Aims
Our careers programme thoroughly prepares students for university and the world of work. We help students develop the skills and knowledge needed for the fast-changing job market, and provide them with a exciting range of opportunities to engage with employers, further education providers and higher education institutions throughout their time at the Academy.
Our Careers Lead
Karen Robinson
Karen Robinson is the Career and Development Leader at Bolingbroke academy, responsible for the careers provision and library . She started her career in public libraries and has worked in a number of schools supporting literacy development with parents and toddlers to sixth formers. She is a founding member of the staff team at Bolingbroke and has been a staff governor since the academy opened.
Key activities
Our excellent Careers Education and Pathways curriculum uses the Gatsby Benchmarks – a nationally recognised framework for world-class careers provision – as its basis, and comprises the following activities:
Careers across the curriculum
The Careers Education and Pathways curriculum is mapped against the Personal Development Curriculum to ensure a coherent, comprehensive and incremental provision of careers activity across the academy. A seven-year curriculum map is in place, which aids the development of essential skills using the Skills Builder Framework.
Higher Education
All pupils visit at least one university during KS3 and KS4, and have the opportunity to explore university options through Morrisby and 1-1 guidance meetings. Preparation for university starts in year 10 and culminates in a strong UCAS programme in the sixth form, delivered through Civitas and external speakers.
Morrisby
All pupils in Year 9 set up a Morrisby Careers profile. This is a research tool to help pupils discover the world of work and pathways available to them. They can view information on careers, subject choices, apprenticeships and higher education, each with detailed routes to entry and qualification requirements. Pupils continue to revisit this profile over the course of their GCSEs and Sixth Form study.
Personal Guidance
Every pupil has a guidance interview at key transition points: Year 9 when choosing GCSEs, Year 10 when looking for work experience, Year 11 when choosing post 16 provision and Years 12/13 when planning for Post 18 education or employment. Students can also request support with decision making, job applications or finding work experience by contacting the Careers Lead or attending the weekly careers drop-in in the library.
Encounters with employers and experiencing the workplace
Every pupil has multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. These opportunities include insight days, visits from speakers, workplace visits, work shadowing and work experience. Activity kicks off the Year 8 careers day in the summer term, where the pupils meet a variety of speakers from different careers. Work shadowing and work experience then takes place in Years 10 and 12, alongside an ongoing virtual speaker programme for all year groups.
Partners
We work with a range of trusted partners to enrich our careers provision, including the London Enterprise Advisor network and the Wandsworth Education and Business partnership. Further Education providers are welcomed into the academy to help pupils understand vocational pathways and how to access them. We have strong Higher Education partnerships with London Universities and our partner colleges at Oxford and Cambridge. Our competitive pathways students receive external support through St Paul’s Girls School, and we frequently gain access to diverse employers and workplaces thanks to the connections of our parents and governors.