At City of London Academy Shoreditch Park, we pride ourselves on providing an outstanding quality of education for all students. In order to do so, it is imperative that Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) is widely accessible to our students. The programme we provide ensures students receive aspirational career advice, information and guidance which will allow them to develop key skills for higher level education, apprenticeships and employability. We incorporate CEIAG in our curriculum from Key Stage 3 to allow our students to gain contextual understanding of the wider world. This is achieved by our students meeting a large cohort of professionals and visiting a range of work and educational establishments preparing them for their next stage in life after the academy.
Opportunities for access
The programme we provide incorporates many different, engaging educational activities. It is accessible to all students and is tailored to all individual needs. Examples of what we offer include:
- University and college trips:
Our annual university trips allow our students to see and access further education, providing them with inspiration for potential courses they might like to pursue. Additionally, we also offer the chance to visit certain colleges who offer vocational provisions.
- Curriculum:
All subjects at the academy explore the possible career pathways that can be achieved from studying those subjects. These include but are not limited to the ‘STEAM’ subjects.
- Career drop-in sessions:
Our Careers Lead provides drop-in sessions at breaktime which gives the students a chance to build their CVs/personal statements and get any other advice and guidance they require. In addition, specialised 1:1 careers meetings are available for all year 11 students.
- Educational and work providers:
Opportunities for providers to speak with students might include school assemblies, employer and provider engagement events or opportunities to speak with students and parents on a one-to-one basis supporting next steps. We encourage providers to contact our careers lead via email.
With our CEIAG program we aim to broaden horizons, elevate aspirations, and challenge stereotypes!
Provider Access Statement
This statement sets out the school’s arrangements for managing the access of providers to students at the school for the purposes 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.
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 taster events;
- to understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses.
Management of provider access requests:
A provider wishing to request access should contact m.newcombe@shoreditch.cola.org.uk.
Telephone: 020 3011 2162
Email: m.newcombe@shoreditch.cola.org.uk
The aims of our careers education, information, advice and guidance include:
- To raise students’ aspirations and expose them to the wealth of opportunities available in their city and beyond
- To provide advice and guidance which is in the best interests of the students in our context
- To inspire and to empower students to make informed, realistic decisions at key transition points in learning and work
- To provide good quality independent and impartial careers advice to students which inspire them and motivates them to fulfil their potential
- To provide opportunities to work in partnership with employers, training providers, local colleges and others to provide opportunities to inspire students through real-life contact with the world of work
- To develop enterprise and employability skills including skills for self-employment
- To support inclusion, challenge stereotyping and promote equality of opportunity?
For more information, please see the documents below.
Accessing careers at COLASP
Students
The Careers Programme aims to introduce students to a range of careers. It also recognises that the careers landscape is diverse and ever-changing; therefore, we aim to equip students with the broad range of information and skills they require to plan a successful future pathway.
As such our Careers Program is embedded into the curriculum. We also offer extra-curricular events to further develop our students’ knowledge of what is available to them for their future development.
Students at The City of London Academy Shoreditch Park are able to access the Careers Programme in a variety of ways: termly school trips, workshops from local and national businesses, and one-to-one drop-in advice.
Students are able to develop their understanding of careers and opportunities during our weekly careers bulletin. Personalised support is offered to students when completing applications.
Students are also able to access the Careers Programme here on our website.
We also ensure that all of our students have access to a 1-1 Careers Guidance Interview with a qualified Careers Advisor before they leave year 11 to ensure they have an extensive knowledge of the opportunities that are available to them.
Parents
Parents are able to engage and access the Careers Programme here at COLASP in a variety of ways. They have access to view the Careers Programme as it is published on the website. Further to this there is also an opportunity for any queries around the careers provision we provide to be raised at our pastoral and parent days.
Teachers
All staff at COLASP play a part in delivering the Careers Programme. From developing careers education within their subjects to teaching all students about careers in PSHE. Teachers promote careers within their subject area by ensure each half term the curriculum has a careers focus. They also ensure that certain classroom and corridor displays highlight potential careers in their subject.
Employers
Any employers wanting to get in touch with the Academy regarding potential opportunities for our students should contact our careers leader Meghann Newcombe (m.newcombe@shoreditch.cola.org.uk).
Reviewing the Careers Programme
We review the Careers programme annually to adapt and develop it within the needs and interests of our students. We use our destination data as well as our Compass Reviews to assess the effectiveness of our programme.