Careers advice and guidance

Learning opportunities available for pupils

At Dixons Sixth, our mission is to ensure that all students succeed at university, or a real alternative, thrive in a top job and receive the support and care needed to become successful and lead a happy and purposeful life. Our values of diligence, integrity and civility support this mission and our language, routines and structure constantly reinforce this. In addition, our comprehensive careers plan below makes employability opportunities explicit and links closely to the Gatsby Benchmarks (GB)

Careers Lead – Sadeia Afzal

Independent Careers Advisor – Nazim Ali (Prospects)

Chair of Governors (contact through the Clerk) – Bryan Collins

Review Data – June 2021

Policy statement

Dixons Academies Trust is committed to providing both independent careers guidance and a highly structured careers programme as the legal entitlement of all students within each of our academies. Excellent careers, information and guidance prepares students to make appropriate choices in order to be successful in adult life. Our Careers, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) programme will enable students to make informed educational and careers decisions which are aspirational yet match their abilities and needs. The aims are that all students should:

• encourage all students to be ambitious, explore their career aspirations and broaden their horizons

• have the opportunity to undertake a variety of work-related activities and experiences (dependent on age and appropriateness)

• understand themselves and develop their capabilities

• understand and investigate careers and opportunities through developing information literacy

• be aware of education, training, career options and pathways

• make appropriate choices about their continuing education and career paths at each stage in their transition

• manage transitions to new roles and situations, and link what they learn the academy with life outside and their future steps

• work with parents to encourage motivation and ambition

• be constantly encouraged to be highly aspirational and to tackle stereotypical assumptions

• have access to a cohesive Careers Education Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) programme from Year 7 through to Year 11

How we support our students

The primary focus for the Progress Tutors to support and develop our students so they are ready to progress armed with the skills and knowledge that allow them to be successful. All of our students are entitled to an in depth 1:1 career guidance interview with our independent careers advisors from Prospects. Through our Tutorial Programme we support students to develop and evidence vital employability skills, understand the myriad of options available to them and appreciate that choices made now will have far reaching impact.

We keep students informed about careers and progression events and opportunities in a variety of ways, including:

• Daily check in notices
• Bulletin and notices in tutorial chats
• Weekly Tutorial presentation
• Sixth Form Open evening – pathways and careers
• Recruitment Interviews
• Why choose DSFA
• Student life – preparation for life after Sixth form – campus, encourage independence, learner agreement, portal they take responsibility, concerns and commendations, exam information
• University and careers
• Admissions and applying
• UCAS support
• Parents HE information evening
• Careers and HE fair -
• Sixth Form Ambassadors
• Volunteering
• Work Experience
• Student Executive

• Lecture programme
• Subject Long Term Plans – career links
• Uni Specific
  • Oxbridge (eg. HE+ - Cambridge, Worcester College - Oxford)
  • Virtual Open Evening
  • Others (eg. Next Step York, Sheffield Discover...)
• Uni Collabs
  • Realising Opportunities
• Charity
  • Sutton Trust (Pathways to... and US prog)
  • Social Mobility Foundation (Aspiring Professionals Programme)
  • Migrant Leaders
  • Elephant Group – visits, mentoring,
  • Nuffield research placements
• Other Career Development Programmes
  • PwC
  • Ernst and Young
• Career-specific and Generic
• Hybrids of the above also seem to exist!
• Also one-off events or short-series super-curricular content from any of the above

Our Year 1 students are actively involved Widening Participation in HE programmes including:

The work we do throughout the year with our students ensures they are prepared for their next steps after college

CEAIG in the Tutorial Programme