Careers Advice
The Careers Leader in school is Mr Podlewski and the Careers Adviser is Mrs Sergeant.
If you wish to get in touch please contact the school direct on 01977 664555 or email info@airedaleacademy.com
Airedale Academy is committed to providing high quality careers education advice and guidance which supports learners in developing an awareness of their skills, talents and areas of interest. We endeavour to help students with their career paths, supporting them to make informed choices about their future. Students are given information about the full range of options including apprenticeships, T Levels, A Levels and vocational courses.
Information, advice and guidance is offered to students at key transition points including in Year 9 when making Key Stage 4 Option Choices. Parents and carers are invited to Options Evening before final choices are made.
Students are further supported in plans for when they leave school during Year 10 and 11 with information and advice around their Post 16 options. They also have the benefit of attending college taster days prior to making applications.
6th Form Students are able to explore and research Post 18 options though completion of the Progression Module. Visiting speakers come to school to give information on topics such as student finance and those that choose to apply to university are supported with this process. Information about apprenticeships and employment pathways is delivered alongside help with making applications. Pupils have the opportunity to attend subject specific taster days and the higher education events e.g. UCAS HE Fair.
A wider programme of activities from Year 7 – 11 includes the school careers fair, mock interviews, university visits, enterprise days, workplace visits, assemblies with speakers from different industries and careers lessons during drop down days.
At Airedale Academy we are keen to raise aspirations for our students to consider Higher Education as a possibility for them. Over the last couple of years, through Go Higher West Yorkshire funding, students took part in a wide range of opportunities such as university visits, taster days, enterprise activities and projects with local employers.
This year some of our students in Year 9 & 10 have participated in trips to University of Huddersfield, University of Hull, Sheffield Hallam University and Leeds City College / University Centre. These experiences have given them all an insight into Higher Education and student life, encouraging them to aim high!
As a school we are continually building links with businesses in the local area to inform and inspire our students about job opportunities. A programme of workplace visits started with Year 10 students in 2019 until off site visits were suspended due to the pandemic. Previous visits have included trip to Burberry in Castleford, Ferry Bridge Power Station and Parliament in London and we will be further developing our programme of visits into next year.
We are fortunate to have a new Enterprise Adviser, Jane Walton supporting us with our careers programme in school. Jane’s expertise is in supporting others to become self employed and she has been to school to talk to Year 9 about running your own business.
Locally and nationally there continues to be a demand for people with skills and knowledge in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). STEM Careers are promoted widely through a range of activities in school.
Planned activities for next year include Get Into Construction (an interactive day of activities at Wakefield College) and Women In Engineering with STEM Ambassadors). We have links with Wakefield College who offer inspirational activities in their STEM Plus Programme.
The Careers programme at Airedale is evaluated annually. Feedback from students is used to help us further develop our careers programme and to make sure that this is having a positive impact. Evaluation and planning for our Careers Programme is based on achieving the Gatsby Benchmarks which outline good practice for schools. See the link below for further information:
https://www.goodcareerguidance.org.uk/
Please see below for more detailed information on our CEIAG Programme linked to Gatsby Benchmarks
We welcome contacts from employers, colleges, universities and training providers. Further information can be found here through our Provider Access Policy.
https://www.airedaleacademy.com/images/media/_doc/provider-access-policy-2021.pdf
Student Destinations
All students are supported to make applications and secure a place Post 16.
Below is a summary of destinations data for recent school leavers. All of those In Learning progressed to college, 6th form or an apprenticeship.
2023: In Learning (Employment, Education or Training) 96% NEET 3.4%
Destinations for our students include the following:
· Airedale Academy 6th Form
· NEW College Pontefract
· Wakefield College
· Castleford Tigers Rugby Academy
· Leeds City College
· Askham Bryan College
INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS
The Wakefield Prospectus site is the central application website for a number of local colleges.
Please note that any colleges and 6th forms not on the site have links on their websites for direct applications.
Exploring Career Ideas? Here are some useful websites to get you started.
Try the Buzz Quiz to find out what kind of jobs could suit you.
Search the video library to hear stories of how people got to where they are today.
A great place to start for information about your option choices, apprenticeships, university, jobs and careers.
Use this website for information about Higher Education and University Courses. Please note that applications for Further Education have now been moved to the Wakefield Prospectus Website.
The National Apprenticeships website; this is where you can find out more about apprenticeships and also search and apply for apprenticeships with local businesses.
Take a look at Vacancy Snapshot to keep an eye on vacancies coming up with big national companies.
JOBS, OPPORTUNITIES AND GROWING INDUSTRIES IN YORKSHIRE
Future Goals is a new website with information about exciting opportunities and growing industries in our region. These include Construction, Manufacturing & Engineering, Health and Social Care, Creative Industries, Digital and Financial and Professional Services.
HOW CAN I GET HELP IN SCHOOL?
Year 11 students will be seen for guidance both in small groups and one to one, however any student in school can request an appointment with the school Careers Adviser, Jo Sergeant. She is available in school four days a week based in the Careers Office next to classroom L36.
Appointments can be requested in person or through a member of staff e.g. Form Tutor or Head of Year who can make a referral.
Parents & carers who would like to book an appointment for their child can do so by contacting the Academy office.
INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND CARERS
At Airedale Academy we recognise that parents / carers also need information and advice to help support their children through the process of making choices about their future.
Events such as our annual Careers Fair and Choices at 16 Evening are open to parents / carers and actively encourage parents to attend! In addition to this there is a Careers Adviser present at key parental consultation events.
Appointments can be made available with the school careers adviser on request. Please contact the school office in the first instance via email aainfo@northernambition.org.uk.
Here are a couple of websites with information about Post 16 choices, apprenticeships, university, making job applications etc.
Another website which has information aimed at parents / carers is Career Pilot Career Pilot. See the Parent Zone section Parent Zone!
This information will be reviewed July 2024