Careers

Introduction to our Careers Lead at Exhall Grange Specialist School.

Kim Martin is our Careers Leader. Kim has over 10 year’s experience in a specialist college, helping young people with a range of disabilities, working to empower them to make the transition from education into careers and further training.

Kim has a business background and has worked at Coventry University with the graduates, helping them with their curriculum vitae (CV), applications, and their career options. She has previous experience of working in apprenticeship and Intern provision and as an advisor for the Department of work and pensions (DWP), helping the long term unemployed to make the transition back into work.

Kim will be helping to design, implement and evaluate the whole-school Careers and Employability Strategy. She will be responsible and accountable for the delivery of the school’s programme of career education, information, advice and guidance. Kim will ensure the school meets the Gatsby Benchmarks provision of career and labour market information. She will be consulting with tutors, mentors, Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCO), and heads of year to identify pupils needing guidance. In addition, she will be collaborating with local employers so that our pupils will have a greater understanding of what it is like to be in a working environment.

Kim believes in the importance of parents and carers understanding the next steps to support their child in making these life decisions. As the pupil progresses through their school career, they will be given opportunities to experience college visits, careers advice and employability skills.

For more information or assistance email: martin.k@exhallgrange.co.uk

Gatsby Benchmarks

A FRAMEWORK OF 8 GUIDELINES THAT DEFINE THE BEST CAREERS PROVISION IN EDUCATION.

1) A stable career program

Every school and college should have an embedded programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by pupils, parent, teachers and employers.

2) Learning from career and labour market

Every pupil, and their parents, should have access to good-quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities. They will need the support of an informed adviser to make best use of available information.

3) Addressing the needs of each pupil

Pupils have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each pupil. A school’s careers programme should embed equality and diversity considerations throughout.

4) Linking curriculum learning to careers

All teachers should link curriculum learning with careers. For example, STEM subject teachers should highlight the relevance of STEM subjects for a wide range of future career paths.

5) Encounters with employers and employees

Every pupil should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment activities including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes.

6) Experience of workplaces

Every pupil should have first-hand experiences of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities and expand their networks.

7) Encounters with further and higher education

All pupils should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them. This includes both academic and vocational routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace.

8) Personal guidance

Every pupil should have opportunities for guidance interviews with a career’s adviser, who could be internal (a member of school staff) or external, provided they are trained to an appropriate level. These should be available whenever significant study or career choices are being made. They should be expected for all pupils but should be timed to meet their individual needs.

GATSBY BENCHMARKS