Careers
Our Vision
Increasing ambitions within the Fulston Family to unlock a world of possibilities
At Fulston Manor School we are committed to raising ambitions for our students to give them the skills and knowledge to be able to open up any door they aspire to in later life. Therefore, our Careers policy reflects this. We aim to give students the opportunity to understand the benefits of Higher Education including academic and vocational courses as well as gain understanding of the work place and what that might look like for them. We believe that Careers education should start from when students join the school so that they may plan their futures accordingly.
A young person’s career is the progress they make in learning and work. All young people need a planned programme of activities to help them choose 14-19 pathways that are right for them and to be able to manage their careers and sustain employability throughout their lives. Schools have a statutory duty to provide careers education in Years 7-13 and to ensure students have access to careers information and impartial guidance.
Fulston Manor School is committed to providing a planned programme of careers education and information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) for all students in Years 7-13, in partnership with The University of Kent, Canterbury Christ Church University, KAMCOP, Kent Education Business Partnership, The Education People and other outside providers.
We link our CEIAG programme to the Gatsby Benchmarks which are referenced to the Statutory Guidance for Careers (September 2023). The Gatsby Benchmarks are as follows:
- A Stable careers programme
- Learning from career and labour market information
- Addressing the needs of each pupil
- Linking curriculum learning to careers
- Encounters with employers and employees
- Experiences of workplaces
- Encounters with further and higher education
- Personal guidance
Our Dedicated Careers Team
We are fortunate enough to have our own in-house careers team dedicated to enhancing the future life choices and opportunities of our young people.
Mrs E Mason - Assistant Headteacher and Careers Leader ([email protected])
Mrs R Demian - Careers and Work Experience Co-ordinator ([email protected])
Fulston Futures Newsletter
How is CEIAG delivered at Fulston Manor School?
The CEIAG programme is delivered in a variety of ways. Some of these are age specific, others are more generic across all year groups. A detailed delivery plan of our programme can be downloaded from the bottom of this page - note that this is a working document and will be updated regularly.
|
Year |
CEIAG Programme |
|---|---|
|
7 |
CEIAG is delivered as part of the school’s Family Values Week in July, together with ad-hoc events and assemblies during the year. Year 7 students are able to access a range of employers and careers activities during the school's annual Careers Week in March. The careers team operate a lunchtime drop-in service in the school library every school day. Students are encouraged to use Unifrog to research and record their careers journey. Students will be trained in how to use Unifrog during their Computing lessons. |
|
8 |
CEIAG is delivered as part of the school’s Family Values Weeks in July, together with ad-hoc events and assemblies during the year. Year 8 students are able to access a range of employers and careers activities during the school's annual Careers Week in March. The careers team operate a lunchtime drop-in service in the school library every school day. Students are encouraged to use Unifrog to research and record their careers journey. Students will be trained in how to use Unifrog during their Computing lessons. |
|
9 |
Students receive direct information to help them make post-14 options choices. Some students with specific identified needs will receive careers guidance interviews with the school’s Careers Adviser. Year 9 students are able to access a range of employers and careers activities during the school's annual Careers Week in March. The careers team operate a lunchtime drop-in service in the school library every school day. All students in Year will receive discreet in-lesson guidance from subject teachers on the relevance of their subject for future career pathways. Further CEIAG is delivered through ad-hoc events and assemblies. Students are encouraged to use Unifrog to research and record their careers journey. Students will be trained in how to use Unifrog during their Computing lessons. |
|
10 |
Students receive ad hoc assemblies and events throughout the year, including information on apprenticeships, higher education and from local FE colleges. Some students with specific identified needs will receive careers guidance interviews with the school’s Careers Adviser. Students are offered as an option the chance to undertake a one-week work experience placement in July and are strongly encouraged to participate. Year 10 students are able to access a range of employers and careers activities during the school's annual Careers Week in March. The careers team operate a lunchtime drop-in service in the school library every school day. Students are encouraged to use Unifrog to research and record their careers journey. |
|
11 |
Students receive ad hoc assemblies and events throughout the year, including information on apprenticeships, higher education and from local FE colleges. All students are offered a careers guidance interview with the school’s Careers Advisor or an external Personal Advisor. In addition, students receive direct information to help them make post-16 progression decisions. Instruction and support are given to enable students to use the Kent Choices website to research and apply for post-16 courses of education. Year 11 students are able to access a range of employers and careers activities during the school's annual Careers Week in March. The careers team operate a lunchtime drop-in service in the school library every school day. Students are encouraged to use Unifrog to research and record their careers journey. |
