Careers
Mr S Moss: Director of Careers
Email: smoss@tpc.academy
Phone: 0208 590 3808
Mrs John: Personal Careers Adviser (Prospects)
Providers, parents/carers & students: please contact Mr Moss by email or phone regarding any career education related enquiry.
Entitlement Statement
“Students to have the right information to make the right choice at the right time”
Careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) is an essential part of the support we offer to all students at The Palmer Catholic Academy. Effective CEIAG can help to prepare young people for the many opportunities, skills, responsibilities and experiences of life; it can help them to make informed decisions and manage transitions as learners to workers. As pathways for young people become more varied, we will support them to develop the knowledge and skills they need to make appropriate and informed choices for their future.
Personal Guidance
We offer all of our students impartial careers advice and guidance through our work with Mrs. John from Prospects. All students will receive at least three careers advice sessions at key transition points [Year 7, Year 9, Year 11, Year 12 and 13 (offered)]. There is always an opportunity for a ‘drop in’ advice session for students who require further career related advice. Students and parents/carers are welcome to contact Mr Moss directly if they wish to discuss any careers questions or book additional careers advice.
Use the link below to gain more information on Prospects and further information
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice
The academy has a dedicated Careers Library containing computer access to career related websites and a range of resources for students to conduct independent research into potential careers and courses.
Parents/carers and students can use the National Careers Service website to investigate potential careers further by using the link below or call free on 0800 100 900. Support is available by phone, online, email and text for anyone aged 13 and over.
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/
GET INVOLVED: Students and parents/carers are welcome to contact Mr Moss in advance to arrange ‘drop in’ sessions during lunch times for their child.
Career and Labour Market Information [LMI]
All students have their own online START account linked to their academy email. This provides students with an interactive platform to record their achievements and encounters, building up their profiles throughout their time at TPCA. START has a number of benefits, identifying career opportunities based on interests and subjects and offers up-to-date LMI and apprenticeships opportunities.
https://careers.startprofile.com/page/home-page
In an ever changing economic environment it is important to stay informed and up-to-date about labour market information (LMI). All year groups will have a dedicated LMI assembly regarding up-to-date information on the UK labour market, for example skills gaps and job satisfaction rates.
The website below gives up-to-date regional Labour Market Profiles for students, parents/carers and teachers. Search for any LA from the drop down list.
https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/contents.aspx
To gain specific labour market information on an industry, the link below to Career Smart. It has a wealth of information on pay, jobs with the longest and shortest working weeks with a breakdown of employment in each sector for all the standard occupational roles.
https://careersmart.org.uk/industries
For parents/carers that want to find out more about careers and how to help their child(ren) make informed decisions, please use the link below to iCould. Their online guides regarding key decision points outline the options open at each key stage and feature information to help inform your child(ren)’s decision-making. The second link has a range of career specific videos allowing parents/carers and students to explore potential careers.
https://icould.com/information-for-parents
Schools, parents/carers and students can use Skills Match to foster a new learning and training infrastructure that will accommodate the requirements of the new areas of growth at a geographically specific level.
http://skillsmatch.intelligentlondon.org.uk/schools_colleges
There will be specific LMI related lessons which take place within assemblies and our KS3 PSHE programme and KS4 tutor programme.
KS3
Year 7 students will understand the essential skills that are required for the workplace and will plan how to ensure they will meet these skills during their time at the academy. All students will conduct a personality career test to identify how their personal attributes could lead to an appropriate career path. All students will have a clear understanding of transitional points and how they will be supported during these key times. Year 8 students will understand and challenge stereotypes within the workplace, such as female and STEM related industries and will understand the link between education, skills and pay levels. Year 9 students and parents/carers will be given key information regarding options and career pathways. They will gain an understanding of the role of money as a motivator and the importance of personal financial management, including pay, credit & the impact of debt.
KS4
In Year 10, students will understand and challenge discrimination in the workplace and understand the importance of equality. Year 10 students will understand and challenge topical workplace issues such as ‘The Glass Ceiling’ and ‘The Gender Pay Gap’. In Year 11, students will gain key information on potential Post-16 pathways and develop with the support of our careers advisor their own action plans to map out their priorities and potential career paths.
KS5
Sixth Form students will gain an insight into degree related careers and apprenticeship led careers. They will be fully guided throughout their UCAS applications, higher and degree apprenticeship and job applications. All Year 13 students will be offered careers guidance for their Post-18 choices.
Careers and the Curriculum
All teachers at the academy will highlight potential careers within their subjects. At key transition points [Year 9 GCSE options, Year 11 Post-16 and Year 13 Post-18] teachers deliver subject specific career led lessons outlining the range of pathways available. All students are required to choose GCSE’s within the set option ‘blocks’ to ensure their breadth of subjects are studied so that a wide range of career choices are available in the future. Option booklets outline the range of careers available and a parents’ evening for Year 9 will outline career links within subjects with up-to-date LMI and the opportunity to discuss subject based careers with the teachers. Specific topics covered within the curriculum are enhanced with particular workplace information and linked to a wide variety of job roles that are appropriate to the curriculum.
