Careers and Further Education

HBHS Points of Contact for Careers

• Acting Careers Leader: Mrs L Wrigley | l.wrigley@hernebayhigh.org | 01227 361221
• School Governor with responsibility for Careers: Sandy Grant
• Independent Careers Advisor: Juliet Lasslett, Education Business Partnership Kent | http://www.ebpkent.co.uk

The team work to plan and deliver a Careers programme, which includes advice for pupils, parents and staff as well as employer engagement and support. Pupils are also supported in their "Career Planning" by Juliet Lasslett. We also receive support from the Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC) through the Kent and Medway Careers Hub via our Enterprise Co-ordinator.

The Enterprise Advisor Network (EAN) is supported by Kent County Council (The Education People) and Career and Enterprise Company, bringing employers and schools together.

We utilise tools such as 'Compass +' to measure our progress towards achieving the Gatsby Benchmarks (see below).

If you have any queries or would like to know more about our Careers Programme, please contact Mrs L Wrigley - l.wrigley@hernebayhigh.org

Careers and the wider world play a key role within the delivery of our PSHEE programme. Year 7 students look at their future aspirations, their interests, skills for jobs and thoughts about their dream jobs.  We encourage students to use a variety of web-based platforms, such as Unifrog, ucas.com, explore careers and the national careers service website, as well as accessing information from within our careers section in the Library Resource Centre in school. 

Year 8 look at learning skills, such as, active listening, confidence, teamwork and leadership as well as thinking about their future dream jobs.

Year 9 focus on financial decision making in PSHEE as well as receiving information and guidance regarding their option choices. Guidance is provided through, PSHEE, mentor and assemblies. Students should also be using unifrog to help plan their onward destinations. The tools within Unifrog look at career options.  We encourage students to also look at alternative platforms, such as Icould.com Buzz quiz - icould. Another platform to ensure students understand the local job sector is https://www.lmiforall.org.uk/cm2/and Labour Market Information - CXK

Year 10

Support is provided for Year 10 students in choosing their next steps. Assemblies are held and all students have access to one-to-one careers advice meetings with the school’s independent careers adviser, Mrs J Laslett.  Students should continue using Unifrog to research their career and subject options and also look at Pick a route | Informed Choices and CXK - CXK Careers Home - Page 1 - Created with Publitas.com In Term 5 students will begin to explore future opportunities and consider their applications for Post 16 routes as well as having access to the school’s careers section in the Learning Resource Library. 

Students usually have the opportunity to complete a Work Experience placement.

Curriculum areas continue to seek development links between a student’s studies and the world of work.

Year 11

Each year students receive advice and information from local colleges and Post 16 providers along with their one-to-one career’s advice meetings.  During these meetings each student will complete an action plan detailing their research, what they need to know, what they are considering for their Post 16 options.  This will include whether they need to make an application through  the www.kentchoices.com platform or direct to colleges. The KentChoices website (kentprospectus.co.uk) is an excellent wealth of information for students and parents. Students can also make use of the careers resources in the Learning Resource Centre. Another useful resource is CXK resources

All students receive ongoing support through their mentor, assemblies, careers advisers, weekly newsletters, PSHEE and unifrog.

Year 12, have several careers opportunities, ranging from the Life after 6^th Form talk, their Post 16 Pathways conference, which covers a range of information from apprenticeships, gap years, employability skills, CV writing, HE information, including Oxbridge and Russell Group as well as having alumni, industry speakers and workshops. Later in term 5 students can choose to experience being a student for a day at a local university and could attend the UCAS Discovery tour which will provide more information about Apprenticeships and Higher Education.  Additionally, Year 12 will receive in-depth information on progression to Higher Education, Apprenticeships and other onward Post 18 destinations.  In term 6 year 12 undertake Work Experience in early July. Year 12 are required to find their own placements and log all information on Unifrog; however, we will have a Department of Work and Pensions Employability course running in school during the week. 

Year 13 are fully supported with Higher Education Applications through PSHEE, mentor and a one-to-one meeting with the Head of 6^thForm. Our non-university route students have dedicated advice and guidance through PSHEE, with industry guest speakers, CV writing, Employability skills as well as one to one mock interviews. 

All our students in all year groups are entitled to and will receive:

• Regular support and information through our careers programme
• Guidance through mentor, assemblies and PSHEE and one to one careers meetings
• Clear and impartial information, advice and guidance about all the options available so that students can make informed choices and decisions
• Guidance on next steps, including Further and Higher education, training or employment

Opportunities to learn about the world of work from employers, on workplace visits and through industry sectors.

