Welcome to The Academy of St Francis of Assisi Careers Page.

Here at The Academy, we believe careers education, advice and guidance is a vital component of a young person’s learning and development. We want all our pupils to achieve their true potential, not just in school, but in the wider community and beyond.

To support our students as much as possible with their career decision making, we have designed a careers and employability strategy that offers a quality, bespoke careers education plan for all. Our strategy takes into account the recent Ofsted recommendations for outstanding careers education.  We also strive to meet the benchmarks for good careers guidance as outlined by the eight Gatsby benchmarks.

The eight Gatsby benchmarks of Good Career Guidance
1. A stable careers programme
2. Learning from career and labour market information
3. Addressing the needs of each pupil
4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
5. Encounters with employers and employees
6. Experiences of workplaces
7. Encounters with further and higher education
8. Personal guidance

Miss Swarbrick is the Careers and Employability Manager for The Academy. As a fully qualified Careers Adviser, she ensures that students can access quality impartial guidance and support, working alongside other school staff, employers and local providers of training to ensure all students at The Academy leave with the skills and qualities that employers want. We will do our best to support all our students so they make the right decisions and are able to follow the right path to a great future.

Miss Swarbrick is in school every week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. If you would like careers advice and support, please speak to Miss Swarbrick who will make you an appointment. Alternatively, ask your form teacher who will do the same. You can contact Miss Swarbrick with any career related queries you may have by email at  swarbrickc@asfaonline.org

Or call her on 0151 260 7600

The Academy will review it’s Careers Strategy and the information published in September 2022.

Entitlement Statement   

Here at The Academy of St Francis of Assisi, we believe careers education, advice and guidance is a vital component of a young person’s learning and development.   We want all our pupils to achieve their true potential, not just in school, but in the wider community and beyond when they eventually complete their time with us.

Monitoring

The careers programme is monitored and evaluated through regular review with the Senior Leadership team which takes into account requirements of the eight Gatsby Benchmarks, feedback via student voice and external providers and tracking of careers interventions and student destinations. Our Academy Careers Strategy is reviewed every September to ensure it is the best for our students.

Students

All learners at The Academy will participate in a careers programme from years 7-13 that helps them to:

• Understand their education, training, employment and other progression opportunities
• Develop the skills they need to plan and manage their own personal development and career progression
• Access relevant information and learning from taster activities and experience of work
• Make and maintain individual progression plans to help them improve their prospects of success
• Offer feedback and ideas on how to improve the careers programme

All learners will have access to, and support with using careers information that is:

• Easy to find and available at convenient times and in convenient locations, including on the intranet
• Clearly labelled and referenced
• Comprehensive, giving details of all progression opportunities and associated support arrangements such as financial help

• Unbiased and up to date

All learners will be able to obtain careers guidance that is:

• Impartial
• Confidential
• Focused on individual needs and fit for purpose
• Supportive of equal opportunities
• Provided by people with relevant training and expertise

Year 7

In Year 7 students are encouraged to identify and talk about their early aspirations. Through embedding careers within Personal Social and Health Education Curriculum, they are given the opportunity to engage in a variety of self-development activities. They identify their skills and interests, subject preferences and strengths and begin to identify and research jobs they are interested in.

Year 8

In Year 8 students are given the opportunity to choose option subjects related to their interests, strengths and future aspirations. They attend careers assemblies which encourage them to link what they are learning in school with their future aspirations and careers. Parents and students are supported through the options process and students engage in form time career research activities which help them explore the different skills, subjects and qualifications needed for different job roles. In the curriculum areas teachers ensure that the students are aware of the different skills developed in each subject and the jobs that their subject’s links to. They also have access to qualified career guidance, all of which support students in making informed option choices.

Year 9

Students in Year 9 have the opportunity to take part in a range of career focussed activities. They attend a careers fair where they benefit from speaking to a range of employers, apprenticeship training providers and universities. Other employability based activities have included employer speed dating events, and STEM clubs and offsite visits to Universities. In school we provide a range of employability activities including career assemblies and workshops

Year 10

In Year 10 students continue to develop the skills they will need to compete and succeed in today’s complex and ever evolving job market. They explore employment growth sectors in the local economy and take part in career assemblies with visiting guest speakers. In the summer term we have a dedicated employability day where students take part in a mock job application and mock interviews with real employers. They receive feedback on their application and interview which not only gives them an understanding of recruitment processes, but develops confidence and commercial awareness to help them perform well when they go through real recruitment processes.

Year 11

In Year 11 all Academy students have a one to one guidance interview with a fully qualified Careers Advisor who holds the Level 6 qualification in Career Guidance and Development and Diploma in Careers Education. This is a key transition point and students have access to ongoing careers advice and guidance throughout this academic year, receiving bespoke support to ensure a successful post 16 transition. They can access help with applications to Sixth Forms and colleges as well as apprenticeships. They can also access support and get advice on Cv’s and interview skills alongside general advice on jobs and careers.

In addition, all students across the year groups partake in a number of events and workshops in partnership with local and national businesses. They are exposed to real employers and employees, and attend career assemblies with speakers from a range of industries and careers sectors. This ensures our students leave the Academy fully prepared to enter the workplace not only well educated, but also confident and resilient.

