Careers

Yavneh College believes that effective, impartial careers education which is underpinned by high quality personalised information, advice and guidance, allows every pupil to have the best possible support in order that he/ she can progress and achieve to the best of his/ her abilities.

Aims/ principles:

1) To empower every pupil to plan and manage his/ her own future.
2)To respond to the needs of every pupil.
3) To provide comprehensive information and advice to pupils.
4) To raise pupils’ aspirations.
5) To actively promote equality of opportunity and the challenging of stereotypes.
6) To help pupils to progress.

To achieve these principles we:

  • encourage pupils to acquire the knowledge and skills for researching and discriminating between information; make challenging but realistic plans for the future; and show resilience and adaptability when faced with barriers or changes in circumstances.
  • encourage pupils to develop an understanding of what motivates them, of their strengths and learning preferences; acquire the knowledge of how to access personalised information, advice and guidance; acquire an understanding of required skills and qualifications; and to take up opportunities to contribute to the quality of information, advice and guidance.
  • encourage pupils to access Youth Connexions, Connexions Direct, careers software, UCAS and other relevant opportunities; to develop an understanding of different opportunities/ pathways; to access community and voluntary opportunities; acquire an understanding of how to claim financial support for their learning; and acquire an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of work.
  • encourage pupils to challenge their thinking through experiential learning/ tasters such as work shadowing, university visits and careers talks; and to consider the benefits of further learning, economic independence and personal development.
  • encourage pupils to recognise and challenge stereotypical views; and to consider learning and work options that are not traditionally associated with their school, gender, ethnicity, faith, learning or physical ability, cultural or socio-economic background.
  • encourage pupils to acquire an understanding of links between the curriculum and their future lives; of the importance of KS4 and KS5 subject and course choices; of the knowledge and skills to follow applications procedures and prepare for interviews; of the knowledge and skills in order to transfer smoothly to further learning and to work; and of the main qualities, attitudes and skills needed to enter, and succeed in, working life and independent living.
  • have a partnership with Youth Connexions Hertfordshire;
  • promote a partnership with parents;
  • ensure that the school complies with the latest legislation on careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG);
  • invite pupils to comment on the quality of the CEIAG that they receive;
  • assess and monitor pupil progress and attainment, tracking individuals and members of any groups within the school, and taking appropriate action;
  • monitor each pupil’s personal development and provide support where necessary;
  • provide every pupil with full access to the curriculum;
  • monitor attendance and take appropriate action where necessary

 

Staffing and Curriculum:

Yavneh College has a “whole school” approach to providing young people with the help and support that they need.

A member of SLT has overall responsibility for CEIAG. All form tutors contribute to CEIAG, acting as a first line of support for pupils in their emotional and academic progress, delivering the Citizenship curriculum and supporting pupils in ICT-based careers study. 

All staff contribute to CEIAG through their roles as subject teachers. As a specialist Business & Enterprise College, all subject departments accept responsibility for developing skills/ qualities for employability: leadership, negotiation, influencing, communication, decision making under pressure, problem solving, planning and organisation, time management, innovation, teamwork, risk-taking, self reliance, open-mindedness,  respect for evidence and pragmatism. Staff members promote and value enthusiasm and a “can do” attitude. Departments also display posters listing careers-specific websites.

As a Business & Enterprise College, many aspects of CEIAG (e.g. cv writing, interview techniques, financial matters) are delivered by the Business & Enterprise Department in timetabled lessons, special off-timetable days and in preparing pupils for, and doing follow up of, opportunities related to the world of work, including work shadowing.

Other specialist sessions are delivered by the Jewish Studies Department and in special Personal Development off-timetable days.

The SLT member responsible for overseeing Careers has a regular careers box in the newsletter by which to advertise careers events and websites, and runs specialist sessions, bringing in careers speakers and introducing pupils to careers software. The Head of Sixth Form, an SLT member, runs specialist sessions for Sixth Formers, bringing in speakers and running sessions on a wide variety of aspects of careers, finance, Higher Education.

Up-to-date, independent careers information is available in a careers section in the Learning Resource Centre.

The Youth Connexions Personal Adviser provides specialist careers information and advice via individual interviews for pupils referred by the school and for any pupil in Years 7-13 who self-refers.

A member of the Strategic Area Partnership Group attends relevant parents’ evenings to offer advice to parents and pupils on qualifications not offered by the school (e.g. Diplomas) and to advise them as to how such opportunities can be taken up.