|
12 |
CEIAG is delivered as part of the school’s PDC programme, assemblies, and through guidance interviews with the school's Careers Advisor, together with ad-hoc events. Much of this is focused on supporting students to make decisions about applying for a place in Higher Education, or moving into employment or further training. Work experience is compulsory for all Year 12 students, and takes place in July. Year 12 students are able to access a range of employers and careers activities during the school's annual Careers Week in March. The careers team operate a lunchtime drop-in service in the school library every school day. All students in Year will receive discreet in-lesson guidance from subject teachers on the relevance of their subject for future career pathways. Students are encouraged to use Unifrog to research and record their careers journey. |
|
13 |
CEIAG is delivered as part of the school's PDC programme and through discrete careers support sessions, which focus initially on supporting students through their university applications, and in assemblies. Students are able to request careers interviews and discussions with key staff regarding progression beyond school. As much support as possible is provided to help students make good, informed decisions, but there is an emphasis in Year 13 on students being proactive in this process. Students are encouraged to use Unifrog to research and record their careers journey. |
Ambition Breakfasts
During the year we will be offering Ambition Breakfasts where students can come to meet with
employers from different industries and hear from a keynote speaker. They will have the
opportunity to ask questions to a number of employers within that industry. Please look out for
more information about these and how to book a place.
National Careers Week
National Careers Week runs in March every year, and the school will be participating by running a series of activities including a programme of ‘Meet the Employer’ sessions at lunchtime which will be open to students from all year groups. All students in Years 9 and 12 will have lessons in all of their subjects on the relevance of those subjects for future career pathways.
Family Values Week
This week is held in July and is for Year 7 and 8 students, plus those Year 10 students who are not attending a work experience placement. A number of careers events will take place, including presentations from employers. The purpose of the week is to give students in those years the opportunity to think and plan for their future pathways.
How do we measure and evaluate our CEIAG programme?
The school measures and assesses the impact of the careers programme through student feedback, parental feedback, and through outcomes (measured by destinations tracking once students leave the school).
The content of the school’s CEIAG programme is reviewed annually.
What Resources Are Available in School?
Fulston Manor School recognises the importance of careers guidance being impartial and independent to ensure that young people make well-informed decisions about their future careers. Students are able to talk to any member of staff, in particular teaching staff and form tutors, who will offer guidance, or signpost them to other staff in a better position to help.
Key Staff
Overall responsibility for Careers Education and Guidance in the school is held by
the Careers Leader, Mrs Mason who is also an Assistant Headteacher. She can be
contacted via email at [email protected] or by telephone via the
school switchboard.
Mrs Mason is supported by Mrs Demian, the Careers and Work Experience Co-
ordinator. Mrs Demian is available in the Careers Library Monday to Thursday during
break and lunchtime for any students with questions regarding university/college
entrance, careers or work experience. Mrs Demian, who has completed a Level 6
careers qualification through Canterbury Christ Church University, also delivers
careers guidance interviews to students throughout the year. Mrs Demian can be
contacted at [email protected] or by telephone via the school
switchboard.
Unifrog
Since March 2023 the school has provided Unifrog, an amazing online careers platform. Students can use this to complete a range of personality and skills surveys, find out about a huge range of career pathways in every job sector, and record their career journey. Over time the activities and interactions they record will build a career profile that can be used to create CVs and applications. Unifrog can also be used to explore apprenticeships and higher education opportunities. Students and parents have all been provided with logins.
Other resources
In addition to the above staff, the school Careers Library is accessible at lunchtime and after school for students to research different career paths. It is attached to the main school library.
Useful CEIAG Websites
Your Future: Choices at 16 and 18 and student destinations
At 16, following the completion of your GCSEs, you can leave school but you have to remain in education or training until you are 18. Possible pathways you might want to look into are:
| Sixth Form at Fulston Manor | Sixth Form at another School | FE College | Apprenticeship | T-Levels | |
| Employment (With Training) | |||||
To make your application for Sixth Form or College, or to find out more information about applying for an Apprenticeship, please head to Kent Choices (https://www.kentprospectus.co.uk/), if you require your login information, please see Mrs Mason.'
