Career Education has always been a strength at Cotham School as outlined in the Quality in Careers Standard, a national kite mark for careers work in schools. We are delighted to once again go through the process of re-accreditation for the award this year. We are very proud of the efforts of our staff, parents, students and wider community in helping us to achieve this. 

Cotham School is committed to providing all students with an inspiring Career Education, Information, Advice and Guidance programme that: is appropriate to their individual needs, motivates them to raise ambition and attainment, and encourages them to consider non-traditional careers where their ethnicity or gender are underrepresented and which reflect recent developments in the labour market.  Throughout the programme, there is an emphasis on students planning for happiness with consideration to work life balance, celebrating their talents and contributing to society.

All Students Will Be Entitled To A Careers Education, Information, Advice And Guidance (Ceiag) Program That:

• Aims to inspire as well as inform and guide students
• Is centred around the student and their needs
• Is integrated into the students’ experience of the whole curriculum
• Encourages all students to consider their career throughout Key Stages 3, 4 and 5
• Encourages all students to develop decision making skills and resilience
• Equips all students for independent learning and lifelong learning
• Meets professional standards of practice
• Provides each student with high quality impartial careers advice
• Raises aspirations and promotes equality and diversity

All Cotham School Students Are Entitled To:

• A range of activities and opportunities that promote self-development, career planning and entrepreneurial skills including inspiring trips, visits and guest speakers.
• Opportunities for students to meet local businesses as well as representatives from further education and university personnel in the form of careers fairs and ‘pop-up’ market place events at lunch time.
• Access to up to date, relevant and comprehensive impartial advice. This includes careers resources and a one-to-one guidance interview with action plan for all students in KS4 and ‘drop-in’ access for all students in KS 3, 4 and 5.
• Individual on-going careers advice and practical support from tutors.
• Careers support which is personalised to their own specific needs and abilities. including extra support for students with low levels of literacy, EAL and / or SEN.
• Access to up to date information for parents/carers through parental newsletters, bulletins, KS4 pathways  information evenings and Post 16 information evenings.

During Years 7 And 8 Students Will:

• Use Career Pilot to capture who you are and what your dreams and current skills are. 
• Assess and build your core employability skills and confidence.
• Identify ways to develop as a person through meeting a variety of leaders from different occupational sectors as well as Cotham School alumni.
• Research how your future career fits in with your current learning 
• Try out new subjects that you have nor studied before
• Encounter careers and real world application in your subject lessons
• Try out new subjects that you haven’t studied before
• Have the chance to apply to be a student leader and develop leadership, managerial and entrepreneurial skills.

During Years 9, 10 and 11 Students Will

• Attend KS4 pathways information evenings and 1-1 meetings to choose the GCSE options that are appropriate to your interests and talents.
• Describe how the world of work and different types of business contribute to the economy
• Challenge stereotyping, discrimination and other cultural and social barriers to choice
• Find information on career opportunities and how they are changing.
• Identify a range of post-16 options and careers advice and support networks so that you can plan career pathways
• Make informed choices about your options for the future
• Relate your abilities, attributes and achievements to your career plans
• Prepare for interviews and practise these skills with real employers and businesses
• Undertake work experience for at least one week and reflect on the skills you have used and contacts you have made

During Years 12 And 13 Students Will

• Encouraged and supported to visit at least two Universities
• Identify where to find current labour market information and apply this information to your career plans
• Attend a Higher Education fair where you will meet students and representatives from a range of Universities
• Consider a range of reputable opportunities that are an alternative to University
• Be inspired by representatives from a range of careers
• Complete personality/psychometric assessments to explore careers that may be less 
• Demonstrate your interview skills and receive professional feedback
• Complete a high quality UCAS application
• Update your CV with professional support
• Applying and interviewing for your dream job

Management Of Provider Access Requests

At Cotham School we believe that contextualising students' learning is essential to their success in their future endeavours and realising their potential.  Cotham school warmly welcomes offers and requests from Businesses Mentoring organisations, potential Employers,  Higher Education Institutions, Further Education Colleges, UTC/Studio Schools and Apprenticeship Training Providers to help us inform and prepare our students for their future decision making.

Procedure

A provider wishing to request access should contact Suzanne Paice, Careers Leader. 

Tel: 0117 919 8069, Email: paices@cotham.bristol.sch.uk 

Opportunities for Access

A number of events integrated into the school careers programme will offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to students and/or their parents.

Please speak to our named Careers Leader to identify the most suitable opportunity for you. Our policy on safeguarding sets out the school’s approach to allowing providers into the Academy as visitors to talk to our students.

Premises and Facilities

The school will make the Main Hall, Sports Hall, Library, Classrooms or private meeting rooms available for discussions between the provider and students, as appropriate to the activity. The school will also make available any AV and other specialist equipment to support provider presentations. This will be discussed and agreed in advance of the visit with the Careers Leader. Providers are welcome to leave a copy of their prospectus or other relevant course literature at the Careers Resource area of the Library, which is managed by the Library Manager.