Careers and Work Experience

Careers and Work Experience

At Belvidere School, we aim to equip students with the knowledge, skills and attributes to thrive in learning and work. We recognise the important contribution Careers Education makes to raising aspirations and supporting the successful transition into adulthood and employment, therefore it is increasingly becoming embedded into all aspects of our curriculum and culture of education within the Academy. The Belvidere 5-year Careers, Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) journey ensures that students are inspired and equipped to make informed decisions about their life beyond secondary school, that it is relevant in supporting their longer-term goals.

We provide a varied Careers Education and Support programme, delivered across both Key stage 3 and 4, and work to the Gatsby Benchmarks and CDI Framework to ensure this is meaningful and impactful.

Our programme supports the following:

The transition to life beyond Belvidere, including Post-16, Post-18 and beyond
A successful move into further education, apprenticeships or training
Making ambitious and informed decisions
Opportunities to encounter further education and the world of work
The development of employability skills and personal attributes, including resilience, communication skills, leadership, creativity and innovation
A positive mindset that leads to aspiration and achievement
Equality of opportunity, the challenging of stereotypes and celebration of diversity
The availability of guidance to help students reach their potential

Please click on this link to view our Provider Access Statement.

Click on the links below to view out Schools Careers Programme.

Teachers
The careers team at Belvidere works in partnership with staff across the whole school community. It is expected that all departments embed Careers Related Learning into the curriculum, across all Key Stages. Resources for staff can be accessed on the school network and via the links below.

Gatsby Benchmarks
Curriculum Resources and Guidance
MyPath Videos

Belvidere School will assess the impact of its careers programmes on students in a variety of ways. We use a programme called Compass+, as the tool to help us benchmark, manage, track and report on our school’s careers programme. We will also gain feedback through questionnaires, student voice, Alumni and analysing destinations data. Feedback questionnaires will be conducted, for example, after large whole-school career events and through whole school parent surveys.

The Careers Team

Megan Revell CEIAG STL Lead	Kim Weston Careers Advisor	Georgina Young Work Experience Coordinator	Rebecca Phillips HOY 11
I am the Senior Leader with responsibility for overseeing, and helping to implement the Careers and Enterprise programme at Belvidere School. We are in the process of enhancing our Careers Programme, in line with the Gatsby Benchmarks and CDI Framework, to ensure our students are fully aware of the vast range of Post-16 options, pathways and opportunities that lie ahead, and to equip them with the skills and tools for success.	I am in school 1 day a week, working one to one or with small groups, to help with Post-16 career planning in education, employment or training. I offer impartial careers advice on all pathways and options. In addition to scheduled appointments, I have a drop-in sessions every lunchtime.	I oversee Work experience for Year 10 and work alongside the rest of the careers team to ensure we are offering you an insight into the world of work and an invaluable experience.	In addition to providing Year 11 students with academic and pastoral support throughout the year, we are also on hand to assist with the completion of Personal Statements, and to provide guidance on the Post-16 application process.

Independent Careers Guidance

In the current economic climate, it is important that students are given the best possible chance to find information about the education and training they can access when they leave school. At Belvidere, we ensure that all our students and their parents are provided with useful information and guidance to help with those important career choices.

Careers Advisor
Independent IAG (Information, Advice and Guidance) is available in school via our Careers Advisor who can provide advice on the following:

Options in Years 9, 10 & 11
Career pathways
Study programmes / college courses
Apprenticeships / employment opportunities
Higher Education and RPA (Raising of the Participation Age)

Who?
This is done in school, by Kim Weston, a qualified Level 6 registered Careers Advisor practitioner from the Independent Careers Development Institute (CDI).

When?
Kim is in school on a Tuesday during term time and can be found in the office between rooms 36/37. Appointments can be made and there is an additional drop in facility at break, lunch time and after school. Kim is also available during our Options Evening and Parents Evenings should you wish to seek advice. Appointments can be made by contacting the school reception.

Enterprise Advisor For Belvidere School
The Enterprise Adviser for our school is a local business man called Andy Coleyshaw, Andy is tasked with connecting Belvidere School with employers and careers programme providers to work together to create meaningful encounters with the world of work for our students.
Factual data shows that a young person who has four or more encounters with an employer is 86% less likely to be unemployed or not in education or training, and can go on to earn up to 18% more during their career.
Our focus is to bring together local employers, Belvidere School students, and careers programme providers to:
• give our students multiple opportunities to get to know the world of work, understand what work is, explore their options and build real confidence about their future
• bring the right people together to create strong connections between employers and careers programme providers and Belvidere School in ways that put our students’ futures first

Our Goals
• To improve and increase our business engagement, so that pupils from year 7 right through to year 11 come into contact with and have the chance to interact with multiple employers, employees, apprentices, both in school and in the workplace and learn about different careers, professions and career pathways.
• Follow the impact: incorporate the evidence of the ‘What Works’ research by the Careers & Enterprise Company to guide strategic careers planning for the good of the local community’s future workforce, whilst benefitting Belvidere School students (mentoring, enterprise competitions, careers insight talks and work experience).
• Make it last: embed careers education and guidance in the curriculum and celebrate an ethos that places careers and enterprise opportunities at the heart of Belvidere School.