Encounters with employers and employees
At the academy every student will have at least one encounter each year to learn from employers about work and the skills that are valued in the workplace.
Guest Speakers
We have welcomed a number of inspirational speakers to the academy, such as Hassan Salim [MAN], Toby Jones [Actor], Ben DePear [Channel 4 News Editor], Benita Refson OBE [President of Place2Be], Sheryl Teya [BT], Victoria Borwick [MP], Shuaib Master, Aishah Rasul, Ryan Rajkumar, Toby King [St. James’ Place] and Dale Morgan [Entrepreneur]. Many subjects invite specific employers to their classes for a more tailored approach.
National Careers Week (NCW)
We celebrate NCW and invite guest speakers to discuss their careers with each year group. We welcome the number of Alumni who come back to support the academy. Preparation work is done in advance so that students are able to ask questions regarding our guest speakers' career journey. NCW is further enhanced through career related form time information and within the curriculum looking at a range of jobs and essential LMI.
National Apprenticeship Week
We celebrate National Apprenticeship Week and welcome back Alumni Sheryl Teya and Mahtab Uddin into the academy to present to Years 8, 9, 10 and 11 (Year 12 and 13 are invited to attend) their apprenticeship journey, providing essential information on the application process.
GET INVOLVED: We welcome Alumni, employer/employee guest speakers to our academy to engage with our students. Please contact Mr Moss if you are interested.
Year 11 Futures Day
All Year 11 students take part in our Futures Day. This comprises a number of workshops where students gain understanding of a range of workplace skills and the pathways available to them. We have a regular team of providers who facilitate engaging activities. We welcome keynote guest speakers, Unite Union, Apprenticeship Skills, The 93% Club, St. James’ Place and New City College to deliver key aspects of our Futures Day. Within this day we prepare our students for interviews and have been supported by Kat Jones from Ardent Legal Recruitment in conducting these interviews. Our top students are awarded certificates for being ‘The Most Employable’ student.
London UK University & Apprenticeship Fair
Each year, we visit the ‘London UK University & Apprenticeship Fair’ with our Year 12 students. This event hosts a range of exhibitors with the opportunity to speak to a multitude of exhibiting apprenticeship providers. These will include red brick and modern institutions, as well as apprenticeship providers and local colleges.
Use the link below to gain more information on London UK University & Apprenticeship Fair
https://www.ukuniversitysearch.com/
GET INVOLVED: We welcome apprenticeship providers, further and higher education establishments to our academy to engage with our students. Please contact Mr Moss if you are interested.
Addressing the needs of each student
All students have at least three impartial careers advice sessions (Year 7, 9 and 11 with the option to have further sessions in Years 12 & 13) led by Mrs John from Prospects. Students with additional needs or are at risk are offered further one-to-one careers advice sessions to ensure that they choose the correct pathway for their own career aims with the additional support of our SENCo and LA.
Our mentoring department, led by Mr Datson, supports our students through a range of programmes.
Next Gen Leadership Programme
This focus group programme is led by the mentoring team and builds the essential workplace skills that are required. The programme consists of developing self-confidence, role-modelling, leadership and presentation skills.
West Ham Foundation
The focus group programme, led by Mr Datson, aims to develop social enterprise within the community. Team working, leadership, collaboration and self-confidence and, of course, coaching skills which are built over a number of sessions over a year.
A number of projects take place with the Foundation which enables our students across the academy to use the power of football to raise aspirations, leadership skills, making better choices and to empower the students for future career plans within STEM, media or sports.
With the Foundation we are able to network with other companies such as The Fest Hub and Premier League Inspires.
For more information on the West Ham Foundation, plus Premier League Inspires and the Fest Hub please use the links below.
https://www.whufc.com/club/community/foundation/programmes/premier-league-inspires
https://thefesthub.org/our-services/stemfest/
https://www.premierleague.com/news/3544189
London Citizens Programme
Led by our mentoring team, this programme cultivates a wide range of skills and is based on community improvement projects. Selected students get the opportunity to negotiate with local councillors on community priorities and lead on campaigns to improve the local community.
For more information on TELCO Citizens, Redbridge Citizens please use the link below.
https://www.citizensuk.org/chapters/east-london/
National Citizen Service (NCS)
We are a NCS Champion School (Gold Award). Each year we invite NCS to present to our Year 11 students the benefits of participating in the NCS summer programme. On this programme, students can meet new people and make a positive difference where they live.
For more information on the National Citizen Service please use the link below.
https://wearencs.com/what-is-ncs
Sports Leadership Programme
Led by the PE department, this programme gains essential workplace skills such as leadership, planning, implementation, confidence and coaching. Students develop a range of activities to deliver at our local primary schools. This can lead to formally recognised leadership awards and qualifications. “94% of students felt more employable” [www.sportsleaders.org].