Parents

All parents and carers can expect to:

• Be able to make an appointment with a member of staff or specialist adviser to discuss their children’s progress and future prospects
• Have access to tutors, subjects, learning partners and specialist advisers at parents’ evenings in years 7-13 and Options evenings in years 9 and 11.
• Be invited to look at schemes of work and careers activities , information and resources, using and contributing to them if they wish
• Receive invitations to take part in careers and information events
• Have the opportunity to comment on the usefulness of the careers programme to their children and how it could be improve.

Whoever you are, whatever your background – if you want to get your career going, an apprenticeship is a great place to start.

An apprenticeship gives you both work experience and qualifications by combining on the job training with study (usually one day a week) meaning you can earn while you learn. With some apprenticeships you can even get a degree.

It usually takes between one and four years to complete an apprenticeship depending on which level you take. Apprenticeships are available across a wide range of industries and many high quality, prestigious companies offer them.

The minimum wage for apprentices aged 16-18 is currently £3.50 per hour. The same applies if you’re 19 and over and in the first year of your apprenticeship, after that you are entitled to the National Minimum Wage. However many employers pay more than this.  Pay is dependent on the industry, location and type of apprenticeship, for example some higher apprenticeships can pay as much as £500 per week

At The Academy of St Francis of Assisi, we encourage all our students to consider apprenticeships as one of their options when making decisions about their future.  With increasing numbers of quality, degree level apprenticeships, it makes sense to spend some time researching apprenticeship possibilities.

Here are a few websites that can help you get started:

Get in Go Far                                   https://www.getingofar.gov.uk/

The national apprenticeship website offering support and advice.  Over 25, 000 apprenticeship vacancies are advertised here daily.

Mapped out                                      http://www.gmlpf.net/mappedout/

An online directory of Apprenticeships and other training opportunities for young people aged 16 to 18 on Merseyside.

Get my First Job                            https://www.getmyfirstjob.co.uk/

GetMyFirstJob will connect you with the best employers and training providers to get you on the right track faster. And it only takes minutes to sign up.

Not going to Uni                             http://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/apprenticeships-223

An online apprenticeships guide that offers you advice on how to become an apprentice as well as listing apprenticeships from over 1000 providers.

We have our Trust Sixth Form College onsite at The Academy of St Nicholas – CLICK HERE to visitALL SAINTS SIXTH FORM website.

Other colleges in the Liverpool area:

Liverpool City College

Hugh Baird College

Myerscough College

Knowsley Community College 

Riverside College

At The Academy, we will make our pupils aware of where the jobs of tomorrow will be.  We will work alongside our partners to enhance our knowledge of labour market information and intelligence. Our careers curriculum will reflect this knowledge and will help students make a more informed choice.

Labour Market Profile – Liverpool City Region

Growth Sectors

Core Sectors

The seven growth sectors as identified by the Local Enterprise Partnership are as follows:

The Visitor Economy

The Visitor Economy, worth £4bn and supporting over 50,000 jobs, continues to develop as a major growth sector bringing both economic benefits and reputational advantage to the City Region.

The Superport

Superport is an integrated cluster of logistics assets and expertise that will deliver faster, greener global market access for business to and from the northern UK and Ireland via an enlarged post-Panamax container port.

Financial & Professional.

The sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in our region and supports nearly 80,000 careers in over 2,500 multi-national and small businesses including; Finance, Legal, Insurance, Marketing, Human Resources and Technical Analysis.

The Low Carbon Economy

Liverpool City Region’s coastal location and low carbon and energy business capabilities mean it is in a strong position to capture and realise the job growth potential from a low carbon economy.

Life Science & Health.

The Liverpool City Region has been responsible for a number of Life Sciences and health related breakthroughs over time including; the first ever X-ray before surgery, the discovery of malaria in mosquitoes and the establishment of Sports Science to help athletes perform better. The sector supports over 6,000 careers and contributes over £170 million per year to our region’s economy.

Advanced Manufacturing.

Manufacturing is a vital asset to the Liverpool City Region, supporting nearly 50,000 careers in 3,000 companies. From pharmaceuticals to shipping, car manufacture to energy development, the sector is made up of both multi-national companies and home-grown businesses.

Digital & Creative.

The sector supports 26,000 careers in 3,500 companies. From creative agencies, broadcasting, music, publishing, programming, mobile computing, the sector is made up of both multi-national companies and home-grown businesses.

The fast-changing world of work puts an ever-greater demand on all of us to support young people in making a successful transition from education to employment, helping them to identify and choose career opportunities that are right for them.

Here at the Academy of St Francis of Assisi we work hard to build and maintain strong links with the business community and welcome the opportunity to work with a variety of local and national business

We value your experience, your knowledge of your business and sector and welcome employers into our school in particularly to:

Participate in activities and events.

Share knowledge of your business and sector.

Give students the opportunity to gather information and ask questions.

Provide relatable role models and inspirational speakers.

Celebrate successful business in our local community.

Support us in raising the aspirations of our students.

If you can support our Academy through participation in any of the activities above or would like more information on how we could benefit from your expertise, please contact our School Careers Manager Mr Andrew Bunting – buntinga@asfa.allsaintsmat.org