Careers

What we do

The aim of our CEIAG programme is to provide all students with a range of opportunities to develop in this area, within and beyond the curriculum, and to ensure that staff, governors, families and the wider community are involved in securing high aspirations for each and every student. Our careers programme is becoming an integral element of the St Andrews curriculum, providing all students with the careers education, information, advice and guidance that they need to realise the most ambitious of aspirations. We develop this at all key stages as follows:

Key Stage 3

• Unifrog online service provides a focus on subjects, jobs and GCSE choices.
• The options programme for Year 9 is designed to support them in their GCSE choices.
• The pastoral curriculum in Year 7-9 covers economic well-being, active citizenship and develops enterprise and entrepreneurship. 

Key Stage 4

• Unifrog online service provides a focus on CV writing, universities, apprenticeships, colleges, sixth forms and online courses.
• Unifrog will be used to collate useful progression information (activities, competences and interactions).
• One-to-one careers discussions with a Careers Advisor in Year 10 inform individual Careers Plans for use by students, their tutors and their Heads of Year.
• Extra-curricular clubs and trips support students in developing their understanding of a range of subjects.
• The options programme for Year 11 supports students' A Level choices.
• The pastoral curriculum in Year 10-11 covers economic well-being, active citizenship and charity fundraising.

Key Stage 5

• Unifrog online service focuses on CV writing, universities, apprenticeships and MOOCS.
• Unifrog will be used to collate useful progression information (activities, competences and interactions).
• Unifrog will be used to support production of UCAS application forms, personal statements and teacher references.
• A Higher Education lesson, as part of the curriculum, to be run during Year 12.
• Students in the Sixth Form will be encouraged to visit university open days, masterclasses, taster courses and summer schools at a variety of universities, to develop their application profile.
• The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) helps develop invaluable research and independent learning skills which are central to higher education.
• There is a dedicated team to support students with the UCAS process. Each student will have support tailored to their application from a subject advisor, their form tutor and the Sixth Form team.
• Interview preparation, practice and workshops are led by departments and the Sixth Form team.
• There is preparation for, and support with, aptitude and pre-admissions tests.
• The pastoral curriculum for Years 12-13 will include lessons on life at university, including finances.
• Charity fundraising and enterprise activities will be encouraged e.g. the Young Enterprise competition and RAG Week fundraising.
• Sixth Form students will be encouraged to undertake volunteering and work experience to support their university applications. A range of opportunities will be advertised throughout the academic year, as appropriate to specific students.

• Careers Task Force Events

  We will be running a careers sessions after school, in which we invite members of our community to talk about their career and the journey that led them there. We also choose a soft, transferable skill as a focus of the evening. So far we have covered Team Work and Communication.

  Other Providers

  St Andrew the Apostle welcomes the involvement of other education providers to enable our students to access the widest range of appropriate courses. Involvement of these other institutions is covered by our Provider Access Policy

  Gatsby Benchmarks

  In order to meet our statutory requirements with CEIAG we use the Gatsby benchmarks to guide our policy and practice.The eight benchmarks 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

  Tutor Programme & PSHCE

  Our tutor programme  will cover aspects of CIAG where possible, in conjunction with our PSHCE programme. 

  • Year 7 – Growing up (Settling in)
  • Year 8 – Money Management (NAT WEST)
  • Year 9 – My Future (Options)
  • Year 10 – The World of Work (Work Experience)
  • Year 11 – Choices, Choices (Post 16 Education)
  • Year 12 – Where will I go? (Applications/Progression)
  • Year 13 – The Final Push (Life beyond school)

  CEIAG issues will also appear in our weekly Votes for Schools sessions.