Aspiration for All – Careers Education at Foxford Community School
The Gatsby Benchmarks
At Foxford Community School, we work in line with the Gatsby Benchmarks to ensure that all of our students have access to a high quality careers education programme.
The Gatsby benchmarks can be viewed in full here
In brief, the benchmarks are a framework of 8 guidelines that define the best careers provision in secondary schools:
- A stable careers programme
- Learning from labour market information
- Addressing the needs of every pupil
- Linking curriculum learning to careers
- Encounters with employers and employees
- Experiences of workplaces
- Encounters with further and higher education
- Personal guidance
At Foxford, we reach these ambitious guidelines with a programme of inspiring events and curriculum experiences from year 7 through to post-16. It is through these experiences, alongside quality personalised careers guidance, that we nurture our students in making the best choices to match their needs, ability and ambitions.
Key Contacts, Provider Access and Evaluations
Mrs Smith is Foxford Community School’s careers adviser. She provides individual careers guidance to each student at key academic transition points and has excellent links with employers, further education institutions, universities and apprenticeship hubs.
Mrs Green is Foxford Community School’s Senior Assistant Head Teacher with strategic oversight of careers education, and works closely with Mrs Smith to plan and review the careers curriculum offer at Foxford.
Both Mrs Smith and Mrs Green welcome contact from employers, education institutions, education charities, apprenticeship providers and, of course, parents and carers. They can be contacted through the following email address:
careersoffice@foxford.coventry.sch.uk
024 7636 9200
Please see our provider access policy below:
Monitoring and Evaluating Impact:
We review our careers provision annually and actively seek feedback from all stakeholders involved in each of our events, including students, teachers and volunteers. Feedback is collated through evaluation forms which are analysed by the careers adviser and strategic careers lead. Feedback forms are available and encouraged after each event for all involved. The purpose of this feedback is to support the continuous evaluation cycle of the effectiveness of our provision.
Additionally, we track student destinations and report NEETs (students not in education, employment or training). We analyse this data to identify and intervene with any potential future NEETs.
We have also committed to using the Gatsby online monitoring tool ‘Compass’ each term to evaluate our progress against each benchmark. This information is shared with our link governor on a termly basis and is used to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
Careers Resources
The links below offer a useful range of careers/further study information and advice for both students, parents and teachers.
Resources for Students
General:
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/
Key Stage 3 and 4:
www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
Key Stage 5:
www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk
Employment/training
https://www.allaboutschoolleavers.co.uk
https://www.getmyfirstjob.co.uk
Psychometric Tests
Gap Year/Studying Abroad
Volunteering/Internships/Work Experience
Internships, placements and work experience | TARGETjobs
Resources for Parents/Carers
https://careermap.co.uk/careermag-parents/
A parent’s guide to apprenticeships – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Resources for Teachers
View information about how you can develop links between your subject and career paths here:
https://nationalcareersweek.com/
Review the Gatsby benchmarks here:
Gatsby Benchmarks | The Careers and Enterprise Company
Careers Curriculum Map
At Foxford Community School, the careers curriculum is built around a theme for each year group which follows a clear progression. Although the majority of events are planned and embedded, we have the flexibility to respond to opportunities that arise across the academic year, such as university campus visits, workplace experiences and talks from employers and providers. We review our careers provision annually.
The curriculum map below evidences our commitment to the first Gatsby Benchmark: A stable careers programme.
| Year group | Careers curriculum theme | Activities and opportunities | Gatsby benchmark links |
| 7 | Connecting my learning to the world of work. | Subjects signposted towards future career opportunities. Begin PSHCE programme developing character and employability skills. Subject based participation in National Careers Week. Bespoke employer encounters. STEM roadshow. Coventry University outreach programme ‘Future Grads’. | 4 4 4 2,3,5,6 5 7 |
| 8 | Why not me? Moving out of my comfort zone and aiming high. | STEM roadshow Participation in National Careers Week events. Bespoke employer encounters. Warwick University Student Progression Outreach programme. Coventry Building Society outreach engagement. Coventry University outreach programme ‘Future Grads’. | 5 4 2,3,5,6 7 5 7 |
| 9 | Knowing myself, knowing my options and aspiring for excellence | KS4 options guidance. Coventry Building Society outreach engagement. Bespoke employer encounters. Coventry University outreach programme ‘Future Grads’. | 2, 3, 8 5 2,3, 5,6 7 |
| 10 | Exploring: What’s out there for me and how do I present myself? | Mock interviews. Post-16 experience Foxford on-site careers fair. Apprenticeship workshop. Bespoke employer encounters. Virtual work experience. Individual careers appointments. Coventry Building Society outreach engagement Coventry University outreach programme ‘Future Grads’. | 5 7 5,7 5 2,3, 5, 6 2,5,6 3,8 5 7 |
| 11 | The bigger picture – what am I aiming for and how do I get there? | Individual careers appointments. Post-16 application support Year 11 into post-16 information evening. Bespoke employer encounters. | 3, 8 3, 8 3, 8 2,3,5, 6 |
| 12 | Furthering independence and opportunity. | Post-16 study skills. Continued access to careers guidance. Programme of speakers and employer activities. Bespoke work experience and volunteering opportunities. Coventry Building Society Employability programme. | 3 4, 8 2, 5, 7 2,3,5,6 2,5 |
| 13 | An established character – confident, articulate, resilient and employable. | UCAS fair. UCAS and personal statement support. Bespoke work experience and volunteering opportunities. Programme of speakers and employer activities. Continued access to careers guidance and individual careers appointments. | 7 8 2,3,5,6 2, 5, 7 8 |
We evaluate all of our careers related activities to inform our annual careers curriculum review. Examples of our evaluation forms can be viewed here:
Link to example evaluation forms here: