Careers Programme

At Bronte Girls’ Academy, we strive to empower our pupils with the knowledge to help them to make wise decisions to enable them to get to their next milestone in their education through college, university, apprenticeships and ultimately the job market with success and a feeling of accomplishment.

At BGA, we are committed to ensure all our pupils have access to high quality impartial careers advice, and to employers who can help them to consider their future options into employment, apprenticeships or further and higher education.

Our careers guidance is framed around the Gatsby Benchmarks which have been explicitly referenced throughout the DfE’s Careers Strategy (December 2017) and the new Statuary Guidance for careers (January 2018).
The benchmarks are outlined below:

At BGA, we meet each of these benchmarks through some of the following provisions. The list is not exhaustive, but provides insight to how we support our pupils:

At Key Stage 3:

• There are Careers Assemblies led by key providers discussing their job roles in relation to a wide range of career sectors. Access to Unifrog supports pupils in making the most informed decisions about their futures. Access to this is built into our Guided Study Programme. 
• In Year 7 Citizenship lessons, pupils take part in the First Give campaigns to provide them with encounters with employers and charities. Pupils explore the skills and qualities associated with enterprise and employability.
• In all years, pupils complete STEM focussed days throughout and explore the different elements of science, technology, engineering and maths in project-based activities highlighting the range of different career paths within specific concepts.
• In Year 8 Citizenship, pupils explore the theme of Rights and Choices. They consider the rights and responsibilities of people in the community, including careers and life choices.  
• Pupils use Unifrog and develop research skills by investigating subjects and careers choices.
• In Year 9 pupils use Unifrog to undertake personal review to identify strengths, interests, qualities and ambitions, making the link between these and employability. They also have personal guidance reviews with Connexions to support them in making decisions regarding their futures.

At Key Stage 4:

• In year 10 pupils have the opportunity to take part in online work experience and spend time working with employers and outside agencies developing their interview skills and application CV writing practice. Pupils will have the opportunity to take part in mock interviews to develop these skills through practice.
• Assemblies on next steps including information about next steps and qualifications. 
• Access to Unifrog to support pupils in making the most informed decisions about their futures. Access to this is built into our Guided Study Programme. 
• Work experience opportunities take place in Year 10 to help shape pupils understanding of professions they might like to pursue as a career. Pupils gain an overview of the range of opportunities in work and to set goals in preparation for a work experience.
• Support from Careers Advisors in all years and one to one meetings in Year 11 to help prepare for interviews and writing applications. 
• Leadership development: Pupils explore the skills and qualities associated with being Head Girl or a prefect. They have the opportunity to apply for the role and attend an interview. They learn about how to prepare for an interview – including dress and communication skills.
• Assemblies from training and higher education providers take place. Local colleges and apprenticeship providers visit the academy to discuss options for after Y11.
• In GST and Citizenship pupils learn about the application process for post-16 options as well as focusing on personal statement writing and cv building.
• We use the Gatsby benchmarks when designing and evaluating the impact of our careers programme.

Unifrog Programme

The Unifrog platform, designed to support pupils in making the most informed decisions about their futures. This has a range of tools that are suitable for all year groups. Each pupil has their own personal account that provides a wide range of information related to their interests and aspirations.

Key features of the platform include:

• Exploring Pathways – personality quizzes, career and subject profiles, MOOCs and webinars.
• Explore what subjects you would be interested in studying and how these choices can lead to different career paths and higher education.
• Recording – self-reflection about extracurricular activities and key employability skills.
• Opportunities – search tools showing live vacancies/courses/placements for apprenticeships, universities (in the UK and abroad), FE, virtual work experience and much more.
• Applications – tools to help pupils build applications for a range of pathways (e.g., CVs, Personal Statements, Common App Essays).

Pupils access the platform by clicking a link in their welcome email, where they create a password and can begin using the platform. They login to Unifrog using their email address and password and they can do so from any computer, tablet or smartphone.

Follow this link to the Unifrog site: https://www.unifrog.org/

Labour Market Information

Labour Market Information (LMI) is information about what is happening in a labour market. LMI tends to focus on the industries that are growing and declining, the types and levels of jobs are increasing and decreasing and what supply of labour is available – numbers, skill and qualification levels.

LMI tells you about what is happening in the job market at national, regional and local levels and includes information about jobs and salaries, what skills employers are looking for in different industrial sectors, conditions, communities and future trends.

When considering future career options, it’s important to have a good understanding of the employment prospects within that industry, ie. is it a growing or declining sector?

To find out more: https://www.futuregoals.co.uk/learn/our-region/lmi-resources-bradford/ 

Examples of Labour Market Information:

Skills, career pathways and progression routes:

• Job applications and interviews.
• Educational institutions, courses, qualifications, entry requirements and costs.
• Employment sectors, employers, jobs, salaries and employment trends.
• Jobs, training and apprenticeships.
• Job demands and working life.
• Financial planning.

To find out more, visit the Bradford Labour Market Information page, here you’ll find information and resources suitable for Bradford.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIlP0EhOLz8 

Skillsometer

This Skillsometer will help you to identify key skills for your future career. You can use this as a guide to help you to understand which careers match your skills. If you’re unsure about your options and thinking about the next steps then this tool will help you to reflect on a number of different statements related to occupational categories including Artistic, Realistic, Investigative, Conventional, Enterprising, and Social, which will provide job roles tailored to you.