At 18, you no longer have to stay in education or training, but many young people continue to do so. Continuing your education may open up careers that would otherwise be closed to you, as well as raise your skill levels and give you valuable life experience. Possible pathways to look into are:
| University | FE College | Employment | Apprenticeship | |
| A Gap Year before further study | ||||
It is important to remember that whatever your pathway, a solid foundation of GCSE grades, particularly in English and Mathematics, will be critical to opening up future study and career progression routes. Put simply, better grades equal more choices and opportunities.
T Levels
T Levels are new qualifications that are equivalent to 3 A Levels. They are being introduced in stages from 2020 - 2023. In total there are plans for 24 T Levels, all in very vocational or technical areas. Further information on these can be found at T Levels
If you are leaving school to find employment, it is always useful to know where your nearest Jobcentre is located https://www.jobcentrejobs.co.uk/
Student Destinations - what our students do after school
In July 2023 our Year 11 and 12 students destinations, with data provided by the Local Authority, were:
Our Year 13 leavers in June 2023 went on to do the following:
Higher education (including gap year): 54%
College/FE: 0.7%
Apprenticeships: 10.3%
Training: 2.9%
Employment: 13.3%
Moved away: 1.4%
NEET: 1.4%
Unknown: 9.6%
Challenging Stereotypes
The days of jobs only being available for certain types of people are thankfully long gone. However, for a range of reasons some young people still hold to certain stereotypes that mean that they might easily think that some career pathways are unavailable to them. This might be because it's not a career pathway that boys or girls traditionally do, for instance. In order for young people to fully consider different opportunities it is important that these stereotypes are challenged. The resources below might be useful in breaking down these barriers.
England's first all female garage
News article - boys put off by 'female' jobs
Labour Market Information
Whether you are thinking of leaving school at 16 to start an apprenticeship, or heading off to university after completing your A Levels, understanding the local and national and international labour markets is critical to choosing your career path.
Being able to find out what employment sectors are expanding or declining, in different geographical regions and areas, will enable you to make informed decisions about future employment prospects. The websites below will provide useful information to help you research different employment sectors.
https://www.kelsi.org.uk/skills-and-employability/14-to-19-25-curriculum-pathways/district-data-packs Will help you to look at the economic profiles of different districts within Kent.
Local Enterprise Summary Reports - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Will give you regional information from across the UK, highlighting the occupations that employ or pay the most, as well as identifying some of the more niche occupations.
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors Will give you information on different job sectors, including information on getting started in specific job roles.
World Employment and Social Outlook – Trends 2021 (ilo.org) Gives you global employment trends and forecasts.
Apprenticeships
The school recognises the importance that apprenticeships hold in the range of career options that students may take post-16, post-18 or in the longer term. We encourage all students to consider apprenticeships as a possible future pathway and provide opportunities in school for them to find out more. This includes assemblies from apprenticeship and training providers, ‘Meet the Employer’ sessions and an information evening for parents to find out more.
An introduction to apprenticeships for parents
Useful websites for students and parents wishing to find out more, include:
https://amazingapprenticeships.com/
www.gov.uk/topic/further-education-skills/apprenticeships
www.kenttrainingandapprenticeships.co.uk
www.cilex.org.uk/study/apprenticeships - apprenticeships in law
Advice For Students Interested in Higher Education
Support is given in school to students in Years 12 and 13 who are applying to university, including within Year 12 Enrichment lessons and, for Year 13, after school support workshops to help with completing application forms. The school is also a partner school of the University of Kent, who come in and deliver workshops at various points in the year.
If you are interested in going to university, speak to Mrs Mason, Mrs Davies or Mrs Demian. You could also look at the following websites:
https://targetcareers.co.uk/uni
If you want to get a degree but also want to work, you could think about getting a degree apprenticeship
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/apprenticeships/degree-apprenticeships
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
The UK is a world leader in scientific and technological research, and STEM industries employ hundreds of thousands of people. STEM businesses operate in a global setting and the opportunities available within them can be huge.
