Careers Education
Demonstrating the links between lifestyle, learning and earning.
By helping students make the correct career decision, we equip them to reach their full potential.
Malden Oaks’ careers plan supports the achievement of the Eight Gatsby Benchmarks (link here) and the DfE document Careers guidance and access for education and training providers” (July 2021). Our careers plan sets out how the school provides a fit-for-purpose careers programme. Students join Malden Oaks in different years and for various reasons so their careers offer is tailored for them by the Head of School of their provision.
A summary of the ways in which we meet these Benchmarks is below. We also use a Careers Audit/Review to reflect on how we are meeting the benchmarks - Intent, Implementation & Impact. This audit includes the views of stakeholders. The date of the school’s next review of the information published is October 2022. For full information see our Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance Policy
It is important to us that all students have a plan for their next steps. We are committed to ensuring that students have high-quality impartial advice on careers opportunities. We believe that giving students the best career education and guidance is vital to helping them achieve their ambitions.
The Eight Gatsby Benchmarks:
Benchmark 1: A Stable Careers Programme
Every school and college should have an embedded programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by students, parents, teachers, governors and employers.
Benchmark 2: Learning from Career and Labour Market Information
Every student and their parents should have access to good quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities. They will need the support of an informed adviser to make the best use of available information.
Benchmark 3: Addressing the Needs of Each Student
Students have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each student. A school’s careers programme should embed equality and diversity considerations throughout.
Benchmark 4: Linking Curriculum Learning to Careers
All teachers should link curriculum learning with careers. STEM subject teachers should highlight the relevance of STEM subjects for a wide range of careers paths.
Benchmark 5: Encounters with Employers and Employees
Every student should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment activities including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes.
Benchmark 6: Experiences of Workplaces
Every student should have first-hand experience of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing, and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities, and expand their networks.
Benchmark 7: Encounters with Further and Higher Education
All students should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them. This includes both academic and vocational routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace.
Benchmark 8: Personal Guidance
By the end of year 11 every student will have had a 1-1 careers interview with a qualified external careers adviser. In addition, they will meet with our experienced internal staff for guidance.
Guidance and advice delivery
The below information sets out some of the ways our Provisions deliver our careers work.
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PSHE lessons
Students access Kudos an online programme. Kudos helps students to access the information they need to make important decisions about future careers and what subjects, courses and training they can do to reach their career destination.
World of Work topic objectives include:
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To explore what work is and understanding its’ meaning
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To know the different types of employment & employment contract
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To know the difference between jobs, occupations & careers
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To emphasise the link between school subject being studied and subsequent career choice
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To know what transferable skills are and to know what generic skills & qualities employers want. Matching skills & qualities to jobs and transferable skills
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Dream jobs & reality, jobs of the future, impact of technology, employment trends. Action planning/ career path mapping
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Interview preparation & CVs
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To review learning & get feedback to inform future planning
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All students have an independent careers guidance interview; students are informed about courses which suit their academic needs and aspirations. We ensure that all our students progress onto appropriate courses or employment on leaving our school. We provide access to independent information about the range of options (academic, vocational or apprenticeships). Our team of tutors of help students to complete application forms to college. The Head of Careers, the tutor or parent/carers follow up actions stated in the independent interviews.
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Students with EHCPS; All students with an EHCP have a careers programme that is tailored to meet their individual needs, this is supported and managed through the school’s SENCO, who arranges individual post 16 meetings with an AfC specialist adviser.
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We inspire students through real-life contact with the World of Work. This is typically through Vocational Courses such as:
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Clarendon Cycles – Accredited outcomes in Cycle Mechanics.
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Road to Success – Construction, Hair and Beauty, plumbing, Painting & Decoration and Tiling
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Green Corridor – Students Dig, Plant and Grow then Cook and Serve.
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EOB media – Game Design, Social Media, Graphic Design, Working with a magazine company
Our dedicated Vocational Curriculum Support Worker accompany and/or monitor students at offsite courses to offer assistance, confidence building and stability.
The Careers Team
At Malden Oaks, the Careers team coordinates and monitors the delivery of the School Careers Plan:
Each provision has a Careers Lead, see details below. Careers education is the responsibility of every member of staff and is led by the Head of School (except medical tuition, where it lies with the mainstream school). The Heads of School meet as a team every half term to coordinate our careers provision.
Nick Smith is the nominal Careers Lead and will attend the 14-25 meetings, receive information from external services to disseminate and is the link for the Management committee. He chairs the Careers Team meetings.
Careers Lead Nick Smith stns@maldenoaks.rbksch.org 07496250848
The contact details for the Heads of School who lead careers in their provisions are below:
KS3 Sarah Bann stsb@maldenoaks.rbksch.org 0203 137 2674
KS4 Alison Vigor stav@maldenoaks.rbksch.org 0208 289 4665
KS5 Michael Haddock stmh@maldenoaks.rbksch.org 0208 289 4665
SEN Tuition Nick Smith stns@maldenoaks.rbksch.org 07496250848
Alternative (Medical/other) provision - Contact the student’s mainstream school