At Watling Academy, we are committed to ensuring that all students from Years 7 to 13 are well-prepared for their next steps when they leave school, be it for education or employment. Through careers-related activities and our curriculum, we aim to inform students about the range of opportunities available and provide personalised guidance to support their decision-making. Through our Wellbeing programme we raise students’ awareness of developing the employability skills that will equip them for success in their chosen careers. The Gatsby benchmarks are embedded in our provision.
Our careers provision is well-developed and embedded in the curriculum and extra-curricular opportunities. It provides good quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities. Careers at Watling Academy is differentiated to meet the needs of different age-groups, and opportunities and impartial advice is tailored for individual students, recognising equality and diversity.
The school provides multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and skills that are valued in the workplace. All students have the opportunity to participate in work experience and to develop links with employers. Students explore the full range of opportunities available to them for their next steps, including colleges, apprenticeships, universities and employment.
Should you have any questions regarding careers please email the following staff:
Care and Opportunity Admin – (opportunity@watling.academy Tel: 01908 794094)
Mr J Stormer- Careers leader (stormerj@watling.academy Tel: 01908 794094)
Careers programme summary
How the career programme is delivered
The careers programme is delivered to all year groups, with different focuses according to the age of the student, during tutorial, Wellbeing lessons, within curriculum learning, through our extra-curricular provision and during school events. We employ an independent careers advisor who offers individual guidance, with a focus on key transition points. The careers advisor is also available during options evenings to provide support and guidance at key transition points for students. Professionals from a wide variety of job roles are invited to meet students and provide information about their roles and businesses. Within the Tutorial programme, we develop students’ knowledge of career paths and skills in communicating with people. We use Unifrog for students to access job searching tools, as well as skills evaluation tools to record their career education journey.
How is the career programme is evaluated?
The careers programme is evaluated during our Wellbeing lessons, after careers events, and through stakeholder feedback. Feedback is used when planning future speakers and events across the school to ensure the very best provision is available for our students. Our careers provision is evaluated by the Senior Leadership Team and our designated Careers Assurance Governor using Compass+. This ongoing review guides the direction and continued growth of Careers provision at Watling Academy.
Year 7
Introduction to Careers in Wellbeing. Lessons focus on developing skills and aspirations.
Students take part in Watling Careers Month activities linked to curriculum areas. They explore where different subjects could lead them. They are also introduced to a range of careers terminology during form time activities.
Engagement with employers, such as Hays Recruitment.
Through STEM lessons they are introduced to key employability skills such as teamwork, communication and giving presentations.
Students are introduced to the Unifrog platform and begin to investigate different careers. They begin to record their skills development and other competencies.
There are opportunities for students to attend trips, such as Teentech Festival, MK Theatre Production, Science Leaders, Bletchley Park and Whipsnade.
Careers Ambassadors play a role in development of the schoolwide approach to careers.
Year 8
Students explore different job opportunities through the Community and Careers unit of Wellbeing lessons.
Students take part in Watling Careers Month activities linked to curriculum areas. They explore where different subjects could lead them.
Students participate in the Worktree Virtual Career Workout, where they meet a variety of employers virtually and have the opportunity to ask them questions about their role and training pathways.
Students will continue to use Unifrog to log and track their skills and experiences.
There are opportunities for students to attend trips, such as Nifty Lift – Women in Engineering, MK Theatre Production, Science Leaders, Battlefields.
Careers Ambassadors play a role in development of the schoolwide approach to careers.
Through STEM lessons they are introduced to key employability skills such as teamwork, communication and giving presentations.
Year 9
Students explore Goal Setting and Employability Skills through Wellbeing lessons.
Students take part in Watling Careers Month activities linked to curriculum areas. They explore where different subjects could lead them. They will be supported to develop an understanding of the role of specific Key Stage 4 qualifications in future career paths.
All students will have the opportunity to meet with an Independent Careers Advisor to discuss their GCSE options. Options lessons, assemblies and information evenings help ensure that students and parents have the information they need to make the best choices going into Key Stage 4.Students will continue to use Unifrog to log and track their skills and experiences.
There are opportunities for students to attend trips, such as Career Inspiration-MK College, Design Museum, Science Leaders, Silverstone, Thorpe Park, MEP trip to China.
Careers Ambassadors play a role in development of the schoolwide approach to careers.
Employer engagement and future training through talks/assemblies, such as MK College.
Through STEM lessons they are introduced to key employability skills such as teamwork, communication and giving presentations.
Year 10
Students explore Work Experience during Wellbeing lessons. They evaluate strengths and interests in relation to career development.
Students take part in Watling Careers Month activities linked to curriculum areas. They explore where different subjects could lead them.
All Year 10 student will have the opportunity to participate in Work Experience.
Students will continue to use Unifrog to log and track their skills and experiences, as well as supporting the work experience process.
Students will have exposure to careers pathways in GCSE lessons. This will include training pathways, employability skills required and employment within each subject area.
There are opportunities for students to attend trips, such as Geography Fieldwork, Barcelona, Global Challenge, London Art Trip
Careers Ambassadors play a role in development of the schoolwide approach to careers.
Employer engagement through talks/assemblies, such as Navy.
Year 11
Students explore their next steps during Wellbeing lessons. Exploring the suitability of possible pathways.
Students take part in Watling Careers Month activities linked to curriculum areas. They explore where different subjects could lead them.
All students will have the opportunity to meet with an Independent Careers Advisor to discuss their GCSE options. Options lessons, assemblies and information evenings help ensure that students and parents have the information they need to make the best choices going into Key Stage 5.
Activities such as Futures Day will highlight possible pathways, including Sixth Form, College and Apprenticeships.
Students will continue to use Unifrog to log and track their skills and experiences, as well signposting to other key online resources to support KS5 decision making.
Students will have exposure to careers pathways in GCSE lessons and links on the website. This will include training pathways, employability skills required and employment within each subject area.
There are opportunities for students to attend trips, such as Oxford Aspiration, St Pauls Cathedral, Geography Field Work, Theatre trips.
Careers Ambassadors play a role in development of the schoolwide approach to careers.
Employer engagement through talks/assemblies and external provider events, such as Xero and Worktree networking and interview workshops.
Careers Policy & Provider Access Statement
Please find below our published Careers Policy, as well as our Provider Access Statement.
More Information
Please see below our Post-16 Options resource:
Unifrog is our primary database for both recording student activities and for researching opportunities. It provides students with a user-friendly tool to keep track of work experience, extra-curricular achievements, academic results and also to start considering their options at key transitions, such as the end of Year 11 and beyond the Sixth Form.
Amazing Apprenticeships provides a wealth of information for student considering following an apprenticeship route Post-16.
UpReach provide a useful guide to careers, further education and university called the Aspire Guide.
Here are some further links for students and parents/carers to explore careers further:
Labour Market Information (LMI)
Labour Market Information(LMI) refers to information that comes directly from employers to shape our understanding of the job need in our local area, the South-East Midlands. LMI is about the current economic and employment situation. It includes data on destinations, average starting salary, current trends in employment sectors and recruitment patterns.
LMI means finding out the following things about different job roles or career pathways:
• What do people actually do in this job/industry?
• How many people work in this job/industry?
• How much do people get paid in this job/industry?
• What qualifications do I need to do this job?
• What skills or qualities do I need to do this job?
• What are the typical working hours for this job?
• What percentage of men/women work in this job/industry?
• Where can this job/industry take me in the future?
• Where are these jobs located around the country?
• How many of these jobs will there be in the future?
There is an abundance of LMI on Unifrog, and a variety of other sources given via the links below.
