and students to explore potential careers.

https://icould.com/information-for-parents

https://icould.com/explore

Schools, parents/carers and students can use Skills Match to foster a new learning and training infrastructure that will accommodate the requirements of the new areas of growth at a geographically specific level.

http://skillsmatch.intelligentlondon.org.uk/schools_colleges

Specific career and LMI related lessons take place within our PSHE programme.

KS3

Year 7 students will understand the essential skills that are required for the workplace and will plan how to ensure they will meet these skills during their time at the academy.  All students will conduct a personality career test to identify how their personal attributes could lead to an appropriate career path.  All students will have a clear understanding of transitional points and how they will be supported during these key times.  Year 8 students will understand and challenge stereotypes within the workplace, such as girls and STEM related industries and will understand the link between education, skills and pay levels.  Year 9, students and parents/carers will be given key information regarding options and career pathways.  They will gain an understanding of the role of money as a motivator and the importance of personal financial management, including pay, credit & the impact of debt.

KS4

In Year 10, students will understand and challenge discrimination in the workplace and understand the importance of equality.  Year 10 students will understand and challenge topical workplace issues such as ‘The Glass Ceiling’ and ‘The Gender Pay Gap’.  In Year 11, students will gain key information on potential Post-16 pathways and develop with the support of our careers advisor their own action plans to map out their priorities and potential career paths.

KS5

Sixth Form students will gain an insight into degree related careers and apprenticeship led careers.  They will be fully guided throughout their UCAS applications and Apprenticeship applications.  All Year 13 students will receive careers guidance for their Post-18 choices.

Careers and the Curriculum

All teachers at the academy will highlight potential careers within their subjects.  At key transition points [Year 9 GCSE options, Year 11 Post-16 and Year 13 Post-18] teachers deliver subject specific career led lessons outlining the range of pathways available.  All students are required to choose GCSE’s within the set option ‘blocks’ to ensure that a wide range of subjects are studied so that a wide range of career choices are available in the future.  Option booklets outline the range of careers available and a parents’ evening for Year 9 options gives parents/carers the opportunity to discuss subject based careers.  Specific topics covered throughout the whole curriculum are enhanced with particular workplace skills and linked to a wide variety of job roles that are appropriate to the content.

Our STEM coordinator, Mrs Waterhouse, delivers a range of activities and events to support the development of STEM skills, up-to-date information and STEM careers, targeting all students and in particular encouraging more girls into STEM based careers.

Encounters with employers and employees

At the academy every student will have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. 

Guest Speakers

We have welcomed a number of inspirational speakers to the academy, such as Hassan Salim [MAN], Toby Jones [Actor], Ben DePear [Channel 4 News Editor], Benita Refson OBE [President of Place2Be] and Dale Morgan [Entrepreneur].

Our partnership with LEANEAST has enabled us to access a wide range of virtual encounters with our students, such as the NHS and the tech industry.

GET INVOLVED: We welcome employer/employee guest speakers to our academy to engage with our students.  Please contact Mr Moss if you are interested.

Futures Day

All Year 11 students take part in our Futures Day.  This comprises a number of workshops where students gain understanding of a range of workplace skills and the pathways available to them.  We have a regular team of providers who facilitate engaging activities.  We welcome to our academy a range of guest speakers, Unite Union, Apprenticeship Skills, Barclays Life Skills to deliver aspects of our Futures Day.

London Spring UK University & Apprenticeship Fair

We visit the annual event ‘London Spring UK University & Apprenticeship Fair’ with our Year 12 students (and select Year 11 and Year 13 students who have shown an interest in Apprenticeships).  This event hosts a range of exhibitors with the opportunity to speak to a multitude of exhibiting universities and apprenticeship providers. These will include; Russell Group, red brick and modern institutions, as well as apprenticeship providers and local colleges.

Use the link below to gain more information on London Spring UK University & Apprenticeship Fair

https://www.ukuniversitysearch.com/

Addressing the needs of each student

All students have at least three impartial careers advice sessions led by Mrs John from Prospects.  Students are supported through targeted careers advice based on their career interest or industry type.  Students with additional needs or are at risk are allocated additional one-to-one careers advice sessions to ensure that they choose the correct pathway for their own career aims with the additional support of our SENCo and LA.

Our mentoring team, led by Mr Datson, with the support of Mrs Alexander and Mrs Millbery, support our students through a range of programmes. 

Next Gen Leadership Programme

This focus group programme is led by the mentoring team and builds the essential workplace skills that are required.  The programme consists of developing self-confidence, role-modelling, leadership and presentation skills.

West Ham Foundation

The focus group programme, led by Mr Datson, is aimed to develop social enterprise within the community.  Team working, leadership, collaboration and self-confidence and, of course, coaching skills which are built over a number of sessions over a year.

