The provision of careers guidance and support at Spires Academy aims to deliver on the 2018 Department for Education Careers strategy. Our aims are:

• All students develop and use the knowledge and skills they need to make successful choices, manage transitions in learning and move into work.
• All students to have a clear understanding of the full range of opportunities available to them.
• To encourage high aspirations, motivation and employability skills in all students.
• To challenge stereotyping and promote equality of opportunity within pupils, parents and staff.

Who is involved?

The careers leader at Spires Academy is Mrs H Clarke who helps in the planning and delivery of the careers programme.

We also receive support from the Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC). This involves the Kent Enterprise Advisor Network, who enable employers and schools to create links and work together to provide students with more employer engagement opportunities. We also use their tools such as ‘Compass’ to measure our progress towards meeting the eight Gatsby Benchmarks, which are indicators of good careers guidance.

Spires Academy has forged very good relationships with the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University through the Kent and Medway Progression Federation (KMPF).  The KMPF has engaged students in all year groups in workshops and activities to raise aspirations and support further learning and skills, often in a further education setting.

We are also very keen to involve parents and alumni in supporting the delivery of careers and enterprise activities. If you have any queries, questions or wish to find out more information please contact Mrs Clarke (hclarke@spires.e21c.co.uk).

Gatsby Benchmarks

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
6. Experiences of workplaces
7. Encounters with further and higher education
8. Personal guidance

Our Provision

Key Stage 3

• Begin to develop an awareness of individual skills and strengths in relation to Post-16 pathways and future career goals.
• Take part in the Year 8 Pathways evening to discuss option choices with a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
• Experience further education, businesses and different jobs through live broadcasts, talks and visits.
• Curriculum areas will be seeking to develop links between pupils’ studies and the world of work as we develop our provision.

Year 10

• Experience careers education through Life Skills lessons, focused on creating a personalised action plan and challenging stereotypes.
• Start experiencing different training providers and jobs through talks and visits.
• Develop labour market awareness through mentor time activities.
• Visit to a further education/higher education provider for a workshop/experience day.
• Opportunities and help with applying for university summer schools.

Year 11

• Experience careers education through Life Skills lessons, focused on creating a personalised action plan, promoting themselves and assessing the different Post-16 routes.
• Guidance and support in mentor time when applying for Post-16 education via UCAS Progress or searching and applying for apprenticeship vacancies.
• Post-16 training provider information is advertised through the Year 11 noticeboard and through talks and visits.

Helpful careers advice: https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/careers

For further information about students' options after Year 11 please visit

the Kent Choices website via the link https://www.kentprospectus.co.uk