For more information about Life after the Sixth Form, please click here

We are pleased to continue to work with our past students in all aspects of school life.

Alumni come in and speak at our Pathways conference to Year 12 about the advice of guidance they would give themselves now. They talk about how they were supported in school and prepared for life beyond 6th Form.

Several alumni come into school to support across all years and all subjects to provide advice and guidance on career routes and pathways. Additionally, alumni mentor current students with advice and guidance for specific university routes. We have alumni undertake subsequent work experience within school within our Art and Dance departments.

GEMMA

At sixth form I studied fine art, art graphics and photography. When I first started sixth form it was September 2020, so just after lockdown. I was very nervous going back into a school environment after being away from it for a long time. However, my mood completely changed after my first day because all the sixth form staff and teachers are so supportive and caring.
The sixth form block can be a bit daunting at first because it’s a whole new part of the school you haven’t experienced yet but there is nothing to worry about. The staff are all very friendly, understanding and supportive in fact they will take the time to help you out with any problems or worries you are having and find a way around it.
At the end of year 13 is when stuff starts to get a bit stressful, you have to decide what route you want to take which may be university, apprenticeship or a full time job. This is where you will really appreciate the support from sixth form staff, your teachers and especially your PSHE lessons. They will give you all the information and help you with personal statements, CVs or anything you may need on your journey out of school. Currently I have a full time job and couldn’t have got it without the help of the sixth form staff helping me with my CV.
Overall I found my sixth form experience at Herne Bay High very enjoyable and would encourage everyone to go and experience it too.

REBECCA

Herne Bay High Sixth Form gave me the opportunity to ask lots of questions to people in the types of careers I was interested in doing - everyone’s career path is different and there are so many ways to get to the same position.
Going straight to a university after 6th form isn’t the only route to getting a degree. There are many degree apprenticeships worth looking into. It might take longer but the on the job experience you get at the same time is priceless. All this information was available to me via Sixth Form.

ROSIE

Taking English Literature and Sociology at Herne Bay High 6th Form have massively helped me over the course of my degree and I still use the skills I developed from studying those A Levels today.
For anyone wanting a career in the arts, Herne Bay High offer amazing Performing Arts and Drama courses.

GRACE

You don’t have to be a high achiever or academically outstanding to be successful. Success is based on your own goals and achievements. Herne Bay High 6th Form will give you the opportunity to develop your skills and this has given me the confidence to change direction in order to achieve the career I desire.

CHLOE

I took part in many drama clubs at Herne Bay High 6th Form as well as amateur theatre clubs outside of school. I performed in pantomimes, comedy plays etc, and I also helped to lead some drama clubs when I was in my final year of study at HBHS. The school opened these opportunities for me while I was deciding on my future. Since then, I have been able to travel, meet new people and gain new skills that helped my final decision.

GIDEON

Herne Bay High 6th Form was able to offer countless workshops on CV writing, application writing and life after university. There is so much support given to you at 6th Form and I was always able to ask lots of questions. The staff are extremely knowledgeable.

ALEX

Herne Bay High 6th Form gave me the opportunity to attend open days at universities and work experience; this helped me to decide the right path for the future.

For more information on where our students have progressed after leaving Herne Bay High, please click here

As one of the many thousands of alumni who have benefitted from a Herne Bay High education, you are a valued part of our community and a role model to the many students who are following in your footsteps. The friendships you made here are also likely to endure a lifetime. So, whether you can spare time to come and speak to current students, offer work experience to sixth formers or simply share your news, we would love to hear from you on 6form@hernebayhigh.org

An independent careers adviser is available for all year groups.  Year 8/7 have group career guidance, where Year 11/10/9 are seen on a one-to-one basic, Year 13/12 are seen as requested.  All students are offered unbiased advice and seen by relevant deadlines for their onward destinations.  Students who have an EHCP/SEND are provided with additional support by our SEND provision. 

To enable you to support your children through their career journey, the following websites may be useful. In addition, please also look at the Post 16 Life After 6th Form page….. and the useful links menu below.

