Careers Advice and Guidance
The Skinners’ Kent Academy (SKA) has a dedicated careers team which provides impartial careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) to all students from Years 7 to 13.
The team comprises:
The team comprises:
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Mrs Helena Read
Vice Principal, Achievement for All and Careers Lead helena.read@skinnerskentacademy.org.uk 01892 553046 (direct line) |
SKA Multi Academy Trust CEIAG Lead Governor: Hugo Pound
The Skinners’ Kent Academy Provider Access Policy: Click here
The Framework
The government’s Careers Strategy, published in December 2017, and statutory guidance for schools leaders and school staff, published in January 2018, set out the plan for building a high-quality careers system that will help young people to achieve their careers ambitions. Underpinning the plan, the eight Gatsby Benchmarks define all the elements of an excellent careers programme. These are:
SKA is committed to embedding and strengthening these Benchmarks in its careers provision to drive improvement.
Our whole-Academy careers programme helps young people explore the opportunities available to them. It enables students to develop the knowledge, confidence and skills needed to make well-informed, supported choices; and to develop plans that equip them to progress smoothly into further learning and work after leaving the Academy.
The programme includes:
All years: A number of business immersion events, including Academy visits; careers fairs, training opportunities; work placements and career-related activities, with the aim of ensuring students know what is expected of them when they start work and what they should aim for.
We coordinate work-related learning opportunities including work experience and employer links while working closely with all subject areas and providers to ensure students receive current information, experiences of work and up-to-date labour market information.
All students have access to independent careers advice and guidance, particularly at key transition stages. Years 11 and 13 students receive progress assessments and interviews in order to best plan their applications to sixth forms, colleges, training providers, universities and employers, as appropriate.
Note: all students must continue with some form of accredited studying or learning while in education, training or employment until they are 18 years old.
- A stable careers programme
- Learning from career and labour market information
- Addressing the needs of each student
- Linking curriculum learning to careers
- Encounters with employers and employees
- Experiences of workplaces
- Encounters with further and higher education
- Personal guidance
SKA is committed to embedding and strengthening these Benchmarks in its careers provision to drive improvement.
Our whole-Academy careers programme helps young people explore the opportunities available to them. It enables students to develop the knowledge, confidence and skills needed to make well-informed, supported choices; and to develop plans that equip them to progress smoothly into further learning and work after leaving the Academy.
The programme includes:
- Year 7: Dragons’ Den.
- Year 8: Careers Lab and Curriculum Enhancement Day.
- Year 9: Community Project.
- Years 7-9: A number of assemblies which help students to start thinking about their futures, including what personal qualities, skills and qualifications are needed for which careers. Students are supported in choosing their GCSE option subjects so they complement any career they might choose to follow in the future.
- Year 10: Day-at-Work. An opportunity to experience a working environment for a day to help build ideas on possible pathways post 16.
- Year 11: Post 16 choices and applications – school, college, apprenticeships and work. National Citizenship Service.
- Years 9/10/11/12/13: Careers talks, assemblies, and individual careers meetings, as agreed.
- Years 12/13: In the Sixth Form students study the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP), an innovative pathway that offers a flexible blend of academic and career-related studies. Students are supported in applying for apprenticeships, jobs, colleges and university places; as well as visiting local colleges, universities and work places.
All years: A number of business immersion events, including Academy visits; careers fairs, training opportunities; work placements and career-related activities, with the aim of ensuring students know what is expected of them when they start work and what they should aim for.
We coordinate work-related learning opportunities including work experience and employer links while working closely with all subject areas and providers to ensure students receive current information, experiences of work and up-to-date labour market information.
All students have access to independent careers advice and guidance, particularly at key transition stages. Years 11 and 13 students receive progress assessments and interviews in order to best plan their applications to sixth forms, colleges, training providers, universities and employers, as appropriate.
Note: all students must continue with some form of accredited studying or learning while in education, training or employment until they are 18 years old.
Careers Education
Delivered through lessons, assemblies, advisory sessions, House Tutor groups, one-to-one sessions and specific events and includes advice and support for option choices and work experience.
Frequent employer talks and visits support the careers education programme. Inspirational speakers include Lord Evans (Security Chief); Nikki King (CEO ITUK); Jenny McLachlan (best-selling author); Lord Dholakia (Peer) and Amanda Nevill (CEO British Film Institute).
Frequent employer talks and visits support the careers education programme. Inspirational speakers include Lord Evans (Security Chief); Nikki King (CEO ITUK); Jenny McLachlan (best-selling author); Lord Dholakia (Peer) and Amanda Nevill (CEO British Film Institute).
Careers Advice and Guidance
One-to-one and group sessions offer the opportunity to discuss ideas, find out more information and develop an action plan to help make informed decisions about career pathways. For a careers interview please email:
rebecca.pointer@skinnerskentacademy.org.uk
Post 16 Options
Kent Choices
Kent Choices includes online prospectuses and an application system for young people to apply to Kent Sixth Forms and FE colleges. Click here to visit the website
The Skinners' Kent Academy Sixth Form
At The Skinners' Kent Academy, Sixth Form students study the IB Career-related Programme which is a coherent blend of IB academic courses alongside a Career-related study (CRS). For further information about our Sixth Form, please click here.
College
Apprenticeships
Kent Choices includes online prospectuses and an application system for young people to apply to Kent Sixth Forms and FE colleges. Click here to visit the website
The Skinners' Kent Academy Sixth Form
At The Skinners' Kent Academy, Sixth Form students study the IB Career-related Programme which is a coherent blend of IB academic courses alongside a Career-related study (CRS). For further information about our Sixth Form, please click here.
College
- West Kent College - Click here to view their prospectus
- Hadlow College - Click here to view their prospectus
Apprenticeships
- Amazing Apprenticeships - Amazing Apprenticeships is a leading organisation in the education sector, founded to tackle misconceptions about apprenticeships and promote the benefits.
- Pathway CTM - An award winning social enterprise that is transforming Employment Training, Support and Opportunities for Schools and Students.
- Runway Training - A specialist provider of Online Functional Skills and Leadership & Management training
- Find an apprenticeship - Register your profile, search vacancies and apply for an apprenticeship - you must be 16 or over.
Work Experience
Students are encouraged to explore career pathways to ensure they make informed decisions when deciding on their Post-16 and 18 options.
Wider Community links and local businesses
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SKA is part of the South East Enterprise Adviser Network and has strong links with local employers (including AXA PP, Metro Bank and Berkeley Homes), colleges (including West Kent and Hadlow colleges), training providers (including Pathway CTM and Runway Training) and educational charities (including S4SNextGen).
It is known that participation in career talks with employee volunteers can change the attitudes of Key Stage 4 pupils to education, influence their future plans and subject choices, motivate them to study harder, and support an improvement in academic attainment. Are you able to step forward and offer your help as a local employer? Can any of your staff offer support to our students by providing mentoring, careers talks or interview workshops etc? We are always looking to expand our employer and local community links. For further information please contact our Careers Department on: careers@skinnerskentacademy.org.uk SKA proudly acknowledges the CEIAG support and business partnership provided by Thomson Snell & Passmore, one of the leading full-service law firms in the South East. We are always looking to expand our employer and local community links. Opportunities with local businesses (click on the logos to find out further information) Work experience: 
Apprenticeships: 
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Resources
At the Academy we have a range of materials providing accurate and up to date information on options in further learning, apprenticeships with training and career opportunities. We provide detailed guidance on:
- Specific occupations and job sectors.
- Career choices and options after leaving the Academy, including apprenticeships.
- Decision making – including options for GCSEs, Vocational Subjects, A levels, and the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme.
- Further Education courses in Colleges, Sixth Forms and Universities.
- How to write successful Personal Statements and CVs.
- How to fill in Application Forms.
- How to be successful at interviews.
Information Links
There are a range of websites offering students a chance to find out more about themselves and what is on offer to them, including:
- Careers Education in England’s schools and colleges 2020 - a comprehensive assessment of careers education in England
- www.icould.com which is an interactive tool containing information, film stories, articles and accounts from real people in real jobs.
- https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/ provides information on the skills required for different jobs, what the jobs entail, the typical hours worked, salary expectations and career progression.
- https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship provides information on apprenticeships.
- Parent & Carers' Apprenticeship information - a user guide for parents to help their child explore Apprenticeships and the opportunities available to them.
- A Parent’s Guide to Apprenticeships - Information for parents about the benefits of apprenticeships and the opportunities they provide
- Helping your child begin their career journey - A helpful guide created to help parents take a positive role in their child's career journey
- Career Map - Careermap is an online career resource that provides live post-16 opportunities, such as apprenticeship vacancies, college courses, university and graduate options. We also offer career advice and guidance so young people can make well-informed decisions to enhance their futures!
Careers Opportunities Calendar
Our careers calendar is a helpful tool for finding out about the various careers opportunities that are available such as work experience, careers fairs and webinars. Click here to view the calendar.
Unifrog
Unifrog, SKA’s Careers digital online platform
In keeping with our commitment to provide students with outstanding careers guidance and tailored support when choosing their next step after school, we are now using Unifrog; an award-winning, online careers platform. All students in Years 7-13 now have access to this excellent digital platform using their school log-on details.
Unifrog provides support at each stage throughout your child’s academic journey to evidence their career development, informing and supporting their successful transition to future study and employment. It allows students to link their interests inside and outside of school to possible career paths, even if they don’t have any ideas about what they would like to do!
Parents Presentation on using the platform with your son or daughter
The following presentation is a short overview of how to access the platform at home with your son or daughter. We strongly encourage as many parents watch this webinar to learn how Unifrog can provide you and your child the information, advice and tools to help them explore and plan for their future, throughout their schooling at SKA.
In keeping with our commitment to provide students with outstanding careers guidance and tailored support when choosing their next step after school, we are now using Unifrog; an award-winning, online careers platform. All students in Years 7-13 now have access to this excellent digital platform using their school log-on details.
Unifrog provides support at each stage throughout your child’s academic journey to evidence their career development, informing and supporting their successful transition to future study and employment. It allows students to link their interests inside and outside of school to possible career paths, even if they don’t have any ideas about what they would like to do!
Parents Presentation on using the platform with your son or daughter
The following presentation is a short overview of how to access the platform at home with your son or daughter. We strongly encourage as many parents watch this webinar to learn how Unifrog can provide you and your child the information, advice and tools to help them explore and plan for their future, throughout their schooling at SKA.
If you have any queries relating to the usage of the Unifrog system or require an additional help and support with your son or daughters careers decisions, then please email us at careers@skinnerskentacademy.org.uk for further information.
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Click on the below file, to read out CEIAG impact statement:
Higher Education UCAS Widget
Here is a useful information resource from UCAS which will help you find out about going to university. If you have any questions you can contact our careers adviser on the following email address: careers@skinnerskentacademy.org.uk |
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Careerometer Widget
You can use this widget to compare different career choices. You can compare salaries and view the chances that the workforce will grow or shrink over the next few years. |
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