Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School

Contact Us

Careers

CVMS Careers Intent

CVMS Careers Intent

A good quality careers guidance and education programme will raise the aspirations of all young people. It will increase motivation by linking activities in school with preparation for life post 16 and post 18 and the school provides extensive opportunities for external providers to meet with students to provide careers and labour market information.

Careers guidance will contribute to raising pupil achievement, help students focus on their longer-term career ambitions and ensure an equality of opportunity for all.

At CVMS we provide a comprehensive programme to students in every year group and of all abilities and this includes aspects of work-related learning, enterprise education and option choices. Students in our Sixth Form are very well supported as they make their applications to university, apply for Higher Level Apprenticeships or other non-university post 18 pathways, as are our SEND students, working closely with our internal additional needs team and external providers.

We believe that every student is entitled to receive high quality careers guidance to develop their career management skills. With this aim, we are committed to ensuring our students have opportunities to acquire the knowledge and confidence to cope with life after school and become good citizens.

Through formal and informal evaluations, the school annually assesses the impact of the careers programme on students and this is verified via an external moderator and independent audits. The low number of NEETS is an indication of the effectiveness of the programme. Views are sought from all stakeholders and the programme evolves year on year to consider the needs of students and the local, national and global jobs market.

Please refer to the careers policy document for details of student entitlement.  All information, together with the careers policy, is reviewed and updated annually, however information may be revised throughout the year to reflect new regulations and/or to meet the additional needs of students. The date of the next review is July 2020.

It is important to equip our students with the necessary skills for them to career plan and know how and where to access impartial and unbiased information. Developing key enterprise and employability skills are important and enables students to further develop their skills and provides opportunities for them to work within their community, having a direct positive impact.

Additionally, as part of their entitlement, students have access to a range of external providers to ensure they learn about approved technical qualifications and apprenticeships.  Please see our provider access policy document.

Careers guidance is on-going throughout the academic year and is delivered through PSHE lessons, collapsed timetable events, external trips and is enhanced by working with local businesses, apprenticeship providers, colleges and universities.

Provider Access Policy

 Click here to view and download the Provider Access Policy - Baker Clause

Careers Policy

 

Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School-Careers Education Policy- 2021-22

View the policy here

 

Contact details:

Ms Katrina McGrath - Careers Leader

Telephone: 020-7603-8478

Email: Careers@cvms.co.uk

Careers plan


Click here to view and download the CVMS Careers Plan 2021-22

Pupils

Information for Pupils

Pupils

A reminder that you have access to a wide range of careers, enterprise and work-related information.  This can be found via the VLE. Dedicated careers programmes include KUDOS, START and UNIFROG, plus the superb Careers Guidance Charts and Big Names publication, which show how subjects can link to a variety of different jobs and careers.   You can create your own electronic portfolio by recording your achievements, experiences and work experience using the START on-line Locker and/or the KUDOS Me section - my personal development. You can also put together a CV or a personal statement.  Remember to research local opportunities to see if the job sector/career you are planning is likely to have vacancies in our region - or will you need to travel further afield?

We have also prepared an extensive list of websites for you to help with job research, progression routes, apprenticeships, volunteering and careers research.  Remember to check out the careers notice boards for apprenticeships and other information and the Careers Library, which is located in the UCAS room.  Any student can request a one-to-one guidance interview with our specialist careers guidance adviser.  The school is charged for these interviews, but we feel they are important to help supplement the careers and enterprise activities you have in school and the guidance you receive from your tutor, the pastoral team, additional needs staff and Sixth Form team.

You should prepare for your personal guidance interview by making a list of your interests and any specific concerns or barriers you feel you may have.  This is a good starting point for your interview and will help you set your targets and goals for your future career. When you leave school please consider signing up to our growing Alumni so we can keep you informed about school events. Sometimes we also contact our Alumni to see if they are willing to return to school to help support current students - usually at our Post 16 and Post 18 options Careers Fairs. 

We are always very pleased to learn more about what our former students are doing now and the career pathways they have taken - you can view some of these on the Alumni page.  Good luck with your future career planning and we hope we can help you achieve your goals and provide you with the career management skills you need to enjoy and contribute to the world of work.

