We aim to provide excellent, personalised and impartial careers information, advice and guidance to all our students as well as support for parents so they can help their children to make the right decisions. In KS3 the careers programme is written into our PSHE programmes and we also offer applied English and Maths courses, available to Y9 pupils who can sit Functional Skills examinations in Y10. In KS4 employability skills are developed through Preparation for Working Life qualification, vocational qualifications in Construction, Animal Care, Hair & Beauty, Catering, mechanics and conservation programmes and through work experience placements.
We have a Learning & Work Adviser – Sue James – who works with our KS4 students to help identify and plan out their chosen next steps and to ensure these are successful. Phil is there to support them from the start of Year 10 and then right up to the November after they have left Year 11 and we are very proud of the ongoing success of our Connexions and Post 16 partnership work. We have a strong and consistently improving record of helping young people to stay on into education and training post 16, with 2018 the highest rate we have ever achieved – click here to see our post-16 progression ‘Destinations’ data.
The primary measurement of the effectiveness of the careers programme on pupils at key stage 4 is through this destination data, termly key worker reports and attendance figures. The school measures and assesses the impact of the careers programme on pupils through key worker reports termly and attendance figures and are also using the Compass assessment to rate ourselves for IAG (Information, Advice and Guidance) against the Gatsby benchmarks.
Chris Smith is the careers lead for the Danesgate Community, and can be contacted by emailing c.smith@danesgatecommunity.org.uk or via the main office on 01904 555 555. Please be aware that while teaching staff endeavour to check e-mail regularly, due to the busy nature of the school day they may not be able to reply immediately.
The careers information on this page is reviewed at least annually, may also be updated with any changes occurring during the year, Post-16 Pathways 2023-2024 Information