Careers Education at Great Howarth School

Our Careers Programme

Our Careers Programme at Great Howarth School is fully tailored to meet the individual needs of our students, all of whom have Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). Our programme aligns with the Gatsby Benchmarks and is designed to provide students with structured and progressive career learning from Key Stage 3 through to Key Stage 5. Our primary-aged students are provided with our World of Work scheme to explore careers in the wider world.

Students are entitled to:

• Personalised careers guidance from a qualified careers advisor provided through an external provider.

• Curriculum-based learning about the world of work, including enterprise and employability skills.

• We align our frameworks of Skills Builder and the Duke of Edinburgh Award within this curriculum area.

• Encounters with employers and employees are offered through workplace visits, guest speakers, and enterprise projects through a dedicated world of work week during the Summer Term.

• Opportunities for work-related learning including work experience placements are adapted to individual needs.

• Students are also encouraged to participate in work related tasks.

• Support with post-16 transitions, including visits to colleges, training providers, and supported internships are supported by the Pastoral Team.

• Annual review input from careers staff ensures all EHCP outcomes relating to employment and independence are supported with robust communication from our SENCO.

We place a strong emphasis on developing life skills, confidence, and independence, helping students prepare not only for employment, but for meaningful adult lives.

At Great Howarth, we want to embed a careers programme that recognises the students’ different strengths and skills. We want to help our young people to develop and identify their own skills set which can then allow them to make informed choices when it comes to searching for their future career. They should be equipped to understand the strengths and skills they already have. They may be showcasing skills like leadership and teamwork in their hobbies, without even knowing it.

Information for Parents & Carers:

We want parents and carers to trust our programme and to understand what their young people will learn about careers. Parents and carers will have support and guidance, and will be given clear, unbiased advice on post-school options, study and exam revision, and wellbeing. They will be aware of any career exhibitions, activities or visits which are created around the curriculum.

Careers at Great Howarth follows the Gatsby Benchmarks, these are:

1. A stable careers programme

2. Learning from career and labour market information

3. Addressing the needs of each pupil

4. Linking curriculum learning to careers

5. Encounters with employers and employees

6. Experiences of workplaces

7. Encounters with further and higher education

8. Personal guidance

At Great Howarth, there is a Careers Lead who works with independent agencies or providers to ensure students get one-to-one advice. It is arranged with third parties such as Positive Steps, for students to have face-to-face interviews with careers advisors in school.

Students have access to an offsite Careers Hub in Rochdale where career interviews also take place.

Information for Employers:

All our students are striving to be their very best and employers should see them for that. They have developed transferable skills through Skills Builder, which enables them to be creative, able to problem solve, show good teamwork, show active listening and good speaking skills and each student is able to aim high in all that they do.

Students use the Morrisby platform to understand their strengths and potential and guide them towards their best career, subject and future educational choices. This is done through a careers platform which includes, activities, reporting and tracking of the students’ progress in their career’s programmes.

Work Experience

We really encourage students to engage in work experience, it allows students to fully immerse themselves into a certain career role, giving them ideas about what they want to do themselves in the future.

Getting work experience is the best way to show how the students can do the job they’re looking for in future. This is particularly important for specific industries and jobs, where having some kind of background in the field is just as important as the students’ qualifications, for instance, the creative industries. The more experience the young person has, the more valuable they become as a candidate for a role.

When students are in Key Stage 4, they can go on work experience. This links to their own interests, and skills and is supported by school, home and their allocated Teaching Assistant.

When in school, students are given everyday opportunities to engage in work experience this includes supporting Admin, Estates, the Kitchen, and mentoring younger pupils. Using the Morrisby system, it banks all aspects of the students work experience and any activities the student gets involved with to share as a report with potential employees. Students are given the appropriate platforms to find their own work experience if confident enough. This enables them to connect with employers and develop working relationships. All work experience prepares them for working, adult life.

Benefits of Work Experience:

For Students:

· Increased confidence and self-esteem.

· Enhanced understanding of different careers and industries.

· Development of key employability skills, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.

· Opportunity to gain valuable work experience.

For Employers:

· Increased engagement with the local community.

· Opportunity to build relationships with schools and educational institutions.

· Exposure to new talent and ideas.

· Potential future employees.

For the School:

· Enhanced reputation and community engagement.

· Improved student outcomes and career prospects.

· Increased opportunities for collaboration and partnerships.

Destination Data

We track all student destinations for at least three years after leaving school. Our students typically transition into:

• Specialist or mainstream further education colleges

• Supported internships Apprenticeships (where appropriate)

• Social care-based adult day services

• Volunteering or supported employment opportunities

We work closely with families, transition teams, and external providers to ensure smooth, appropriate pathways into adulthood.

Understanding Labour Market Intelligence (LMI):

We provide accessible and relevant Labour Market Information to our students and families to help inform choices about future careers:
• Greater Manchester LMI via GMACS
• National Careers Service
• LMI LMI for All
• Our Rochdale | Preparing for adulthood
• Home - Pinc College
• Hopwood Hall College and University Centre - Your Future Starts Here
• Home | Oldham College
• The Growth Company | Economic Growth & Employment Support
• New Horizons - Courses

We also interpret and present this information in student-friendly formats, using visual and simplified content where appropriate.

Impact and Review Information

We assess the effectiveness of our careers programme through:
• Student destination tracking after Year 11 and 13.

• Annual EHCP reviews, where outcomes are evaluated in collaboration with families and professionals.

• Termly Progress meetings with the SLT. Careers-related learning audits to ensure all Gatsby Benchmarks are being addressed termly through COMPASS.

• Careers Leader to provide contribution to the school development plan.

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