Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance
CEIAG
All pupils at Sawston Village College follow our Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) programme. This is built around the Gatsby benchmarks, which identify the eight areas in which a College should be engaging in order to deliver a successful CEIAG programme. In Year 11 CEIAG is taught through dedicated lessons within the PSHE programme. During other years the programme is delivered through PSHE lessons, assemblies, collapsed mornings, external events, visits and employer engagement opportunities.
In Year 11, pupils are fully prepared for post-16 education, jobs with training or apprenticeships, including technical pathways. Submitting successful applications, developing effective interview techniques and understanding the range of qualifications and pathways are key aspects of the course for all pupils. We also offer targeted Careers Guidance Interviews with Mrs Burr, our level 6 qualified Careers Advisor. We follow the Cambridge Area Partnership (CAP) application process to post-16 schools and colleges. In this, we use www.mychoice16.co.uk which helps pupils to search for appropriate courses and to make applications; our pupils have a strong record of success in securing preferred courses and centres.
In Year 9 or 10, all pupils take part in an Enterprise Day delivered by guests from local and international businesses. This serves to foster skills of teamwork, resilience, reliability, resourcefulness and an entrepreneurial spirit. We value strongly how enterprise education can deliver key skills that complement and expand on the curriculum.
All pupils undertake work experience in the summer term of Year 10. We recognise how this experience gives pupils an insight into the world of work and equips them with valuable skills for the next stage in their education and beyond. Pupils are allocated a placement, or may seek their own placement, as long as it fulfils our requirements for a comprehensive, engaging and safe experience.
We begin our CEIAG programme in Key Stage 3. Through our PSHE programme, we ensure that pupils understand basic financial planning, personal goal setting, career opportunities and the importance of attaining at the best possible level. We also make sure that pupils have the opportunity to engage with multiple employers and educational providers, including technical and vocational qualifications. In Year 9, all pupils engage in a rigorous options process to ensure choices at KS4 are appropriate, broad and suitable for career aspirations. Parents are involved in our KS4 options process through an information evening, our parents’ consultation evening and one-to-one interviews with pupils and senior staff during the spring term. In Years 7 and 8 CEIAG is delivered through the PSHE programme, including ‘The Real Game’ in Year 7, and the ‘What’s my line?’ sessions in Year 8. Year 7 and 8 pupils also have the opportunity to take part in Cambridge Launchpad, with extended engagement from local and national businesses and the opportunity to solve real-life problems.
The effectiveness of our CEIAG provision at the College is regularly monitored by senior management, as well as by the governing body. The link governor for CEIAG visits the College on a bi-annual basis to review effectiveness against the Gatsby benchmarks and using the guidance for governing bodies given by the Department for Education. The College also completes the Compass tool provided by the Careers and Enterprise Company to assess Careers Provision. This is reviewed termly.
As a College we are committed to providing regular, meaningful and sustained opportunities for employers, as well as education and training providers, to access all pupils, including to inform them about approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships. Please see the Policy Statement below which sets out the circumstances under which education and training providers are given access to pupils. The statement also identifies the key events and activities where pupils have the opportunity to engage with providers of approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships.
Should you have any questions about the CEIAG programme, please contact Mrs Erika Wagstaff, Careers Leader and Assistant Principal by email at ewagstaff@sawstonvc.org or by telephone on 01223 712617.
Oakes College Cambridge
The Oakes College Cambridge is the Sixth Form provider for the Anglian Learning trust. It has a long tradition of A-level and applied course education and of providing excellent levels of support to young people. Website: https://oakescc.org