At Fulston Manor, all students have dedicated time within their Computing, DT, Mathematics and Science lessons where teachers discuss the range of career opportunities that these subjects can help young people gain access to. The school is particularly keen to help to breakdown nationally recognised stereotypes that can create barriers to girls entering STEM careers.
During the 2021/22 academic year the school worked with KMPF and Canterbury Christ Church University to enable a cohort of Year 10 students to participate in the 'Inspiring Minds' programme.
The following downloadable resources provide further useful information about STEM careers and pathways into them, which we hope that students and parents will find helpful:
https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/community/collection/448547/videos-promote-careers-stem
Employers
The school actively seeks, and welcomes, the involvement of employers in our careers education programme. In the past employers have come into school to deliver a range of activities including: speaking to whole year groups in assemblies, delivering small group sessions on specific career pathways, and participation in mock interviews with Sixth Form students. We also offer work experience to Year 10 students, and to all Year 12 students for whom it is compulsory.
The Provider Access Policy below, outlines the opportunities and resources that employers have open to them. The school’s preferred arrangement is for employers to speak in one of our ‘Meet the Employer’ lunchtime sessions.
Should you be interested in delivering a careers related session to students, or be willing to offer a work experience placement to either a Year 10 or Year 12 student, then please either contact Mrs Mason (Assistant Headteacher) at [email protected], or Mrs Demian (Careers and Work Experience Co-ordinator) at [email protected].
Provider Access Policy
This policy statement sets out the school’s arrangements for managing the access of providers to students at the school for the purpose of giving them information about the provider’s education or training offer. This complies with the school’s legal obligations under Section 42B of the Education Act 1997 and the Statutory Guidance (January 2023) ‘Careers guidance and access for education and training providers’.
All students in years 8 – 13 are entitled:
- To find out about technical 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 events, assemblies and group discussions and taster events;
- To understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses.
The school will comply with its obligations under legislation by providing the following:
- At least two encounters with providers of technical qualifications and apprenticeships across Years 8 and 9;
- At least two encounters with providers of technical qualifications and apprenticeships across Years 10 and 11;
- At least two encounters with providers of technical qualifications and apprenticeships across Years 12 and 13;
The school will contact providers to provide these encounters, but any provider wishing to request access should contact Mrs E Mason, Assistant Headteacher, at [email protected] or via the school switchboard on 01795 475228.
A number of events, integrated into the school careers programme, may offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to students:
Year 7: Assemblies (throughout the year), Careers Week (in March), Family Values Week (in July).
Year 8: Assemblies (throughout the year), Careers Week (in March), Family Values Week (in July).
Year 9: Assemblies (throughout the year), Options Evening (Spring Term), Careers Week (in March)
Year 10: Assemblies (throughout the year), Careers Week (in March), Work Experience / Family Values Week (in July).
Year 11: Assemblies (throughout the year), Careers Week (in March)
Year 12: PDC lessons (throughout the year), Careers workshops (after school throughout the year), Work Experience Week (July).
Year 13: PDC Lessons (throughout the year), Careers workshops (after school throughout the year).
In addition to the above, bespoke sessions can be organised at most times of year through discussions with the school. The school welcomes face-to-face and virtual encounters.
The school will make the main hall, classrooms or private meeting rooms available for discussions between the provider and students, as appropriate to the activity. The school will also make available AV and other specialist equipment to support provider presentations. This will all be discussed and agreed in advance of the visit with the Careers Leader or a member of their team. The school will consider any requests for specialist facilities, such as workshops and science laboratories, subject to risk assessment.
The school reserves the right to refuse requests for access for the following reasons:
- If such requests are felt to interfere adversely with the progress of students, for instance during the run up to examinations;
- If requested facilities are not available at the requested time, for instance because they are being used for another activity;
- If reasonable time is not given to organise and implement the access request.
Providers are welcome to leave a copy of their prospectus or other relevant course literature at the Careers Resource Centre, which is managed by the school librarian. The Resource Centre is available to all students at lunch and break times.
Recent providers that have been invited in to the school include:
- East Kent College Group
- Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge in schools and college (ASK)
- Medway UTC
Anybody wishing to raise a complaint about provider access should, in the first instance, contact Mr G Vigeon. Should a resolution not be arrived at the school’s Complaints Policy, available from the school website, should be followed.