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Careers & IAG

Careers information and guidance is available to all. At Abbs Cross; we want all students to make good choices for the future – ‘informed decisions are good decisions’

YOUR SCHOOL CAREERS ADVISOR IS: Mr Parry

You can contact him via Google Classroom

Telephone: 01708 440 304


Provider Access Statement

CAREERS OVERVIEW 2024-2025

CAREERS-BULLETIN-SEPTEMBER-2024

WHAT IS IT? 

Careers/IAG is to help students think about and plan their future; Careers/IAG is to help students find out which pathway is best for them. To enable good understanding and positive attitudes, we aim to engage with parents and give them access to Careers: Bill Law’s ‘Community Interaction Theory’ states how our perceptions about careers are gained from within our communities. By working in partnership we hope to ensure positive outcomes for all our students.

At Abbs Cross we aim to provide timely, impartial advice and guidance.

HOW IS IT PROVIDED?

Careers information is provided to students in different formats –

IN PERSON THROUGH:

  • 1:1 Careers interviews are available with a qualified Careers Adviser.
  • Careers sessions are provided to students through PSCHE lessons and presentation lessons. given to each tutor group at each transition stage.
  • Careers trips to a range of places including Careers Events, Insight days and to visits to Further and Higher Education Colleges.
  • Pesonalised Careers Advice through the use of “Unifrog.”
  • Dissemination of information to students regarding Careers Conferences, including those concerning Apprenticeships locally.

IN WRITTEN FORM THROUGH:

  • a monthly bulletin on the plasma screens
  • a series of noticeboards in the corridors
  • an area in the library

INTERACTIVELY THROUGH INTERNET LINKS:

  • Unifrog – an Online Career Guidance platform for 12-18-year-olds
  • Google Classroom, Please contact tutors or Mr Parry for class codes.
  • Useful websites

Professional Careers Advice

https://www.ucas.com/ucas/after-gcses
https://www.gov.uk/topic/further-education-skills/apprenticeships
http://www.careersworld.co.uk
http://www.gatsby.org.uk/uploads/education/reports/pdf/gatsbygoodcareerguidance8pagea5.pdf

PATHWAYS

Pathways refers to the post-16 option choices available to students. Pathways available include apprenticeships, A- levels, vocational qualifications, T-levels and traineeships.

Look at the ‘Levels and Qualifications’ table showing these pathways.

Choosing an appropriate pathway will involve selecting an appropriate course and where to do it.

1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_xAQNNi4pA&feature=youtu.be

2 https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels

 

Partnership with External Agencies and Stakeholders

At Abbs Cross we work with external agencies to provide accurate and focused careers information, advice and guidance tailored to individual needs to enable young people to make informed choices about their future career routes.

We always welcome the opportunity to develop new partnerships to add to our existing partnerships. If you are an employer, apprenticeship provider, university, higher education provider, a parent or alumni and would like to arrange to come in to deliver careers related talks to our students, please contact: Mr Dale Parry (via the school enquiries email).

Through National Careers Week, assemblies, Futures Day and Employment skills Day we offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to students and/or their parents/carers.

We are keen to gain feedback from a range of stakeholders including parents, students, teachers and employers. If you would like to give us feedback about our careers programme, please get in touch using the email above.

If you are interested in working with young people but unsure how, please feel free to contact the school enquiries or see the following guide which helps employers to effectively support students with experiences of the workplace:
https://resources.careersandenterprise.co.uk/for/employers-and-volunteers

 

Information for Students

 

Information for Staff:

FAQS:

KS4

What is the difference between GCSE and BTEC?

  • GCSEs have more exam assessment. BTEC have different grades: Pass, Merit and Distinction
BTEC Pass(P) = GCSE C/5 BTEC Merit(M) = GCSE B/6 BTEC Distinction(D) = GCSE A/8 BTEC Distinction*(D*) = GCSE A*/9

What is a pass at GCSE?

  • Grade 4 is the lowest pass to be accepted. Grades 5 + are ‘Good’ grades; Grades 1-3 are needed for L2 qualifications

KS5

What is the difference between BTEC Subsidiary Diploma and BTEC Extended Diploma?

  • BTEC Subsidiary Diplomas can be taken alongside A Levels. Extended Diplomas are the equivalent to 3 Levels.

THE PASSES HAVE POINTS WHICH CAN BE USED TO QUALIFY FOR UNIVERSITY COURSES:

The Level 3 BTEC Nationals (QCF) will qualify for the following UCAS tariff points. : Click Here

FAST TOMATO

Career Guidance for 12-18 year olds

Since 2003, Fast Tomato has been one of the most popular online career guidance programmes for young people, helping millions of students explore the many different career opportunities open to them. It is accurate, relevant, easy to use and excellent value for money.

Fasttomato

Unifrog:

Students at Abbs Cross Academy now have access to Unifrog.

Unifrog is an internet based platform that brings all the available careers information into one single, impartial, user-friendly site that helps students to make the best choices, and submit the strongest applications.

Unifrog sessions will be delivered throughout years 7-11 in drop down lessons. These hour long sessions will focus on a specific skill or competency which can be recorded on their personal profile, allowing them to compile these skills into a CV at the end of year 11. I has the most up to date labour market information, along with accompanying interviews with professionals from that field.

Unifrog provision sheet

PARENT PROSPECTIVE PODCAST

"The Parent Perspective” is an exciting new podcast series for parents and carers, helping them to support their children with careers advice and guidance.

Parent Prospective

Career Champions

Abbs Cross has recently been recognised by the Careers and Enterprise Company as ‘Career Champions’. This was awarded in acknowledgment of the work completed by Abss Cross in helping every young person find their best next step. 

MONITORING AND REVIEW

The careers provision is evaluated annually, with the next review due on the Autumn Term 2024.