Careers Mrs Porter: Careers Lead. E: porterk@elastschools.co.uk T: 01708 730244, ext.210 Mrs Mann: Rowling Administrative Support (careers administration) Mrs Witchalls: Careers Advisor for the Empower Learning Academy Trust kwitchalls@elatschools.co.uk Mr Gander: SLT link for careers sgander@elatschools.co.uk Providers, parents/carers and students: please contact Mrs Porter by email or phone regarding any career education-related enquiry. Our provider access policy can be viewed here Academy Vision Statement Our vision is to strive for excellence to transform the life chances for all. Through determination and resilience, every child will excel, to obtain outstanding outcomes across a breadth of experiences. They will develop into well-rounded, valued citizens, ready and equipped for a future world, and embracing a love of life. Careers Vision Statement Our students will leave Bower Park Academy with the ability to make informed choices about their future that will lead to better life chances. They will have gained the skills and experiences necessary to give them the ‘edge’ over others, regardless of their background and starting point. We are currently developing a new careers strategy that secures the above vision for all our students. Objectives Improve the way in which we track, monitor and measure the impact of the careers education our students receive. Increase parental engagement and awareness in the impact on their child’s careers education Ensure every teacher is considered a teacher of careers and is clear about the role that they play What do we do? Personal Guidance We offer all our students the opportunity for independent and impartial careers advice and guidance through our work with Mr George from the ‘Prospects’ organisation. The Empower Learning Academy Trust also has its own careers adviser, Mrs Witchalls. All students will receive at least two separate careers advice sessions at key transition points (Year 9 options and Year 11 post-16 pathways). There is an opportunity for ‘drop in’ advice sessions for any students who have further career-related questions through their Support and Guidance Manager or Director of Learning. Students and parents are welcome to contact Mrs Porter directly if they wish to discuss any careers questions or book additional careers advice. Use this link to gain more information regarding Prospects: http://www.prospects.co.uk/What-We-Do/Education-and-Learning/Careers-AdvicePlu Career and Labour Market Information (LMI) There is a careers board outside the Principal’s office, which will display up-to-date career and college information. Specific career and LMI-related lessons take place within our Citizenship, Personal, Social, Health and Economic education programme. Students can also use the careerometer at the bottom of this page, or log into their START profile account Key Stage 3 All KS3 students will have access to startprofile an online careers platform which enables students to look at what their future options are and also gives them access to a number of resources and activities to develop employability skills. They will also complete sessions in form on skills builder specifically looking to develop skills in Leadership, Speaking, Listening and Teamwork. In CPSHE students will cover the following career related themes but careers will be referenced in all subjects over the course of the year. Year 7 – Transition points and your life – Personal qualities and skills – Finding careers information – Career Management – Character Traits and Skills Year 8 Stereotyping and discrimination – The effects of discrimination The effects and dangers of stereotyping Making financial decisions -Next steps – Apprenticeships, employment and going to university -The world of work – What are compulsory deductions? Income tax, national insurance and pensions -Planning for the future Year 9 students and parents will be given key information regarding options and career pathways, of course we hope that all students wish to continue their journey with us but external providers are welcome to present alternative routes in line with the Bakers Clause. In CPSHE they will examine Job opportunities – Unemployment – Employment law – Further education – Managing money – Organisation – Staff appraisals Key Stage 4 Year 10 and 11 students will continue to have access to startprofile as well as sessions in form on skills builder looking to develop in the following areas; speaking, listening, creativity and staying positive. Careers and the Curriculum All teachers at Bower Park Academy will highlight potential careers within their subjects. At key transition points (Year 9 options, Year 11 post-16) teachers deliver subject-specific career-led lessons outlining the range of pathways available. All students are required to choose GCSEs within set option ‘blocks’ to ensure that a wide range of subjects are studied, so that a variety of career choices are available in the future. Option booklets outline the range of careers available, and a parents’ evening for Year 9 options gives parents and carers the opportunity to discuss subject-based careers. Specific topics covered throughout the whole curriculum are enhanced with particular workplace skills and linked to a wide variety of job roles that are appropriate to the content. Encounters with employers and employees and further education providers At Bower Park Academy, every student will have opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. Guest Speakers Throughout the year, we will invite guest speakers to come in and talk about their careers and experiences. These guests will come from a variety of backgrounds and will include some ex-students. GET INVOLVED: We welcome employer/employee guest speakers to the academy to engage with our students. Please contact Mrs Porter if you are interested. Careers Fair All our students take part in the careers fair. 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 provide engaging activities. Some of the organisations we have welcomed to our academy include Halls of Ivy Beauty Training Academy, London Fire Brigade, Queens Theatre, Havering Sixth Form College, Writtle College, Barking College, Royal Veterinary College, Elutec, New City College Redbridge, WhiteHat Apprenticeships, University College London, Robert Clack Beauty Academy, Parenta and KPMG. GET INVOLVED: We intend to hold a fair every academic year. If you would like to be involved, please contact porterk@bowerpark.co.uk Students can access our 2020 virtual fair (they will need to sign in using their office account) Students also have the opportunity to experience/encounter further education providers and employers through our ongoing work with the following providers: NCOP: AccessHE AccessHE has received funding to deliver part of the London National Collaborative Outreach Programme (NCOP). The NCOP is a funded project from the Office for Students (formerly the Higher Education Funding Council for England), which aims to increase the number of young people from lower participation neighbourhoods into higher education. Through the NCOP, our students have the opportunity to develop the skills needed for the workplace, as well as having meaningful encounters with many professions and educational providers. They also have the opportunity to visit a variety of places of further education and attend large careers fairs. Some visits include St Mary’s University, Rose Bruford College and the University of London. Visitors to the academy include the National Centre for Circus Arts and the Royal Veterinary College. For more information, please see AccessHE Brilliant Club The Brilliant Club exists to increase the number of pupils from under-represented backgrounds progressing to highly selective universities. We do this by mobilising the PhD community to share its academic expertise with state schools. Here at Bower Park we are in the middle of our third Scholars Programme. The Scholars Programme recruits, trains and places doctoral and postdoctoral researchers in schools to deliver programmes of university-style tutorials, which are supplemented by two university trips. So far, our students have visited King’s College London, St Catherine’s College, Cambridge and Wadham College, Oxford. For more information on the Brilliant Club, please visit :https://thebrilliantclub.org/ Medical Day, King’s College London These workshops involve students in Years 10 and 11 having the opportunity to visit Guy’s Campus for a day which includes interactive workshops, a campus tour and experience of clinical skills, all supported by current King’s Extended Medical Degree Programme students. During the first part of the day, they focus on key stage 4 chemistry and biology, in relation to healthcare and medicine. Later in the day, students take part in a clinical skills session where they rotate around a number of stations, learning different clinical skills such as measuring blood pressure and suturing a wound. To reserve a place on the next of these workshops, which will take place during the next academic year, please contact Mrs Porter. BT Skills for Work Boot Camp Students take part in a boot camp workshop at BT Brentwood helping to develop skills for work with activities, employer content and completion of a handbook, so that they may continue their development after the event. Practice interview with BT volunteers Careers coaching for students STEM competition for Year 7 Students A challenge day to foster enthusiasm among secondary school students for STEM subjects was held at Havering Sixth Form College. Pupils from schools in the region, including Royal Liberty, Sacred Heart, Palmer Catholic Academy, Shenfield High, Ilford County High for Boys, All Saints, Woodlands, Sydney Russell and Mayfield spent the day working together in mixed teams of four to complete practical scientific challenges. The activities are designed to stretch and challenge more able students, and encourage them to consider studying science and technology subjects further. KPMG Challenge We have alumni currently working with KPMG, which is one of the biggest employers in London. Some of our students were able to visit its offices in Canary Wharf for a finance taster day. The trip gave them a wonderful insight into the world of finance and acted as an inspiration and motivation for future career options. Modern Foreign Language day at Cambridge University This programme highlights the importance of languages and presents key features of language study in the University of Cambridge. Students experience language and literature seminars as well as an undergraduate level lecture, to help give them an insight into university life. Enterprise Day This is an annual event where students work in form groups to compete against other houses to design, build and promote a new product. Students must present their ideas to their house, and the winners of each house competition present to the Principal to decide on an overall winner. National Citizen Service NCS in summer gives students two weeks away from home, where they will take part in activities and learn new skills