Careers Education & Inspiration in Key Stage 4
We have developed our Key Stage 4 curriculum in alignment with the six learning areas outlined in the CDI’s Career Development Framework. This framework identifies the key outcomes that career development programmes should aim to achieve, ensuring that students acquire the essential skills needed to build positive and fulfilling careers.
When designing our programmes, we consistently ask:
How does this activity help students to:
- Grow throughout life?
- Explore possibilities?
- Manage their career?
- Create opportunities?
- Balance life and work?
- See the big picture?
Each activity may target a specific learning outcome, but the overall curriculum is carefully structured to ensure that students engage with all six learning areas. This comprehensive approach supports the holistic development of career management skills from an early stage.
These objectives are met through a combination of dedicated careers lessons, collapsed timetable Enrichment Days, our whole school Careers fair, Work Experience in Year 10, Progression Day in Year 11 and access to visiting professionals.
Every KS4 student is provided with an appointment to see Lindsay Evans our Independent Matrix Qualified Careers Advisor. During this interview, students will create their personal action plan detailing the opportunities available to them and the steps needed to ensure a successful transition to Post-16 education.
Every students careers activity is placed on their online UniFrog account so that their careers Journey is tracked from year 7-year 13.
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Theme |
Outcome |
Big Questions |
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Self-development through careers and work-related education |
1. Self-Awareness |
Who are you now? How have you changed? What do you have to offer and what is important to you? |
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2. Self Determination |
How are you presenting your story? What are you doing to make progress, raise your achievement and improve your wellbeing? |
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3. Self-improvement as a learner |
How have you benefitted as a learner from careers education and inspiration activities? |
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Finding out about careers and the world of work |
4. Exploring careers and career development |
Can you explain key ideas about career planning and career development? |
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5. Investigating work and working life |
Can you explain how work is changing and how this impacts on people's satisfaction with their working lives? |
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6. Understanding business and industry |
Can you explain how different types of business operate and how they measure success? |
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7. Investigating jobs and labour market information (LMI) |
Do you know where to find relevant job and labour market information? Do you know how to use it in your career planning? |
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8. Valuing equality, diversity and inclusion |
Can you recognise and challenge stereotyping, discrimination and other barriers to equality, diversity and inclusion. Do you know your rights and responsibilities in relation to these issues? |
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9. Learning about safe working practices and environments |
Are you aware of your responsibilities and rights as a students, trainee or employee for following safe working practices? |
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Developing skills for career management and employability |
10. Making the most of careers information advice and guidance |
Do you make the most of your personal network of support including making effective use of impartial careers information, advice and guidance? |
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11. Preparing for employability |
Can you show that you have acquired and developed qualities and skills that improve your employability? |
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12. Showing initiative and enterprise |
Can you show that you can be enterprising in the way you learn, carry our work and plan your career? |
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13. Developing personal financial capability |
Can you manage your own money and understand personal financial documents? Do you know how to access financial support for further study and training? |
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14. Identifying choices and opportunities |
Have you researched your current education, training, apprenticeship employment and volunteering options? Do you know the best progression pathways through to your specific goals? |
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15. Planning and deciding |
Do you know how to make important plans and decisions? Can you solve problems and deal appropriately with external influences? |
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16. Handling applications and selection |
Do you know your rights and responsibilities in a selection process? Do you know the strategies you can use to improve your chances of being chosen? |
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17. Managing changes and transitions |
Have you reviewed and reflected upon your previous transitions to help you improve your preparation for future moves in education, training and employment? |
Hampstead School is committed to providing a comprehensive careers and work related programme throughout the school.
To deliver our aims we continue to develop a curriculum that embeds careers education information advice and guidance (CEIAG) whilst enriching students' lives with opportunities that reach beyond the classroom and into the wider global community.
In recognition of this the school was granted the national award of Investors in Careers in July 2015.