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Careers
The world has changed greatly in the past 20 years with many people working in jobs today that simply didn’t exist when their parents left education. That’s why students today need careers advice that will enable them to be ready for the opportunities and challenges of working life.
Our Careers and Education Guidance Policy and Provider Access Policy can both be downloaded from our Teaching and Learning page. Our Careers Leader is Mark Brockwell who can be contacted at m.brockwell@harrisorpington.org.uk or on 01689 819 219. Our Careers Adviser is Lesley Tannock who can be contacted at lesley.tannock@harrisfederation.org.uk
- A varied careers section is available within the school library. All students have the opportunity to visit the library and access the books. · An academy-wide PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) programme is delivered to all students. This covers career choices and pathways, financial guidance (salaries and income), employment rights and careers for the future.
- Year 10 students take part in group career meetings before their one-to-one meetings in Year 11. Students are instructed to start considering their next steps in preparation for their GCSE exam year.
- Year 11 students have one-to-one meetings with senior leaders, who support and guide their progression into Key Stage 5.
- A-Level and Vocational Qualification Taster Days are available in all subjects to Year 11 students. · The Harris Careers Education page can be accessed here.
- All students attend a careers fair held in the school, this year it will be in the form of a Virtual Careers Fair.
- All Years 11, 12 and 13 students attend an external careers fair.
Year 12 students have one-to-one meetings with senior staff to support and guide their future decisions.
Destinations
Destination data for Year 11 and Year 13 is shown below.
| Year 11 | Apprenticeship | 6th Form College | School | NEET | Other |
| 2021-22 | 8.3% | 51.7% | 37.5% | 0 | 2.5% |
| 2022-23 | 9.7% | 66.4% | 19.5% | 2.6% | 1.8% |
| 2023-24 | 1.7% | 65.3% | 31.4% | 0.8% | 0.8% |
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| Year 13 | University | Apprenticeship | Employment | Training | Other |
| 2021-22 | 54.5% | 9.1% | 18.20% | 9.1 | 9.1% |
| 2022-23 | 40.7% | 13.6% | 27.1% | 4% | 13.6% |
| 2023-24 | 56.5% | 8.1% | 19.40% | 3.2 % | 12.9% |
Careers Programme
Please see the link to the Careers Programme.
Provider Access Legislation /Baker clause
This policy statement sets out our arrangements for managing the access of providers to students at the Academy from Year 7 through to Year 13, for the purpose of giving them information on a wide range of education and training providers both academic and vocational. This complies with the school’s legal obligations under Section 42B of the Education Act 1997.
In line with the Baker Clause updated legislation, our academy gives students access to other FE colleges and training providers from Years 7- 13 to discuss non-academic routes that are available; this includes main Federation events such as Next Steps, where colleges and training providers are encouraged to attend, as well as academy initiatives guided by the careers link and the careers adviser.
- The Academy will ensure that students receive at least two encounters during the ‘first key phase’ (year 8 or 9) that are mandatory for all pupils to attend.
- The Academy will ensure that students receive at least two encounters during the ‘second key phase’ (year 10 or 11) that are mandatory for all pupils to attend.
- The Academy ensure that students receive at least two encounters during the ‘third key phase’ (year 12 or 13) that are optional for pupils to attend. In addition to this, the dedicated Harris Careers website outlines all of the Post 16 options. Students also have individual and guided access to Unifrog from Year 7 which offers additional impartial information. This outlines all educational routes that they may wish to consider.
National Careers Week
Please see the links here to:
Useful websites
The following websites can help you to look at the different careers that are available.
- The National Careers Service website has over 700 career profiles providing information on the skills and qualifications required.
- Careers Box is a free online library of careers-related films. Case studies show real people doing real jobs.
- Start is a free online careers platform to connect 11-18-year-olds with their future career potential.
- Prospects give detailed job information and links to advice on writing CVs and cover letters.
- icould offers first-hand information about careers, including videos, as well as labour market information.
- LMI for All is an online data portal, which connects and standardises labour market information (LMI) with the aim of informing career decisions.
- Careerpilot is an expert careers information site with tools for 11-19 year-olds, all in one place.
Other Careers Services
- Year 11 Academic and Personal References are completed by faculty directors.
- Details of student destinations after leaving Harris Academy Orpington are kept on file. Interviews and support is made available for those without confirmed progression routes. This support continues until students have a confirmed progression route post results.
- Support with GCSE and Post 16 options processes.
- Orpington Experience visits to universities.
- Visiting speakers are arranged through the Orpington Experience programme.
- Next Steps meetings for Years 11 and 13 are being held online.