• Parental Guidance from The Careers Writers Association - Home 
• Advice for Parents of Students Applying for University (applytouni.com)
• Apprenticeship resources for schools, teachers, parents (amazingapprenticeships.com)

There are a number of resources available on our website that will help you to talk to your child regarding their career aspirations. All students and parents have access to Unifrog. Useful resource for parents: A parents' toolkit for career conversations (talkingfutures.org.uk)

Parent Advisor has some advice which you may find useful. You may also find it helpful to sit down with your child and check out one of the websites such as National Careers or Career Box

2020 CXK BLOG for Parents and Carers regarding Post-16 Options

Also try the CXK Resource hub which can either be found via: https://view.publitas.com/youth-employability-service/cxk-careers-home/

We would appreciate feedback from students, families/carers and teachers. Our feedback survey is available here: https://forms.office.com/e/50rdYrd80U

An independent careers adviser is available for all year groups.  Year 8/7 have group career guidance, where Year 11/10/9 are seen on a one-to-one basic, Year 13/12 are seen as requested.  All students are offered unbiased advice and seen by relevant deadlines for their onward destinations.  Students who have an EHCP/SEND are provided with additional support by our SEND provision. 

We would appreciate feedback from students, families/carers and teachers. Our feedback survey is available here: https://forms.office.com/e/50rdYrd80U

Students have access to a wealth of information in school, ranging from the careers section in the LRC, where Mrs Lasslett our independent careers adviser is based.  Along with access to Unifrog, the complete destination platform.

Students are introduced to Unifrog in Year 7 and continued to use unifrog throughout their time with us.

Students should initially use Unifrog to complete their Interest profile, Personality profile, which leads into the Psychometric questions, the Work environment profile and the Skills profile.  These should be repeated in Year 9 and Year 11.

Students can explore pathways using Unifrog by accessing the Careers library, Know how library, watch webinars, undertake MOOC – Massive Open Online Courses. Students can favourite elements within Unifrog and these can be found in the Read, Watch, Listen area.

Students are able to record all activities and skills they have undertaken during their time at Herne Bay High and anything they do above and beyond the curriculum.

Equally as students begin to explore their pathways further, they have the option to search for opportunities regarding University and Apprenticeships.

We would appreciate feedback from students, families/carers and teachers. Our feedback survey is available here: https://forms.office.com/e/50rdYrd80U

An independent careers adviser is available for all year groups.  Year 8/7 have group career guidance, where Year 11/10/9 are seen on a one-to-one basic, Year 13/12 are seen as requested.  All students are offered unbiased advice and seen by relevant deadlines for their onward destinations.  Students who have an EHCP/SEND are provided with additional support by our SEND provision. 

Are you an employer or an alumni of the school who is able to support our Careers Programme?
We welcome enquiries from other providers and guest speakers as outlined in our Provider Access Statement. If you would like to come and deliver a talk to students on ‘careers’, please do contact us using the following form: https://forms.office.com/e/FdvC32SbnC

"Yesterday, I was honoured to be invited into a secondary school in East Kent to deliver a CV workshop as part of their 6th Form Annual Pathway Conference.  The student engagement was excellent with them taking plenty away from the session! I really enjoyed it too and was fun to be back in the classroom!  The Head of 6^th Form has already invited me back next year!" - Tom McQuade, Academics Ltd

The Government has introduced the following mandatory guidance for schools under which are called the Gatsby Benchmarks:

1. A stable careers programme
   Every school and college should have an embedded programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by students, parents, teachers, governors and employers.
2. Learning from career and labour market information
   Every student, and their parents, should have access to good quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities. They will need the support of an informed adviser to make best use of available information.
3. Addressing the needs of each pupil
   Students have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each student. A school's careers programme should embed equality and diversity considerations throughout.
4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
   All teachers should link curriculum learning with careers. STEM subject teachers should highlight the relevance of STEM subjects for a wide range of future career paths
5. Encounters with employers and employees
   Every student should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment activities including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes.
6. Experiences of workplaces
   Every student should have first-hand experiences of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities, and expand their networks.
7. Encounters with further and higher education
   All students should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them. This includes both academic and vocational routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace.
8. Personal guidance
   Every student should have opportunities for guidance interviews with a career adviser, who could be internal (a member of school staff) or external, provided they are trained to an appropriate level. These should be available whenever significant study or career choices are being made. They should be expected for all students but should be timed to meet their individual needs.

