INTRODUCTION: CAREERS EDUCATION, INFORMATION, ADVICE AND GUIDANCE (CEIAG)

At Wexham School, we are committed to providing a high quality Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) programme that prepares every student for their next step and future career. Our inclusive careers programme supports all students from Year 7 to Year 13, including those with SEND and those requiring additional support, to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to make informed decisions about education, training and employment.

Delivered in line with the Department for Education's statutory guidance and the Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Career Guidance, our careers programme is embedded throughout school life. Through a wide range of learning experiences, students are supported to raise their aspirations, explore opportunities and prepare for successful transitions into further education, higher education, apprenticeships, training and employment. We also work closely with parents and carers, recognising the important role they play in helping young people make informed choices about their future.

Our Careers Programme

Our careers programme supports students from Year 7 to Year 13 to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to make informed decisions about their future. Through a progressive programme of careers education, students will:

• Understand their strengths, interests and aspirations.
• Develop career management, employability and transferable skills.
• Explore local, national and global labour market opportunities.
• Learn about further and higher education, apprenticeships and technical education pathways.
• Make informed choices at key transition points, including GCSE, post-16 and post-18.
• Gain meaningful experiences with employers and workplaces.
• Build the confidence, resilience and career readiness needed for lifelong learning and employment.

Students benefit from a wide range of career-related opportunities throughout their time at Wexham School, including:

• One-to-one impartial careers guidance interviews with a qualified Careers Adviser.
• Employer talks, workshops and workplace encounters.
• Workplace visits and work experience.
• Careers fairs.
• University and college visits.
• Apprenticeship and technical education events.
• Skills workshops, mock interviews and employability activities.
• CV writing and UCAS personal statement support.
• Virtual careers events and webinars.
• Careers assemblies and themed events.
• Labour Market Information (LMI) activities.
• Careers information and guidance for parents and carers.

To ensure students receive high quality and up-to-date careers education, we work in partnership with The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC), Berkshire Careers Hub, local employers, universities, colleges, apprenticeship and training providers, STEM partners, community organisations and professional networks.

Our careers programme builds progressively each year, ensuring students develop the knowledge, skills and experiences needed to make successful transitions throughout their education and into employment.

• Year 7 - Discover: Understanding careers, strengths, aspirations and employability skills.
• Year 8 - Explore: Exploring career sectors, employer expectations and technical pathways.
• Year 9 - Choose: GCSE options, Labour Market Information (LMI) and future career pathways.
• Year 10 - Experience: Developing employability skills through work experience, CV writing and interview preparation.
• Year 11 - Decide: Exploring post-16 options, applications and personalised careers guidance.
• Year 12 - Prepare: Planning for university, apprenticeships, employment and developing leadership and networking skills.
• Year 13 - Progress: Preparing for higher education, apprenticeships or employment with support for applications, interviews and personal statements.

Unifrog

All students have access to Unifrog, our online careers platform, which supports them throughout their career journey. Unifrog enables students to:

• Explore careers, apprenticeships, college, university and training opportunities.
• Research subjects and career pathways.
• Record skills, achievements and work experience.
• Create CVs and personal statements.
• Search and apply for opportunities.
• Access impartial careers information and resources to support informed decision-making.

Parents and carers can also access Unifrog to help support their child's career planning and future choices.

Contact Details:

• Mrs Muna Dirie (CEIAG Co-ordinator): mdirie@wexham.slough.sch.uk
• Mr Inderjit Singh (STEM):  ISingh@wexham.slough.sch.uk

Evaluation of our Careers Programme

The quality of our Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) programme is regularly evaluated against the Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Career Guidance using Compass+ and other quality assurance measures.

This enables us to monitor the effectiveness of our careers provision, identify areas for development and continuously improve the opportunities and support available to our students. We also use student, parent, employer and staff feedback, along with destination data, to inform future planning and ensure our programme continues to meet the needs of all learners.

Next review: September 2027