Careers at King Arthur’s School
Careers education, including independent advice and guidance, is vital in preparing young people for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life after leaving King Arthur’s School. In order to support students in making a successful transition to post-16 education and training, all young people need a planned programme of activities to help them make informed decisions about their future.
King Arthur’s School are fully committed to providing a rigorous and stable CEIAG programme. We work hard to ensure that we meet each element of the Gatsby Benchmarks and are currently reviewing and developing our careers programme in order that careers is fully embedded throughout our curriculum. We are really proud to have achieved 100% across all Gatsby Benchmarks (Autumn 2023)
Individual careers advice and guidance
Independent and impartial careers advice is vital in schools, as well as a legal requirement. It helps students to access bespoke information related to their career aspirations as well as developing their ability to make appropriate career decisions, allowing them to progress beyond school and into post-16 education and training and consequently the world of work. We employ an independent careers advisor who is in school one day per week. He works with students on a 1:1 basis and in small groups, also offering bespoke courses supporting employability skills to selected student groups.
How do we deliver careers at King Arthur’s School?
It is our vision that careers information, guidance and skills as well as knowledge of career pathways are embedded throughout the curriculum at King Arthur’s School. As such we are currently reviewing and developing links to careers within our curriculum provision, for example by spending time discussing the moral and ethical roles played by lawyers and journalists when studying ‘Frankenstein’ in Year 7 English. A summary of this provision will shortly be available via the website.
Outside of curriculum lessons, we have numerous other activities and events on offer to students during their time with us. These include, but are not limited to:
– Specific activities and events such as visits to local post-16 providers and the Somerset Careers Fair
– 1:1 and small group meetings with the careers advisor
– Careers skills qualifications
– Assemblies highlighting careers, progression and skills from guest speakers and staff across the year
– Alumni visits and links
– Regular tutor time and PSHRE activities
How the school measures and assess the impact of the careers programme
King Arthur’s School, in the first instance, measures and assess its career programme against the Gatsby Career Benchmarks, with the support of the Careers and Enterprise Company and our Enterprise Advisor. The impact of this programme is assessed through both student, parent and teacher voice alongside destination information. We regularly look to evaluate and review our offering and make improvements and adjustments as necessary related to the needs of our students as well as LMI and developments in careers. We also review our destinations data and track students once they leave King Arthur’s School, ensuring that students continue to strive to achieve their full potential and giving them further support if necessary.
Leadership of Careers
As outlined by The Gatsby Benchmarks, King Arthur’s School are committed to providing a stable career programme with a named Senior Leadership Team link.
The careers team comprises:
SLT Careers Lead – Ms H Andrews (Assistant Headteacher)
Independent Careers Advisor – Mr A Rigby (available in school on Thursdays)
If you wish to arrange an appointment, please email Aaron.Rigby@kingarthurs.org.uk
King Arthur’s School has the benefit of a key business volunteer who works with us on a strategic level, encouraging the development of our careers programme and connecting us to the business community across the county. This role is recognised nationally as an Enterprise Adviser (EA) and they are part of the Somerset Careers Hub community of support driving the connection between careers education and the business sector. Our Enterprise Adviser is Kezia Fowler, FJ Chalke.
King Arthur’s has achieved 100% across the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks and our Careers Programme is evaluated against these three times each year.
Careers Provision Careers Policy Provider Access Policy/Baker Clause