Post 16 Options IT'S YOUR CHOICE

The choices Post 16 are:

  • Continuing to study at CVMS
  • Continuing to study at a College of Further Education
  • Applying for an Apprenticeship – or a similar work-based learning programme
  • Applying for a position within the Forces
  • Entering the labour market - although some form of continued training must be attached to the offer of employment to comply with the raising of the participation age

 External representatives from FE, HE, apprenticeship organisations, local and national employers and the armed forces, provide information to students regarding the choices available at the end of Year 11. Students also learn more about the exciting National Citizen Service summer programme, highly recommended, and generously part-subsidised by the DfE.

The information provided by the University will help students think about their options Post 18 - as the choices they make at the end of Year 11 may have an impact on future options - and they will also learn more about the current financial implications of continuing on into Higher Education.

All students have access to a range of careers-related resources via their student grid (careers learning apps) the careers library and notice boards and are also directed to specific websites to assist with their career planning and to ensure that guidance is unbiased and impartial.

All Year 10 students will be interviewed to discuss options, provided with information and advice relating to future pathways, usually by our contracted professional careers adviser.  Students with additional needs will continue to be supported by our in-house team and will also have support from our external partners. Students have access to a new work-ready employability skills website via the Start Profile website https://www.startprofile.com/. Start Profile helps schools and colleges to meet their statutory duties around careers guidance, combining the most comprehensive source of information with a personalised student experience and tracking capabilities to help teachers monitor student progress and engagement.

Ms Katrina McGrath - Careers Leader

Telephone: 020-7603-8478

Email: Careers@cvms.co.uk

CVMS staff

Information for Staff

All staff have access to a wide range of careers and work-related resources to support delivery in their subject areas and in line with the new Careers Strategy and Gatsby benchmark 4 - linking curriculum learning to careers. This includes subject posters which show a range of careers, plus access to the subject maps on the Careers Guidance Charts resource.

Resources for print or download can be found within the staff area/careers folder. Students can also use the Careers Library, either independently or as part of a lesson.  Teaching and support staff are regularly involved in supporting careers and enterprise activities during dedicated collapsed timetable events and also provide on-going support to students with regard to progression routes and choices after school.

Tutors in particular have an important role in helping to raise students' aspirations and providing information and advice about possible pathways after school. All staff should be able to signpost students to our careers and work-related resources and the Careers Leader. If you need any information or support with careers learning, linked to your subject or in a pastoral role please contact me.

Ms Katrina McGrath - Careers Leader

Telephone: 020-7603-8478

Email: Careers@cvms.co.uk

Parents/Carers/Guardians

Information for Parents and carers

Parents and carers have an important role to play in supporting their child with their career planning and post 14, 16 and 18 transitions. 

Students have access to a wide range of resources and careers programmes, many of which are accessible from home. These can be accessed via the VLE or within the Careers Team in Microsoft Teams for each pupil’s own year group. Please take a look at the resources, together with your child, so you can find out more about the local labour market and the opportunities available from local colleges and apprenticeship providers. This includes an extensive list of websites to help with job research and progression routes.  

UNIFROG is an excellent platform for students to learn about careers, compare college and sixth form courses, research and save their University choices, investigate higher level apprenticeship opportunities and work through mini modules to develop interests and explore subjects in more depth.  During each school year, your child will be able to record ideas, searches and experiences in their Unifrog profile.  Parents can also their own login for access by emailing careers@cvms.co.uk.  

START, another web platform, enables students to create a profile and record their achievements and skills via an on-line Locker.  Students can continue to use to update their skills as they move into each key stage and navigate the thousands of jobs, courses and opportunities available. 

Careermag for Parents aims to connect students and their parents with quality advice and guidance. The magazine includes: 

- Top tips for parents 
- What does diversity mean to you? 
- Creative careers, creative thinking 
- Helping your child navigate post-16 and post-18 choices 
-Gender and social stereotyping 
- Myth busting careers 
- Apprenticeship opportunities 
- Financing university 

https://careermap.co.uk/careermag/ 

Data protection and GDPR with regard to careers education: students and/or their parents/carers should be aware that basic on-roll school data may be provided to some external agencies i.e. the careers guidance specialist and work experience providers, to provide additional support for students. In addition, Post 16 and Post 18 intended destinations data is requested by the local authority towards the end of year 11 and year 13 as part of the school’s statutory duty. As part of the careers interview process, students are asked for their consent to opt in to the sharing of their data with key members of staff and parents/carers.  

