Careers / IAG

At Christ the King Catholic High School we are committed to providing all our students with an extensive programme of Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG). Careers Education is embedded into school life and we consistently strive towards meeting the eight Gatsby Benchmarks.

Headteacher Mr S Corless is the Senior Leader for CEIAG and provides the link between the CEIAG Leader, SLT and Governors. Clare Watson is the CEIAG Link Governor who supports the programme and utilises her links within industry to provide enrichment opportunities and meaningful encounters with employers.

Vicky Willacy is the newly appointed Careers Leader, she has 14 years of experience in Education, including both pastoral and departmental leadership. The role of the Careers Leader is to assist young people’s career learning, planning and development by leading and managing the development of Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) in the school. The leader advises senior managers and governors on aspects of CEIAG, develops the careers programme, organises resources and ensures that students have access to impartial IAG within school and independently.

All KS4 students will receive at least one 1-1 personal guidance interview. The initial interview is planned for the spring term of Year 10 and follow up meetings are arranged in Year 11 as appropriate. Our independent advisors are provided by Education Business Partnership (NW) Ltd.

Christ the King have forged strong links with colleges, universities and businesses, which therefore enables us to provide a wide range of encounters to raise student aspirations starting in Year 7. Our school is part of the Lancashire Enterprise Advisor Network. The school works in partnership with Enterprise Coordinator Hannah Thurston and Enterprise Advisor Richard Taylor of Taylor Estates, Preston.

If you would like to contact the CEIAG leader please contact school on 01772 252072 or email Careers@ctk.lancs.sch.uk.

If you need to contact school regarding work experience please ring school on 01772 252072 or email reception@ctk.lancs.sch.uk.

Overview

In July 2021 the DfE of published the new statutory guidance for Career Guidance in schools. The purpose to make sure that all young people in secondary school get a programme of advice and guidance that is stable, structured and delivered by qualified and experienced individuals. This statutory guidance has been restructured around the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks.

The CEIAG Leader along with the Lancashire Enterprise Advisor, SLT, curriculum leaders, external providers, and employers strive for continuous improvement and build on each benchmark further.

In June 2019 our excellent Career Guidance programme was recognsied by the Gatsby Foundation as achieving all 8 Gatsby Benchmarks, the first school in Preston to do so.

https://lancashirelep.co.uk/2019/06/27/lancashire-schools-recognised-for-world-class-careers-advice/

The school is strong and committed to all 8 Benchmarks:

A stable Careers programme
Learning from Career and labour market information
Addressing the needs of each pupil
Linking curriculum learning to careers
Encounters with employers and employees
Experience of workplaces
Encounters with further and higher education
Personal Guidance

Please Click here for the Gatsby benchmarks.

Please Click here for the statutory guidance.

Please Click here for our Open Access Policy

Our comprehensive programme of Careers Education/Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) begins in Year 7 and is coordinated by our Careers/IAG Leader/Adviser. It is delivered through either PSHEE/Citizenship, Extended Learning Days, cross-curricular and group sessions in the Guidance Centre. The programme is designed to raise student’s aspirations, enable them to access and receive impartial IAG along with the opportunity to develop skills, explore post 14 & 16 progression routes and enable students to make well informed realistic decisions and manage transitions confidently.

The aim of CEIAG is to raise our student’s aspirations, broaden their horizons, challenge stereotypes and empower them to make well informed realistic decisions at all key transition points in learning and work. School will ensure that CEIAG is presented in an impartial manner and promotes the best interests of the students.

The CEIAG programme is supported and enhanced by a range of activities including visiting speakers, ‘taster visits’ and specific themed workshops. Christ the King has forged strong links with industries, businesses, colleges, training providers and Armed Forces who provide valued support, help students develop employability skills and enrich the programme. The purpose is to give students the opportunity to explore careers, investigate work and understand the ever changing labour market.

Click here for our IAG Policy

Curriculum Map

Guidance Centre

Every Year 10, and 11 student will have a one to one careers guidance interview; students in Year 9 have an individual meeting with their parent/carer as they prepare to choose their GCSE options. Students in other years will have small group guidance centre sessions, allowing them to start thinking about and researching possible pathways.

Students (or parents/carers) may request an interview directly by emailing reception@ctk.lancs.sch.uk

Students from any year group are welcome to drop in the guidance centre at break or lunch with any queries about colleges, apprenticeships, universities or careers in general. There are prospectuses from all the local colleges and training providers, along with a large selection of university brochures and other resources on display in the guidance centre.

Lunchtime drop in sessions from various colleges and training providers are held on a regular basis – these will be advertised via the daily briefing/bulletin/Firefly and email. These are a great chance to chat about facilities, courses, and transport and entry requirements.

Please click here for the guidance centre rota

There is extra information available on various websites for both students and parents. These can be accessed by clicking the links below.

Apprenticeships www.getingofar.gov.uk/

Going to University http://search.ucas.com/

Other useful websites which students and parents might find useful:

National Schools Employability Challenge

What is Labour Market Information (LMI)?

In a nutshell, labour market information tells you about the local or national demand there is for different skills and from different industries. Labour market information tells you:

Which jobs are likely to be easiest or hardest to find in your area?
Which are the big employers in different areas and which ones have jobs on offer
What skills employers are looking for and which are in short supply
How much you can expect to be paid in specific jobs
What working conditions are like?
What qualifications will be most helpful if you want a certain career?
What the jobs of the future might look like and which jobs might disappear?

All of these factors can help you make a more informed decision about what career path to take. Depending on where you live, and whether you’re willing to move, that might mean you need to adjust your career plans.

Did you know that: