In line with the new DfE statutory guidance Our Lady and St Chad Catholic Academy is committed to achieving the highest levels in all 8 Gatsby benchmark recommendations by 2020. Below is an outline of the careers programme students attending OLSCA will receive during the academic year 2018-19 as part of the whole school careers development strategy.

“Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.”- Steve Jobs

It is the view of the academy that IAG (Information Advice and Guidance) must:

  • Empower young people to plan and manage their future career pathways
  • Respond to the needs of the learner
  • Provide appropriate and practical information and advice
  • Raise aspirations
  • Actively promote equality of opportunity and challenges of stereotypes
  • Provide effective LMI (Labour Market Information) to aid decisions

Careers Leader

Mr R Hilditch
[email protected]
01902 558250

Schools Independent Careers Advisor

Lorraine Newton
[email protected]
Office: 01902 554499
Mobile: 07584175410

The Careers advisor is in school every Tuesday and all students in year 11 and post 16 college will have an interview. All other students can drop in during break and lunch on a Tuesday to arrange an interview on request. Parents can contact Lorraine Newton for independent advise and career guidance on the email above.

Year 7

  • Students are introduced to Unifrog and informed how to navigate the site.
  • Students are encouraged to identify personal traits, strengths and skills and develop confidence and have high expectations of themselves.
  • Students will have at least one meaningful encounter with an employer through educational visits and/or visiting speakers.
  • ‘Guess My Job’ workshop delivered by CC and a range of local employers.
  • Students take part in a range of activities during National Careers Week, Apprenticeship Week and Engineering Week.
  • CEIAG assemblies will run throughout the year.
  • Students will regularly review their experiences through Unifrog.
  • Students have optional access to independent and impartial advisers – weekly drop in sessions available.
  • By beginning careers education early, pupils can make better informed decisions at transition stages and are more motivated in school in order to follow a particular pathway.

Year 8

  • Students continue to build a careers profile on Unifrog.
  • Students build on personal strengths and begin to link skills to specific careers enabling realistic and informed decisions at transition stages.
  • Students will take part in Careers lessons during Well-being, exploring the importance of employability skills, personal qualities and their link to career choices.
  • Students are introduced to the world of work and how it is constantly changing.
  • Students will have at least one meaningful encounter with an employer through educational visits and/or visiting speakers.
  • Students take part in a range of activities during National Careers Week, Apprenticeship Week and Engineering Week.
  • ‘Guess My Job’ workshop delivered by CC and a range of local employers.
  • CEIAG assemblies will run throughout the year.
  • Students have optional access to independent and impartial advisers – weekly drop in sessions available.
  • Students regularly review their experiences through Unifrog.

Year 9

  • Students are encouraged to re-assess personal strengths on Unifrog with a focus on transferable skills.
  • Students are encouraged to investigate different jobs and careers on Unifrog and what they mean in terms of lifestyle, budgeting and a good work/life balance.
  • Students will take part in Careers lessons during Well-being, focusing on decision making skills ‘KS4 options’.
  • Students will access ‘Aspire to HE’ resources during Well-being, with a focus on choices, opportunities and HE.
  • Students are encouraged to challenge stereotypes within the world of work and traditional job roles.
  • Students begin to think about GCSE options in terms of career pathways and plan their future. Students link curriculum areas to careers to help prepare them for choosing their GCSE options.
  • Students take part in a range of activities during National Careers Week, Apprenticeship Week and Engineering Week.
  • CEIAG assemblies will run throughout the year.
  • Students will have at least one meaningful encounter with an employer through educational visits and/or visiting speakers.
  • Students will attend a Careers Fair, where they will meet representatives from Further and Higher education, local and national businesses and service sectors.
  • Students have optional access to independent and impartial advisers – weekly drop in sessions available
  • Students regularly review their experiences through Unifrog.
  • Students and parents will take part in a KS4 options event – guidance for selecting subjects at KS4.

Year 10

  • Students have the opportunity to develop their CV.
  • Economic awareness developed further and students are encouraged to think about employability, which careers appeal and to identify and set themselves realistic future goals.
  • Students will take part in Careers lessons during Well-being, using both Unifrog and ‘Aspire to HE’ resources, focusing on FE, HE, Work Experience, choices and opportunities available to them.
  • Students develop their interview technique and complete a mock interview with a local employer.
  • Students will have at least one meaningful encounter with an employer through educational visits and/or visiting speakers.
  • Students have access to independent and impartial advisers – weekly drop in sessions available.
  • Students take part in a range of activities during National Careers Week, Apprenticeship Week and Engineering Week.
  • All students in Year 10 have the opportunity to engage in Work Experience and the process of securing a work placement. Students record their progress in this process.
  • CEIAG assemblies will run throughout the year.
  • Students regularly review their experiences through Unifrog.