We aim to ensure the following:

• all of our students to understand the full range of opportunities available to them, to learn from employers about work and the skills that are valued in the workplace and to have first-hand experience of the workplace;
• all students to get an excellent programme of advice and guidance that is delivered by individuals with the right skills and experience;
• all students to get support tailored to their circumstances, with access to face-to-face advice.
• all students to get the information they need to understand the job and career opportunities available, and how their knowledge and skills can help them in considering suitable careers.

Everyone in school has a role to play in ensuring young people and families are supported to develop and understand all available routes at the key point in time. Herne Bay High School has developed it’s practise In line with the Gatsby Benchmarks, which set out best practice for schools and we are always looking to develop workplace encounters across all years.

In line with the DFE Careers Guidance and Access for Education and Training Providers (Jan 23) and the updated Provider Access Legislation (Pal) (Jan 23) we aim to achieve a strong and stable careers program by achieving the Gatsby Benchmarks. We evaluate our Careers Programme annually and complete a Compass+ assessment in terms 2, 4 and 6 of each year.

Provider Access Legislations – sometimes known as the Baker Clause

Please click here for Policies page to read our Provider Access Policy

Introduced as an amendment to the Technical and Further Education Act 2017 and as set out in Section 42B of the Education Act 1997, the Baker Clause stipulates that schools must allow colleges and training providers access to every student in years 8-13 to discuss non-academic routes that are available to them. It is expected that by doing so this will help address the UK’s productivity challenges and address skills shortages experienced across several sectors of the economy. 

The updated provider access legislation (PAL) has now been enacted (Jan 23). It specifies schools must provide at least six encounters with approved providers of apprenticeships and technical education for all their students:  

• Two encounters for pupils during the ‘first key phase’ (year 8 or 9) that are mandatory for all pupils to attend 
• Two encounters for pupils during the ‘second key phase’ (year 10 or 11) that are mandatory for all pupils to attend 
• Two encounters for pupils during the ‘third key phase’ (year 12 or 13) that are mandatory for the school to put on but optional for pupils to attend 

It is important our students understand what LMI is.

Labour Market Information (LMI) can provide us with insights into different jobs and opportunities, telling us what is available now or predicted to be in the future. It can be gathered from a wide array of sources from websites run by Government funded organisations, through to adverts for job vacancies in local papers and online. Even anecdotal sources such as conversations with friends and family can give us information on who may be recruiting. Each source can provide us with information on the labour market.

Turning it into intelligence, however, is key. To do that is it important to ask yourself 'How was the information gathered, by whom and for what purpose?' This will affect what the data is attempting to prove (if biased) or what it may mean for you and your career decisions. For example: If the data was collected five years ago? How reliable is it? (not very) However, if the data was collected last week, it is likely to be more reliable.

Tools such as LMI For All can help us access basic data on different jobs which is helpful for a broad picture but generalised.

Information regarding the Canterbury LMI

At Herne Bay High students undertake Work Experience in Year 10 and in Year 12 and this meets Gatsby Benchmark 6. Work Experience should be unpaid and separate from a student’s ‘normal’ part time employment to allow them to develop as a person and experience a different industry sector.

A work placement is a student’s opportunity to spend a period of time outside the classroom, learning about a particular job or area of work and experience the workplace. Work experience can help a student decide on their options for after year 11 and beyond. Students will be able to develop and show evidence of vital skills such as self-confidence, communication, independence, and a variety of others, depending on what kind placement they undertake.

In Year 10, the placement is organised by an external provider and is undertake in Term 6 and should provide students with a realistic idea of the workplace with a view to aiding their exploration of career opportunities and expanding their network.

In Year 12, the placement is organised by the student allowing them the freedom and scope to apply for a more focus pathway relating to their potential onward destination Post 18. Students document all information using the placement tool in Unifrog.

Guidance regarding Work Experience can be found here: Young people at work - work experience - HSE

All students should keep a reflective journal throughout their Work Experience placement to allow then to learn from their experience.

Herne Bay High School will assess the impact of its careers programme on students through the following activities:

• Conduct a Compass+ evaluation of the school’s progress towards the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks. This will be completed three times a year and include input from the Careers Lead, our Enterprise Co-ordinator (from the Careers and Enterprise Company) and our careers link governor.
• analysing destinations data in line with activities that students have taken part in while at school. 
• DFE school’s performance figures are published in Term 2  16 to 18 - Herne Bay High School - Find school and college performance data in England - GOV.UK (find-school-performance-data.service.gov.uk)
• In Term 2 students will complete an annual student survey (the Future Skills Questionnaire) to help us to identify and plan around gaps in their knowledge and confidence around careers education and the options available to them.
• Student evaluations and feedback will be sought after key events.
• Staff feedback will be conducted annually in term 4 to identify requirements and opportunities for Continuing Professional Development.
• The views of parents will be surveyed after key events e.g. The Careers Fair, Careers information evenings, Work Shadowing Day, Year 12 Work Experience and so forth.
• Employer and staff feedback will be surveyed after key employer encounters where appropriate.

