Careers Advice is given to students through Personal Development Day activities and one to ones with the school’s Careers Lead. Students are given the opportunity to develop their Employability Skills and are able to gain better knowledge of the wider world of Careers.
Students also complete a career plan and are then given assistance on how to complete their application forms for further education or apprenticeships. Students are taught how to plan and prepare for an interview and the Careers Lead is available to accompany anyone and support them at their interview if required.
The Academy works closely with the ‘Careers and Enterprise Company’, to ensure the school is meeting the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks and supported by the Strategic Career Lead for United Learning.
Once students leave Marsden Heights Community College at the end of Year 11 they are able to contact the school Careers Lead via email if they need any further assistance. (Details for this are available under the ‘Careers Leader’ tab).
Marsden Heights CEIAG programme will help students to:
The students at Marsden Heights have access to impartial Information, Advice and Guidance, from a dedicated staff member who works closely with students on a day-to-day basis and who has the support of the Senior Leadership Team whose role is to help guide your child to their chosen destination.
The School’s Career Leader can be contacted either via phone or email. See below for contact details.
Mrs Jess Ross
Careers Leader
Marsden Heights Community College, Edge End Lane, Nelson, BB90PR
School Number: 01282 683060
Email: jross@marsdenheights.co.uk
Students will receive:
What students will expect:
Parents and Carers have the opportunity to attend careers interviews if they wish and will be invited as part of SEND reviews (EHCP, Statements and IPRAs) and looked after children reviews.
The School’s SENDCO and the Careers Leader meet on a regular basis to discuss and action appropriate interventions for pupils with additional needs.
Parents and Carers will receive updates via email and text from the Careers Leader, with up-to-date information about upcoming events and activities.
Links with parents / carers are maintained using a variety of methods including the school website, leaflets, letters, consultation days and parents' evenings.
CEIAG is provided to all students and provision is made to allow all students to access the curriculum. Students are encouraged to follow career paths that suit their interests, skills and strengths with the absence of stereotypes. All students are provided with the opportunities that reflect their needs.
Other links with local 14-19 Providers are made when required.
Staff training needs are identified as part of the appraisal process and during regular planning meetings between the Careers Leader and the CEIAG SLT Link/Line Manager. Regular updates regarding Careers Development will be shared when required with staff.
The school is keen to work with local employers and build on the fantastic links we already have to secure positive Post 16 and 18 destinations. Employers can contact our Careers Leader directly to organise a visit to the school and to participate in our Careers assemblies and events. For more information, please contact the school’s Careers Leader. Information available in the Careers Leader tab.
We measure and assess the impact of our Careers Programme through:
In order to measure the impact of our CIAG program at Marsden Heights Community College we review, track and monitor our destination (NEET) data.
Destination Data
The eight benchmarks are a framework for good career guidance developed to support schools in providing students with the best possible careers education, information, advice, and guidance:
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
We use a self-evaluation tool that gives us an immediate confidential read-out of how our own career guidance performs against the Gatsby eight benchmarks.
A Traineeship is an introduction-level programme that combines a work placement with training, it helps to prepare young people for the world of work and supports with English and Mathematics if required.
Apprenticeships are available at Intermediate, Advanced and Higher/Degree levels, and are available in a wide range of employment sectors. The length of time that it takes to complete is dependent on the level and occupation. All Apprenticeships are real jobs so young people on the programme can earn a salary.
All Apprenticeship opportunities must be advertised on the National Apprenticeships Website.
Your child must be registered on this site to apply for apprenticeships not advertised through an agency or training provider.
Apprenticeship advice can also be sought through local colleges.
The Technical and Further Education Act 2017 incorporates The Baker Clause so that providers can access Year 7 -13 pupils to promote approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships. The Careers Lead has excellent connections with the local providers and is building contacts with employers through school events and supported by the Enterprise Advisor.
An annual Futures Event is held in the local community with several providers and employers promoting further education, higher education and apprenticeships takes place for Year 11 students and their families may attend to help with their decisions for Year 12. The school’s careers programme embeds opportunities for providers to deliver workshops, assemblies and information to all year groups. Any requests to access students must be through the Careers Lead and decisions will be made dependent on timings, timetabling, exams and whether the information on offer is relevant to the year group and not already delivered by another provider. The school is limited to taking students off normal timetables, however Personal Development Days take place once every half term which focus’ on aspirations and careers.
Additional access may be granted in the form of assemblies, lunch-time drop-ins or lessons where a visiting speaker complements the students’ curriculum.
Nelson & Colne College Burnley College Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School Sixth Form Clitheroe Royal Grammar School Sixth Form Accrington & Rossendale College Blackburn College St.Mary’s College, Blackburn St.Christopher’s The Sixth Form, Accrington Craven College, Skipton Skipton Girls’ High School, Sixth Form Ermysted’s Grammar School, Skipton Myerscough College
For others who do not want to continue into further education, the following careers research websites may be useful:
General www.plotr.co.uk www.schoolleaverjobs.co.uk www.nationalcareersservice.gov.uk Army www.army.mod.uk Fire & Rescue www.fireservice.co.uk Local Government www.lgcareers.com Merchant Navy www.mntb.org.uk NHS www.nhscareers.nhs.uk www.stepintothenhs.nhs.uk Police www.lancashirepolice.uk RAF www.raf.mod.uk Royal Navy www.royalnavy.mod.uk University Courses www.ucas.com www.russellgroup.ac.uk Apprenticeships www.russellgroup.ac.uk Construction www.citb.co.uk/careers Volunteering www.do-it.org.uk Miscellaneous www.bestcourse4me.com www.notgoingtouni.co.uk www.icould.com www.bigambition.co.uk