At CVMS, we are keen for our students to engage with the careers curriculum in practical ways; we believe students gain a lot from external speakers who can offer different viewpoints, insight and experiences. Because of this, we are interested in bringing people and organisations into the school to inspire our young learners and bring areas of work and study to life. 

If you would be able to offer us any support:  

- Careers talks- sharing your experiences in a particular industry or career 

- Work experience placements 

- Careers workshop- on various careers related topics 

Please send the Head of Careers an email and she will get back to you as soon as possible. 

 

 

Ms Katrina McGrath - Careers Leader

Telephone: 020-7603-8478

Email: Careers@cvms.co.uk

Directors

Information for Directors

The Directors of any school, college or academy are legally responsible for, amongst many other things, ensuring that the organisation carries out its duties with regard to delivering Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) to all pupils from the age of 11-19. Find out more about your role here.

Ms Katrina McGrath - Careers Leader

Telephone: 020-7603-8478

Email: Careers@cvms.co.uk

Click here for the NCW Guide to Careers in Schools for Governors

Employers

Employers,Training Providers and Staff- EMPLOYERS
- would you like to work with us?

We are always interested in expanding the network of companies and employers who want to work with us, in support of our careers education, enterprise and work-related learning programme.

If you are interested in supporting a specific curriculum subject area, or would be willing to attend a careers-related event or provide a careers lunchtime drop-in clinic to speak to students in a more informal setting, please contact the Careers Leader.

Ms Katrina McGrath - Careers Leader

Telephone: 020-7603-8478

Email: Careers@cvms.co.uk

See above for the provider access policy.

Training providers

Training providers

Work with us to provide students with additional information on technical qualifications and apprenticeships.  CVMS has always welcomed representatives from training organisations, further and higher education and technical colleges, together with apprenticeship providers.

All requests are subject to availability of rooms and in consideration of our timetabled curriculum. Please be aware that we have 130+ students in each year group and 200+ in our Sixth Form.  Providers working with our school must be GDPR compliant.  Alternatively and/or in addition to the above, you are invited to submit information relating to your provision electronically. Wherever possible, we will provide this to students via their on-line careers folder or display on our careers notice boards.

If you are willing to support our students and are not yet working with our school, please contact the Careers Leader.

Ms Katrina McGrath - Careers Leader

Telephone: 020-7603-8478

Email: Careers@cvms.co.uk

See above for the provider access policy.

Work experience

Work experience

We are pleased to advise that all of our Year 12 students will have the opportunity to undertake a one-week period of work experience. This is an invaluable opportunity, providing the chance to develop employability skills and sample the world of work. Heads of subjects expanding their own departmental links with employers, who regularly support teaching and learning in school. Potential careers and pathways are featured within school publications and at progress and options evenings.  The purpose of Work Experience is to provide pupils with the opportunity, before leaving school, of having experienced directly the realities of working life. It is an exercise, forming an integral part of the school curriculum, and is not to be regarded as specifically vocational training or recruitment. Students source their own placements, further developing their research and communication skills. This additional opportunity will prove valuable when applying for higher education courses and on seeking employment.

Pupils are given an insight into the world of work, its disciplines and its organisation. Pupils will be afforded opportunities to:

  •  compare their career ideas with actual experiences in various skills/work areas;
  •  be given opportunities to see the potential applications of the knowledge they have been acquiring;
  •  gain an appreciation of work attitudes and an understanding of the differences between school and work;
  •  have a chance to meet and establish relationships with people outside their acquaintance;
  •  develop a range of transferable, key employability skills

Ms Katrina McGrath - Careers Leader

Telephone: 020-7603-8478

Email: Careers@cvms.co.uk

Gatsby benchmarks

Click here to read and download the Gatsby benchmark guide

Destinations data

Show list Show Grid