How to Use the Skillsometer

To use the Skillsometer, please follow these easy steps:

• Hit the ‘Start Quiz’ button.
• This will then display a number of different statements, you then need to choose the emoji which shows how you most feel about the situation/statement.
• Continue answering how you feel about each statement, the progress bar at the bottom will show how close you are to completing the quiz.
• Once you have completed the quiz, you’ll then see a range of suggestions based on jobs which are links to your skills and what you enjoy doing the most.

Careerometer

Use the LMI or Careerometer to gain information, which is reliable about labour market information (LMI). This widget can be used to explore and compare key information about occupations and help to support the process of identifying potential future careers.

It provides access to a selection of UK headline data relating to pay, weekly hours of work and future employment prospects for different occupations, as well as description of the occupation. Type in the title of the job you are interested in and you can compare different occupations and what they might offer you as a potential employee.
 

Widget access: https://www.lmiforall.org.uk/careerometer/

Apprenticeships

Click on link: https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/explore-your-education-and-training-choices/apprenticeship

To find out more: https://youtu.be/guS6tQwU-tY 

How Apprenticeships Work

Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study.

As an apprentice you’ll:

• Be an employee earning a wage and getting holiday pay.
• Work alongside experienced staff.
• Gain job-specific skills.
• Get time for training and study related to your role (at least 20% of your normal working hours).
• Apprenticeships take 1 to 5 years to complete depending on their level.

Levels of Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships have equivalent educational levels.

Who can start an Apprenticeship?

To start an apprenticeship, you’ll need to be:

• 16 or over.
• Living in England.
• Not in full-time education.

You can apply for an apprenticeship while you’re still at school but you’ll need to be 16 or over by the end of the summer holidays to start the apprenticeship. The training might be at your place of work, a college, a training provider or online.

Apprenticeships are an exciting alternative to academic study. Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job alongside study. You will:

• Earn a wage and get holiday pay.
• Work alongside experienced staff.
• Gain job-specific skills.
• Get time for training and study related to your role.
• Work at least 30 hours per week in your place of employment.
• Undertake paid part time study usually through a mixture of day or block release, this may also include distance or e-learning.

The Basics

To find out more: https://apprenticeshipguide.co.uk/what-is-an-apprenticeship/

An apprenticeship, which must last for a minimum of 12 months, combines hands-on work with the opportunity to train and obtain qualifications. It’s also a paid position, so you earn while you learn. At least 20% of your time is set aside for learning, usually at a college, university or training provider.

The rest of your time is spent applying your knowledge and skills in the actual workplace, doing the job that you set out to get. At the end of it, you’ll gain official certification, which will be equivalent to traditional qualifications.

Apprenticeship levels are set and equivalent to as follows:

• 2 (Intermediate): General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE).
• 3 (Advanced): A-level.
• 4 (Higher): Foundation Degree.
• 5 (Higher): Foundation Degree/First Year of Bachelor’s Degree.
• 6 (Degree): Bachelor’s Degree (BA/BSc).
• 7 (Degree): Master’s Degree (MA/MSc).

It’s important to note that there are caveats. Apprenticeships are designed to be flexible, so, for example, an employer may offer a level 6 or 7 apprenticeship, considered to be at the higher level, without giving you the option of getting an actual degree qualification, while others will.

It’s essential that you check before applying—the qualifications on offer and the level at which you’ll train will be made explicit, so you’ll be able to decide if you’re happy to undertake an apprenticeship at the degree level without the prospect of being awarded one at the end of it. Many intermediate, advanced and higher apprenticeships will also give you the opportunity to obtain qualifications such as diplomas in relevant areas.

There is no maximum age limit for an apprenticeship, but they are for those aged 16 or over, living in England and not in full-time education.

As an apprentice, you’ll earn a wage. The current minimum wage rate for an apprentice is £4.15 per hour. This rate applies if you’re under 19, or if you’re aged 19 or over and are in your first year. You must be paid the national minimum wage for your age if you’re an apprentice aged 19 or over and have completed your first year. The national minimum wage is currently set at £6.45 for 18- to-20-year-olds, £8.20 for 21- to 24-year-olds and £8.72 for those aged 25 and over.

Apprenticeships are available to anyone living in England and over the age of 16. Entry requirements are dependent upon the level of study and the industry. GCSE English and Mathematics grade 4-9 are a requirement for all full time courses therefore if you don’t not have these qualifications you will be require to continue studying them alongside your chosen courses.

• Register on the Gov.uk website.
• Apply online.

For help setting up your National Apprenticeship Service account click here

Types of Apprenticeships

There are over 600 different apprenticeships. No matter what career you’re interested in, there’s likely to be an apprenticeship for you. You can view all types of apprenticeships on GOV.UK.

Apprenticeships also have equivalent educational levels listed on GOV.UK. For example, a level 3 apprenticeship is considered the same level of qualification as 2 or 3 A levels.

Finding an Apprenticeship

 You can search and apply for apprenticeships in England on: GOV.UK

Find out about apprenticeships and search for apprenticeship opportunities.

Visit Website

National Apprenticeships

National Apprenticeship service information and vacancies.

Visit Website

Careers Contacts:

Leader - David Gardner

Careers Coordinator - Raisah Salim

Careers Further Information

Telephone: 01274 044 055

The careers information published here will be reviewed in December 2024.