Year 11

  • Students will have a 1:1 interview with a careers adviser.
  • Students are assisted further with their CV and cover letter through Unifrog.
  • Students will take part in Careers lessons during Well-being, using both Unifrog and ‘Aspire to HE’ resources, focusing on FE, HE, Post 16 options, employability skills, professionalism, preparing for next steps and budgeting.
  • Students are helped with post-16 choices and encouraged to consider all their options including further study in the Academy Sixth Form College and apprenticeships.
  • Students are given specific support with post-16 applications.
  • Taster sessions for post-16 subjects will be available to all students.
  • Students take part in a range of activities during National Careers Week, Apprenticeship Week and Engineering Week.
  • Students are encouraged to attend careers talks, fairs, open days and taster days with employers.
  • Students have optional access to independent and impartial advisers – weekly drop in sessions available.
  • Students will have at least one meaningful encounter with an employer through educational visits and/or visiting speakers.
  • CEIAG assemblies will run throughout the year.
  • Students and parents will take part in a Post 16 options event – guidance for next steps.
  • Post 16 interviews will take place for students who have applied to the Academy Sixth Form College.

Year 12/13

  • Students will use Unifrog to research post-18 options and complete activities that will develop their CV and personal statement.
  • Students attend the UCAS convention and visit stands to speak to universities, gap year and apprenticeship providers to find out about their post-18 options.
  • Students will take part in Careers lessons during Well-being, using both Unifrog and ‘Aspire to HE’ resources, focusing on HE, choices for the next stage, how to apply for the next stage of education/employment.
  • Students will have a 1:1 interview with an independent and impartial careers adviser who will advise on the most appropriate post-18 pathway for them.
  • Students will receive individual support and guidance with their personal statements.
  • Students take part in a range of activities during National Careers Week, Apprenticeship Week and Engineering Week.
  • Students are encouraged to attend fairs, open days and taster days with universities and employers.
  • Students will visit the onsite Staffordshire University Bus – exploring what is on offer and speaking to university staff
  • Students will have the option of completing a Work Experience placement/volunteering opportunity during sixth form.

Work Experience

We believe that work experience is a vital part of preparing students for the future workplace and their chosen careers. This is why in year 10 and year 12 we encourage all students to complete a work experience placement for one week with an external employer. The main work experience week is the first full week in July.

In year 10 we concentrate on developing soft skills which apply to all working environments such as team work, punctuality, attendance, flexibility and following instructions. Students have been asked to complete a work placement form with the details of their work experience and hand in to Mr C Durkin at break, lunch, before or after school by Friday 12th April. This is to allow time for the necessary health and safety risk assessments to be completed by Wolverhampton Education Business Partnership. We strive to ensure that all students have some form of work experience in year 10 which is why students who do not manage to gain a work placement are encouraged to go on a work place visit at the end of the year meaning that all students will have had a meaningful encounter in a work place by the end of year 10.

In year 12 and 13 again students have the opportunity to complete a work placement. This may be bespoke for example attending a work placement when on independent study for and afternoon or morning each week or it could be the first school week in September. This time of year usual results in some quality work experience placements at a time when there is less demand nationally and has minimal impact on a student’s studies but a maximal impact on their future aspirations. In the sixth form college work experience needs to be much more specific to the students end goal as this can help them gain apprenticeships, college and university places at the end of year 13.

The process for gaining work experience in year 12 is very similar to year 10. Students must complete the work placement Proforma (Available on the website or from Mr C Durkin) and hand in by the end of Whitsun half term at the latest to secure their placement. Applying for quality work experience also forms part of the enrichment program for students.

External Speakers

Students experience a range of talks in all year groups from external employers about their careers and sectors of employment. These talks are enjoyed by all and really help students to gain a deeper insight into the world of work.

If you are an employers or employee and would like to come in and give a talk then please follow the information in the Our Lady and St Chad Catholic Academy Access for External Providers Policy.

External speakers this year include: