Careers: Quality Assurance

Celebrating Success with COMPASS+ benchmarks!

The graph below shows our latest evaluation results along with our progress and how our plans are impacting on our Compass score.

ORA October 2024 Compass ReportDownload

The Quality and Careers Standard Award

Ormiston Rivers Academy is working towards the The Quality in Careers Standard Award. This certificate shows that we are making steps toward achieving this award. It is a national award that shows we provide a good quality of Careers Education and Guidance at Ormiston Rivers Academy. 

National Quality in Careers Standard AwardDownload

Quality Assurance

At Ormiston Rivers Academy we are committed to ensuring that our Careers provision meets all the current guidelines for good practice, in order to prepare and equip our students for their future careers. We measure and evaluate our programme via the Quality in Careers Standard and the 8 GATSBY Benchmarks.

We currently hold the recognition of quality award in careers education. This is now known as the National Quality in Careers Award, and we will be looking to renew this qualification in the future.

There is a statutory duty to give independent careers guidance for all students from Year 8 onwards and the Government also recommends that all schools should be required to work towards the national Quality in Careers Standard. 

The school will offer a range of activities to introduce students to the world of work and help them make decisions about life after school. The academy works very closely with a number of different providers to ensure every opportunity is given to our students and to make them aware of all that is available to them.

Meeting the GATSBY Benchmark

  • We are looking to set up a programme of careers education and guidance within mentor time for all years and careers education will also be part of the citizenship lessons for all pupils.
  • Information about future study options and the labour market is available to students at Open Evenings, through taster sessions that we hold for students, through the National Careers Services and through the Independent Careers Adviser, Louise Brazier, who is in school on Wednesdays each week to give impartial advice on careers and future opportunities.
  • To identify students’ guidance needs, we ask them to complete information sheets at the beginning of the Academic Year, with their interests and future career path ideas. This information is then collated onto a Google Document and shared with specific staff members – this means that we can target particular students for specific events that may be of interest to them and their future career paths.
  • We provide students with opportunities within the Academy to have direct contact with employers by hosting careers drop in talks. We have invited in parents and local companies and training providers to speak with students about their experiences or their careers.
  • Students will also have the opportunity to attend a variety of careers fairs and events, whether this is off site or at school. These events allow our students to meet employers as well as people from colleges and universities.
  • In addition, we are making links with Anglia Ruskin University outreach team in which we will seek to plan a programme of events which are linked with the University.
  • To identify the needs of our students in regards to careers guidance, all students are entitled to an appointment with our external careers adviser, Louise Brazier.
  • If individual students speak with staff in regards to their future aspirations, staff members can use these conversations to identify any further guidance and support the Academy can give to the student.
  • To remain impartial, we ensure that our External Careers Adviser arranges appointments with all of the Year 7– 13 students who are unsure of their future path. This service is available to students in all years, who can also attend our ‘drop in’ service every Wednesday at break and lunch time.

To address the needs of our students, we complete a careers tracker. This will be in the form of an online tracker and can be completed by any member of staff, following conversations with the students. From the information on the tracker, we organise trips and working lunches based on the data that has been returned. The information that we receive includes their intended job role, the top three industry sectors they are interested in, the subjects that they are interested in, the skills that they believe they hold or would like to develop, whether they would like to go to University and if they have been seen by the Independent Careers Adviser. These events will be organised and then advertised to those who may be interested in the event.

To ensure that careers are incorporated into the curriculum learning of students, we follow the career development plan, once curriculum information has been input by Curriculum Leaders. The information displays the links of the students’ learning to any careers possibilities or opportunities. An Action Plan will be written by each curriculum area for how they wish to develop this further.

  • Our students can potentially have a huge amount of encounters with employers and employees. We will record all of the encounters that the students have, so that we can target students who may not have engaged in any activities and events. This can happen through working lunches that students can attend, trips we run and careers fairs that we attend or organise in school.
  • We plan on hosting a careers fair in the new year with a number of representatives from a range of industries. All Year 10 students will participate in a week’s work experience towards the end of the year – this will provide them with a variety of encounters with employers, employees and other members of society.
  • To ensure that our students experience the workplace whilst they are still school age, all Year 10 students will participate in work experience at the end of the Academic year. This provides them with experiences of the workplace and insights into the career path that they may have an interest in.
  • Some sixth form courses require work experience to be completed during the course and other students are encouraged to complete work shadowing within their subject area.

The Academy invites apprenticeship providers into the Academy to talk to students about apprenticeships, including how to find and apply for apprenticeships, through assemblies and specific talks. We also welcome and actively organise University talks and visits.

  • We have a level 6 Careers Adviser, Louise Brazier, who is in school every Wednesday. Parents and students from any year group can request a careers appointment and all students will be offered at least one appointment during year 11. If a follow up appointment is required that can also be organised.
  • Parents and carers are welcome to attend careers appointments with their sons/daughters and after school appointments are available. If you wish to arrange an appointment, please contact Louise on the email address below.

Ormiston Rivers Academy Provider Access Information, Advice and Guidance Statement

This complies with our legal obligations under Section 42B of the Education Act 1997 (known as the Baker Clause). Student entitlement – Students in years 8-13 are entitled:

  • To find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeships opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point.
  • To hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships – through options evenings, assemblies, group discussions and careers fairs.
  • To understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses through the mentor programme, workshops and seminars and via our independent careers adviser.

The Careers Department plays a full and active part at Ormiston Rivers Academy; its aim is to prepare students for work by:

  • contributing to raising their achievements and motivation
  • raising their awareness of their current and future life choices
  • enhancing their skills in coping with future transitions
  • enabling their access to Higher Education
  • developing skills and talents for employment

Year 7 is all about developing self-awareness and understanding you strengths – these sessions are delivered through our PSHE programme.

  • Preparation for Option Choices during mentor time and assemblies including how to research careers and identify skills and qualities needed for different jobs
  • Options Evening provides subject specific information, advice and guidance
  • Access to one to one careers guidance with independent and impartial Careers Adviser
  • Access to careers drop-in sessions during break and lunchtimes
  • Access to one to one careers guidance with independent and impartial Careers Adviser
  • Access to careers drop-in sessions during break and lunchtimes
  • All students have the opportunity to attend workshops aimed at specific careers e.g medicine
  • One to one careers guidance available with independent and impartial Careers Adviser
  • Careers workshop on post 16 options and qualification levels.
  • Access to careers drop-in sessions during break and lunchtimes
  • One to one careers guidance available with independent and impartial Careers Adviser
  • Rivers Sixth Form Open Evening
  • Guidance available with Rivers Sixth Form staff and members of the Senior Leadership Team.
  • Apprenticeship Assembly
  • Higher education assembly
  • Further education information
  • IAG sessions as part of the transition into Rivers 6th Form
  • Access to careers drop-in sessions during break and lunchtimes
  • Support available on GCSE results day
  • Employability for Life programme
  • One to one guidance available with our independent Careers Adviser
  • Guidance available with Rivers Sixth Form staff and members of the Senior Leadership Team.
  • Work experience and work shadowing opportunities
  • UCAS preparation and personal statement application support
  • Higher education evening – preparation for going to university including student finance
  • Higher education visits e.g. university tours
  • Attendance at National Shows/Conferences 
  • Interview skills,CV Writing and Job hunting workshop
  • Access to mock interviews with employers
  • Opportunity to take part in the NCS programme and Camps International

Our series of career specific workshops runs throughout the year. Elite scholars are encouraged to attend but events are open to any student from year 9 with an interest in this area. 

Our enthusiastic, talented students have the ability to be successful in many different careers.  Young people’s ideas develop as they grow and it is essential to support and guide students in the regular reviewing of their interests, priorities and potential.  The importance of work shadowing and/or work experience throughout a young person’s school and university career cannot be underestimated, especially in the current economic climate and the academy is keen to facilitate this wherever possible.

Evaluation

At Ormiston Rivers we believe it is important to regularly review the careers programme and the information, advice and guidance that we offer our students. A formal review of the programme is undertaken at the end of the academic year by the careers team which takes into account the views of students, parents and other stakeholders. These views are sought throughout the year as events take place and are evaluated.

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