CEIAG and Boomerang
- Careers Connect work with The Observatory School to provide impartial careers information for our pupils. Careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) is available to all students from Year 5 through to Year 11. A careers programme of study is delivered through our Life-skills and PSHE/PSD lessons which is supported by form time activities and numerous opportunities for business, college and community exposure, visits, activities, experiences, assemblies and discussions.
- The careers programme will be reviewed in July of every academic year and, if required, revised.
- We are always interested in developing partnerships and engagement with all stakeholders. If teachers, parents, students, employers or providers and local organisations want further information or would like to contribute to the programme, please get in touch directly with the school’s careers coordinator using the contact details listed below.
- Feedback is also gathered from employers and other organisations to assess the success of an experience. This ensures we can tailor our careers programme to provide the best experience for both students and partners.
Boomerang - Support for past pupils
The aim of the Boomerang Program is to keep former students and staff in touch with each other and the school.
The Observatory School keep in touch with former pupils in several ways. We hold an Annual Awards Ceremony in school, usually near the start of the autumn term, when we offer the opportunity to meet up with old friends and look round the school, recall memories from their time here and see the changes that have occurred since then. The pupils also receive their certificates for their achievements from the summer term.
We also have a dedicated phone number for former pupils to contact for if they need any support once they leave school. Our Pastoral team are on hand to offer support to pupils whenever they need guidance or support. This may be support with college to filling out application forms for job applications.
It is always wonderful to have our past pupils visit us and let us know how they are getting on.
The Observatory School: Provider Access Policy Statement
(To include The Department of Education, July 2021: “Baker Clause” and the Provider Access Legislation, January 2023)
Ownership: The Observatory School
Date updated: April 2024
Rationale
High quality careers education and guidance in school or college is critical to young people’s futures. It helps to prepare them for the workplace by providing a clear understanding of the world of work including the routes to jobs and careers that they might find engaging and rewarding. It supports them to acquire the self-development and career management skills they need to achieve positive employment destinations. This helps students to choose their pathways, improve their life opportunities and contribute to a productive and successful economy.
As the number of apprenticeships rises every year, it becomes increasingly important that all young people have a full understanding of all the options available to them post-16 and post-18 including wider technical education options such as T-Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications.
Commitment
The Observatory School is committed to ensuring there is an opportunity for a range of education and training providers to access students, for the purpose of informing them about approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships. The Observatory School is fully aware of the responsibility to set students on the path that will secure the best outcome which will enable them to progress in education and work and give employers the highly skilled people they need. That means acting impartially, in line with the statutory duty, and not showing bias towards any route, be that academic or technical.
The Observatory School endeavours to ensure that all students are aware of all routes to higher skills and are able to access information on technical options and apprenticeships (The Department of Education, July 2021: “Baker Clause”: supporting students to understand the full range of education and training options, and the Provider Access Legislation, January 2023).
Aims
The Observatory School policy for Access to other education and training providers has the following aims:
|
Year |
Autumn Term |
Spring Term |
Summer Term |
|
7 |
Overview of post 16 options for students and parents, to include: A levels, Applied General Qualifications (e.g., BTECs), technical/vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, traineeships and supported internships Event for University Technical Colleges |
Employer event for students, parents – market stall event giving overview of local, regional and national opportunities and skills requirement |
Meeting with Careers Adviser Year group assemblies |
|
8 |
Overview of post 16 options for students and parents, to include: A levels, Applied General Qualifications (e.g., BTECs), technical/vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, traineeships and supported internships Event for University Technical Colleges |
Meeting with Careers Adviser Year group assemblies |
Employer event for students, parents – market stall event giving overview of local, regional and national opportunities and skills requirement |
|
9 |
Overview of post 16 options for students and parents, to include: A levels, Applied General Qualifications (e.g., BTECs), technical/vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, traineeships and supported internships Event for University Technical Colleges |
Meetings with careers adviser KS4 options event |
Year group assemblies Employer events, college visits |
|
10 |
Overview of post 16 options to include: A levels, Applied General Qualifications (e.g., BTECs), technical/vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, traineeships and supported internships |
Technical/vocational tasters at local college/s, training providers
University Visits |
Year group assemblies Meetings with Careers Adviser Employer events Virtual Work experience |
|
11 |
Post 16 provider open evenings: opportunities to visit local Further Education and sixth form colleges, other school UTCs, Studio schools and other training providers regarding A level, Applied General, technical and vocational and apprenticeships. Meetings with careers adviser Post 16 applications |
Post-16 interviews
Post 16 provider open evenings: opportunities to visit local Further Education and sixth form colleges, other school UTCs, Studio schools and other training providers regarding A level, Applied General, technical and vocational and apprenticeships. |
Confirmation of post 16 education destinations for all students
Application support for Apprenticeships |
Please speak to our Careers Leader to identify the most suitable opportunity for you.
Premises and facilities:
The school will make the main hall, 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.
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 Careers Adviser.
The Resource Centre is available to all students.
What is a Careers Guidance Interview?
A careers guidance interview is an impartial one to one meeting between yourself and the Careers Adviser. It is not like a job interview, so you can’t get anything wrong!
It is all about YOU and your FUTURE.
The aim of the guidance interview is to help you think about your future career choices based on your interests, skills and qualifications.
It will help you make decisions about what pathway to take after school. Do you need to go to college, gain an apprenticeship or go to university?
It will also give you information about your chosen careers and where you can find out more.
Who is my Careers Adviser?
Lisa Kirkham
Lisa works for Career Connect and has been working within careers for 20 years!
Lisa attends lots of different schools
Lisa never ever had any specific career ideas growing up!
Lisa’s contact details are: lisa.Kirkham@careerconnect.org.uk
Take a look at some of our past pupils below.
Ty
Wirral Met College
Ty left The Observatory school in 2022 to complete a level 3 course in ComputerScience… after achieving 8 GCSEs grade 4 and above and 3 level2 qualifications in English, maths and computing he is now applying to go to university to complete a degree in Computer Science!
Dylan
Wirral Met College
Dylan is a 2023 leaver and is doing well on his Level 2 Joinery course. He is enjoying the course and is looking forward to the year ahead.
Kyle
Wirral Met College
Kyle is a 2022 leaver. He is currently on a multi skilled course at Wirral Met. He is really enjoying the course and feels it is giving him the skills and knowledge for future employment.
Callum
Wirral Met College
Callum is one of our 2021 leavers and is studying a Science Course at Wirral Met. He has passed his qualification this year (2023) and is completing the higher course next year. He is hoping to go to university after that.
Steven
2019 Leaver
Steven passed his Mechanics Apprenticeship with distinction and he is now a fully qualified mechanic! He is going to take his MOT qualification next year. We are all really proud of him!