How The Support Could Work
As a business man myself I realise that the pressure and time running a business can be demanding, I personally got involved as I believe we all need to pull together to give our emerging students, our future leaders, entrepreneurs and workforce the best possible experience and exposure to the working environment to allow them the opportunity to develop and make considered decisions about their future.
If you can assist in any way to help Belvidere School students:
• Gain real or virtual work placement experience
• By giving them talks/demonstrations/experience of employment sectors and types of roles within your business (real or virtually)
• By explaining about the skills, knowledge and qualities required, in order to build confidence and understanding of the world of work

We Would Love to Hear From You
Whether you’re in a large or small business, if you really want to help the local students at Belvidere School, getting involved is quick and easy. To find out more or express your interest, just email Andy or the Careers Leader Megan Revell at revell.m@belvidere.shropshire.sch.uk

Raising-the-participation-age (RPA) is Government legislation where all Year 11 leavers are required to remain in education, training or employment with accredited training until their 18th birthday. If you would like further information about RPA, please contact the school’s Careers Adviser via (01743) 235073, or see https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/raising-the-participation-age.

16 to 19 Bursary Fund website Information on how to help young people stay in education or training after 16. Those most in need will be eligible for a bursary of £1,200 a year. You have to apply directly to your college / training provider for a bursary.

Belvidere School Destinations
2020 Data here...

Work Experience

Work Experience is an ideal opportunity for students to get a taste of the world of work and is offered to all of our Year 10 students at the end of the Summer Term. We actively encourage our students to find their own placements and help, advice and support is provided to assist with this process. Often friends, family, neighbours or employers of parents/carers can be a great source of information. We also maintain a database of employers who have been happy to take on our students in previous years.

All placements are checked for Health and Safety purposes, as well as relevant insurance coverage, by the Shropshire Telford and Wrekin Education Business Links with whom we have worked closely for a number of years. Students will not be allowed to go on a placement until it has been approved. It is therefore essential that they start looking early, especially as some of the most popular ones fill up very quickly. Once a placement has been confirmed with the student, they should return the relevant form to school (which is enclosed in the WEX pack) and we will write to the employer to confirm this. Further advice is given to the students regarding their conduct and Health and Safety prior to the start of the placement and we also encourage them to make a personal visit beforehand to introduce themselves.

Our students normally gain a great deal from their placement and for many, it helps them decide upon a career path. Even if this is not the case, it gives everyone a taste of what the world of work entails. In recent years some of our students have even been offered Saturday jobs, or holiday work by their work experience employer.

Miss Megan Revell and Miss Georgina Young can be contacted at school with any queries you may have.

From Work Experience Providers

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"He has proved himself to be a hardworking and popular member of the team. He has adapted to all aspects of the job with a positive and easy going attitude."

She always worked hard, listened well and was always on the look out for something else to do! A real asset.

"She has been an exceptional work experince student who has delivered work of equal standard to employers. We cannot praise her highly enough."

"Polite, well mannered individual, shows genuine interest in his chosen placement (engineering), well done."

"It has been a pleasure to have your student with us. she has worked hard, taken ownership of tasks assigned to her and been cheerful and good natured. A credit to your school."

"She was an absolute pleasure to have working with them. She was extremely mature, hardworking and full of questions and suggestions. The whole team were very impressed and she has a great future ahead of her, whatever she chooses to do."

She has been an absolute superstar! She has been so helpful at the busy end of term. She used her initiative and would be welcome back at anytime.

"He was consistently on time in the morning and happy to be working on tasks set, in what can be a busy agency environment. He is polite and willing to learn. We wish him all the best."

He has had an excellent week and communicated well with staff, patients and clients. He has shown a real willingness to get involved without being asked. His confidence has grown throughout the week and he has made a real contribution!

All tasks set have been completed to a high standard and we hope that she has gained an insight into a policing career. All students from Belvidere have been great ambassadors for their school.

She was a delight to host. She is very well mannered, bright and intelligent; an absolute credit to Belvidere School and her parents.

Wow, what a clever lad! He picked up tasks quickly. Very employable!

"Fantastic student, he should be extremely proud of the way he carried himself."

Career Links

Click on the link to see our BELVIDERE SCHOOL GUIDE TO POST-16 OPTIONS, which has useful information for students, parents and carers about the Next Steps. This includes a getting-prepared timeline, information about A-levels, vocational courses, apprenticeships and supported programmes and information about our local colleges, 6th forms and training establishments. Finally, there is a section on Higher Education (University) and local Labour Market Information which shows sector growth, demand and decline for our region and county.

There are many Careers websites that provide a wealth of information and useful advice too. Here are some of our favourites:


CASCAID/KUDOS - A careers resource implemented in local schools. Kudos boasts a wide range of features, each designed to support young people in planning for their future and exploring the world of careers, training and further education. Aimed at students aged 13-19, All students receive their own personalised log-in and have an opportunity to explore this resource, starting in Year 9.		The Start website is the one-stop-shop for career inspirationand preparation. Here you can watch exciting videos, read advice articles and get yourself ready for the next step.	Take the Buzz test, find out your personality type

Everything you need to know about becoming an apprentice!	A site to explore and find apprenticeships in our area.	The main government website which provides information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work	All you need to know about employment, law and young people
	Other Useful Websites
A range of information and guidance on jobs and work experience, applying for university, and much more.	https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/careers https://www.ucas.com https://discoveruni.gov.uk https://www.careersbox.co.uk https://successatschool.org https://www.how2become.com https://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk https://www.russellgroup.ac.uk