For more information on the Sports Leadership Programme please use the link below.
https://www.sportsleaders.org/
Experiences of workplaces
Work Experience
All Year 12 Students embark on a 1 week work experience. Students have found it valuable in a number of ways. It may be that they would like to work in an area that they are considering as a career choice or is related to their UCAS applications. Students are encouraged and supported in finding their own placements or can use our providers ‘The Business Education Partnership’ (BEP) to source a suitable placement.
We expect all 6th Form students to sign up to the Speakers for Schools programme to gain independent access to a wide range of speakers, events and online work experience programmes. To find out more please use the link below.
https://www.speakersforschools.org/
We have delivered a range of industry related virtual work experiences, such as St. James Place Wealth Management, Microsoft and IBM.
Relevant Work Experience will provide your child a chance to:
- Help personal and social development and develop key skills in a work environment
- Improve employability by searching for an own placement - linked to their chosen career
- Learn about the world of work
- Meet new people and find out what it means to work as a team
- Take responsibility for their own actions
GET INVOLVED: We welcome employers to offer work placements for our students. Please contact Mr Moss if you wish to offer a work placement. All workplaces must have employee liability insurance.
Use the link below for more information about The Business and Enterprise Partnership.
Encounters with Alternative, Further and Higher Education Providers
Students have meaningful encounters with a number of providers to cover a wide range of pathways our students can embark on Post-14, 16 and 18.
TPCA Providers Access Policy
New City College
We invite NCC into our academy to promote their college to our students during our Year 11 Futures Day. At risk students are supported through visits to local colleges through our SENCo lead and LA support.
Brook 6th Form Academy
We invite Brook 6th Form Academy into our academy to promote their academy to Year 9 students (for their Post-14 provision) and Year 11 (for their Post-16 provision). This technical college has a strong focus on technical qualifications within STEM and offers T-Levels.
National University Week
During this week we plan to raise student awareness and aspirations to seek higher education opportunities. With university representatives, form tutor activities and curriculum time, all students are made aware of the benefits of higher education and the application process involved.
We attend the ‘UK University & Apprenticeship Fair’ with our Year 12 students. This event hosts a range of exhibitors with the opportunity to speak to a multitude of university providers.
All Year 13 students are supported through the UCAS application process and are allocated a form mentor to develop their personal statements. All students are allowed visits to their top UCAS choice.
Higher & Degree Apprenticeships - EDI Founder: Frances Trought
Working in partnership with EDI, we will identify and support students in Year 13 who are considering Higher & Degree Apprenticeships. EDI will mentor and support those students through the application and interview process to secure their apprenticeships.
GET INVOLVED: We welcome all providers to our academy to speak to our students as outlined in our Provider Access Policy. Please contact Mr Moss to arrange a suitable date and time.
If you would like a more detailed plan of your child(ren)’s career programme, please contact Mr Moss.
We believe our careers education and guidance programme will enable students to:
- Enhance self-development
- Review skills, interests and priorities
- Consider issues of equal opportunity and stereotypes
- Identify what influences decision making
- Career exploration, including Apprenticeships
- Consider work experience placements/options that suit their own skills, interests and priorities
- Understand their rights and responsibilities in the workplace and who can help
- Practise careers research skills
- Understand the importance of gaining recognised qualifications
- Judge the most appropriate routes after leaving school, including technical qualifications and T-Levels
- Develop knowledge of finance issues and how this may shape your futures plans
- Prepare and produce a CV
- Apply for courses, training, apprenticeships or work
- Recognise and practise good interview performance
- Know where to get further help when you leave school
Our students' responsibility is to:
Be active in helping themselves as well as us helping them - visit the careers library to find out more about a career idea that interests you, be prepared to be realistic when making choices about the range of opportunities available and carry out all actions they have agreed to undertake with us. Contact Mr Moss if there are any concerns or extra support is needed.
Parents/carers can help by:
- Attending all parents’ evenings to gain awareness of your child(ren)’s progress and attainment
- Encouraging your child to try out new activities such as joining school and out-of-school activities
- Discussing information sent by the academy with your child regarding careers or education
- Giving option and career advice without pressure
- Encouraging friends/family to talk about their experience of work
- Take part in any surveys to review and improve our careers provision
- Attend open evenings and options evening to discuss with teachers potential career paths
- Volunteer to share your experiences at our academy by contacting Mr Moss
Useful websites for careers and Further/Higher Education information
https://careers.startprofile.com/page/home-page
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/careers
https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles
https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/apprentices/career-starter-apprenticeships
https://www.ncclondon.ac.uk/redbridge
https://www.brooksixthform.com/
https://www.skillsforcareers.education.gov.uk/pages/skills-for-life