For more information on the West Ham Foundation please use the link below.

https://www.whufc.com/club-foundation/foundation

London Citizens Programme

Led by our mentoring team, this programme cultivates a wide range of skills and is based on community improvement projects.  Our selected students get the opportunity to negotiate with local councillors on community priorities and lead on campaigns to improve the local community.

National Citizen Service (NCS)

We are a NCS Champion School (Gold Award).  Each year we invite NCS to present to our Year 11 students the benefits of participating in the NCS summer programme.  On this programme, students can meet new people and make a positive difference where they live.

For more information on the National Citizen Service please use the link below.

https://wearencs.com/what-is-ncs

Sports Leadership Programme

Led by the PE department, this programme gains essential workplace skills such as leadership, planning, implementation, confidence and coaching.  Students develop a range of activities to deliver at our local Primary School.  This can lead to formally recognised leadership awards and qualifications. “94% of students felt more employable” [www.sportsleaders.org].

For more information on the Sports Leadership Programme please use the link below.

https://www.sportsleaders.org/

Experiences of workplaces

Work Experience

All Year 12 Students embark on 2-weeks work experience.  Students have found it valuable in a number of ways. It may be that they would like to work in an area that they are considering as a career choice or is related to their UCAS applications.  Students are encouraged and supported in finding their own placements or can use our providers ‘The Business Education Partnership’ [BEP] to source a suitable placement.

We expect all 6th form students to sign up to the Speakers for Schools programme to gain independent access to a wide range of speakers, events and online work experience programmes.  To find out more please use the link below.

https://www.speakersforschools.org/

Covid has challenged access to the workplace.  This has been replaced by many opportunities for virtual work experience programmes such as through Speakers for Schools.  We have delivered a range of industry related virtual work experiences, such as St. James Place Wealth management, Microsoft and IBM.

Relevant Work Experience will provide your child a chance to: 

  • Help personal and social development & develop key skills in a work environment
  • Improve employability by searching for an own placement - linked to their chosen career
  • Learn about the world of work
  • Meet new people and find out what it means to work as a team
  • Take responsibility for their own actions

GET INVOLVED:  We welcome employers to offer work placements for our students.  Please contact Mr Moss if you wish to offer a work placement. All workplaces must have employee liability insurance.

Use the link below for more information about The Business and Enterprise Partnership.

http://bepgroup.net/site/

Encounters with Further and Higher Education

Students have meaningful encounters with providers to cover a wide range of ways our students can learn about their Post-16 and Post-18 school options. Our Careers Day covers the many pathways that students can take after Year 11 including Apprenticeships and colleges.  We invite New City College into our academy to promote their college to our students.  At risk students are supported through visits to local colleges through our SENCo lead.

At 6th Form, students visit two universities, Anglia Ruskin University and the University of Kent for a number of workshops to gain an understanding of the application process, financial burdens and University life. 

All Year 13 students are supported through the UCAS application process and are allocated a form mentor to develop their personal statements. All students are allowed two independently arranged visits to their top two UCAS choices. 

If you would like a more detailed plan of your child(ren)’s career programme, please contact Mr Moss.

We believe our careers education and guidance programme will enable students to:

  • Enhance self-development
  • Review skills, interests and priorities
  • Consider issues of equal opportunity and stereotypes
  • Identify what influences decision-making
  • Career exploration, including Apprenticeships
  • Consider work experience placements/options that suit their own skills, interests and priorities
  • Understand their rights and responsibilities in the workplace and who can help
  • Practice careers research skills
  • Understand the importance of gaining recognised qualifications
  • Judge the most appropriate routes after leaving school
  • Develop knowledge of finance issues and how this may shape your futures plans
  • Prepare and produce a CV
  • Apply for courses, training, apprenticeships or work
  • Recognise and practice good interview performance
  • Know where to get further help when you leave school

Our students' responsibility is to:

Be active in helping themselves as well as us helping them - visit the careers' library to find out more about a career idea that interests you, be prepared to be realistic when making choices about the range of opportunities available and carry out all actions they have agreed to undertake with us.  Contact Mr Moss if there are any concerns or extra support is needed.

Parents/carers can help by:

  • Attending all parents’ evenings to gain awareness of your child(ren)’s progress and attainment
  • Encouraging your child to try out new activities such as joining school and out-of-school activities
  • Giving option and career advice without pressure
  • Encouraging friends/family to talk about their experience of work
  • Take part in the Year 9 survey to discuss potential career paths for your child(ren)
  • Attend open evenings and options evening to discuss with teachers potential career paths
  • Volunteer to share your experiences at our academy by contacting Mr Moss

Useful websites for careers and Further/Higher Education information

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/careers

https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles

https://www.careersbox.co.uk/

https://www.ucas.com/

https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

https://www.ncclondon.ac.uk/redbridge

https://icould.com/explore

They learn new knowledge with confidence
Ofsted Report