for their future. They will then have another week where they work with their team to help the local community. They get to meet new people, learn new skills and make a difference in their area. Students can sign up today by visiting: NCS | No We Can | National Citizen Service (wearencs.com) University of East London We work closely with UEL through their widening participation programme, they will deliver skills and knowledge to build pathways and support yound people to achieve their full potenatil, they do this through free workshops, taster days and a range of tailored activities to support young people from widening participation backgrounds. Find out more Addressing the needs of each pupil All students have at least two impartial careers advice sessions led by Mrs Witchalls. Students are supported through targeted careers advice based on their career interest or industry type. Students with additional needs, or those at risk, are allocated additional one-to-one careers advice sessions to ensure that they choose the correct pathway for their own career aims. M The Bower Park Pledge By the end of year 11, we are committed that all Bower Park Academy students will have had the opportunity to: Attend a professional performance Undertake charity or community work Join a school club or extra-curricular activity Be part of an international experience Lead an activity, event or initiative Meet a famous person or person of interest Perform or present in front of an audience Visit a place of worship Participate in a residential activity Gain experience of further education Experience of Workplaces Work Experience Work experience could provide your child with 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 offering work placements for our students. Please contact Mrs Porter if you wish to offer a work placement. All workplaces must have employee liability insurance. Use this link for more information about the Business and Enterprise. Partnership: http://bepgroup.net/temp/about/ We will also share opportunities for virtual work experience through the year group Careers TEAMS. Our students’ responsibility is to: Be active in helping themselves as well as us helping them. They should use startprofile to find out more about a career idea that interests them, 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. Key stage for should ensure that alerst are turned on for the careers TEAM and they should check to see what the latest opportunities are. Students should contact Mrs Porter if you have any concerns or extra support is needed. Parents/carers can help by: Attending all parents’ evenings to gain awareness of your child’s progress and attainment Encouraging your child to try out new activities such as joining school and out-of-school activities Giving option and career advice without pressure Encouraging friends/family to talk about their experience of work Attending open evenings and options evening to discuss potential career paths with teachers Volunteer to share your experiences at our academy by contacting Mrs Porter If you would like a more detailed plan of your child’s career programme, please contact Mrs Porter We believe our careers education and guidance programme will enable students to: Enhance self-development Review skills, interests and priorities Consider issues regarding equal opportunities 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 them Practice careers research skills Understand the importance of gaining recognised qualifications Judge the most appropriate route/s after leaving school Develop knowledge of finance issues and how these may shape their future plans Prepare and produce their own CV Apply for courses, training, apprenticeships or work Recognise and practise good interview performance Know where to get further help when they leave school Useful Links https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/ https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/ https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles https://www.careersbox.co.uk/ https://www.ucas.com/ https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/jobs/work-redbridge/apprenticeships/ https://www.ncclondon.ac.uk/redbridge Links to Labour Market Information Careerometer Careerometer can be used to explore and compare key information about occupations, help you learn about different occupations and identify potential careers. It provides access to a selection of UK headline data relating to pay, weekly hours of work and future employment prospects for different occupations, as well as description of the occupation. Simply type in the title of the job you are interested in and the widget provides a series of options from which you can select the most relevant to you. You can then look up another two occupations and compare. You can also select ‘display the UK average’ and compare the information with the occupation you have selected. News Pastoral Update Letter November 15, 2021 October Half-term Newsletter November 1, 2021 Metropolitan Police School Newsletter November 1, 2021 Book Your Tour September 16, 2021 Parent Pastoral Booklet August 10, 2021 Social Calendar Curriculum Bower Park Academy Havering Road, Romford, Essex RM1 4YY 01708 730244 office@bowerpark.co.uk Principal: Mr S Deen Privacy Statement | Cookies Change Cookie Settings Staff Portal Bower Park Academy is part of the Empower Learning Academy Trust, which is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales. Registered number 7702119. Registered office Marlborough Garden Upminster, Essex, RM14 1SF