Key findings from the Future Skills Questionnaire

Please note that the FSQ was made available to schools at the end of September 2022. We are rolling this out to all students over the course of the first half of the 2022-23 academic year.

Key findings from our destinations data (as published by the DfE in Feb 2023) for our 2020 school leavers

Please note – this data is published by the Department for Education with a two-year lag so that these are sustained destinations. That means that these are placements that students stayed in successfully for at least 6 months after starting.

Please also note that these school leavers were directly affected by the pandemic since 2020 was the year that exams were first cancelled and students were guided through the final stages of their destinations planning while at home.

ICOULD

Explore different roles and search by subject areas to find out where your choices could take you. Complete the personality quiz called "the buzz quiz" to see if your personality is a good fit with different occupations. This is useful for some students but not the only way to decide on your future choices.

Click here for icould

16 PERSONALITIES

Take this personality quiz to see how your character may link to your future career aspirations. It's suitable for some pupils but not all.

Click here for 16 Personalities

In addition https://www.sortyourfuture.com/ and https://www.ucas.com/explore/career-quiz have good quizzes and information.

	Kent Choices https://www.kentprospectus.co.uk	Information on all Post 16 options and routes. Application and support platform for Post 16 studying. School will provide all year 11 students with a password and usernames
	Find an Apprenticeship https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship Parents Guide to Apprenticeships	For apprenticeship vacancies you can research or sign up to create an account to make applications
	Not Going to Uni? https://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk	Not going to university can help school leavers with searching different opportunities available to them.
	National Careers Service https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/explore-your-education-and-training-choices/get-a-job	For information about specific career interest. Search what a job involves by using the job profile box.
	Get The Jump https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/explore-your-education-and-training-choices?utm_source=UCAS&utm_medium=adviseremail&utm_campaign=GTJ_p4	Get The Jump from the National Careers Service provides information on training and post-18 education choices.
	Discover Uni https://discoveruni.gov.uk	Thinking about university – look at some stats
	UCAS https://www.ucas.com	Universities and Colleges Admissions Service - Research all aspects of choosing your future
	Russell Group Universities https://www.informedchoices.ac.uk	Russell Group Universities – Informed Choices
	Planit : Careers A to Z https://www.planitplus.net/JobProfiles/	A to Z information about Careers

Herne Bay High School will assess the impact of its careers programme on students through the following activities:

• Conduct a Compass+ evaluation of the school’s progress towards the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks. This will be completed three times a year and include input from the Careers Lead, our Enterprise Co-ordinator (from the Careers and Enterprise Company) and our careers link governor.
• analysing destinations data in line with activities that students have taken part in while at school. 
• DFE school’s performance figures are published in Term 2  16 to 18 - Herne Bay High School - Find school and college performance data in England - GOV.UK (find-school-performance-data.service.gov.uk)
• In Term 2 students will complete an annual student survey (the Future Skills Questionnaire) to help us to identify and plan around gaps in their knowledge and confidence around careers education and the options available to them.
• Student evaluations and feedback will be sought after key events.
• Staff feedback will be conducted annually in term 4 to identify requirements and opportunities for Continuing Professional Development.
• The views of parents will be surveyed after key events e.g. The Careers Fair, Careers information evenings, Work Shadowing Day, Year 12 Work Experience and so forth.
• Employer and staff feedback will be surveyed after key employer encounters where appropriate.

Key findings from the Future Skills Questionnaire

Please note that the FSQ was made available to schools at the end of September 2022. We are rolling this out to all students over the course of the first half of the 2022-23 academic year.

Key findings from our destinations data (as published by the DfE in Feb 2023) for our 2020 school leavers

Please note – this data is published by the Department for Education with a two-year lag so that these are sustained destinations. That means that these are placements that students stayed in successfully for at least 6 months after starting.

Please also note that these school leavers were directly affected by the pandemic since 2020 was the year that exams were first cancelled and students were guided through the final stages of their destinations planning while at home.