Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) at Furrowfield School
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Careers Lead
Mrs A Ridley
Careers Leader
Furrowfield School
Whitehills Drive
Felling
Gateshead
NE10 9RZ
Telephone: 0191 495 4700
At Furrowfield School, we are committed to improving life chances for every student through a highly personalised, ambitious and inclusive careers programme. Careers education is embedded throughout our curriculum and personal development offer, ensuring that all students leave school with the knowledge, skills, confidence and aspirations needed to move successfully into further education, training or employment. Our programme supports students' academic, social and emotional development and is designed to prepare them for adulthood in line with our ethos of
Together We Succeed
Our Careers Programme
Our careers programme begins in Year 7 and continues through to Year 11, following the Gatsby Benchmarks and statutory careers guidance. Careers learning is embedded across the curriculum, including English, Mathematics, Science, Geography, History, Food Technology, Computing, Art, Physical Education and PSHRE through our Futures Pathway. Careers education is also delivered through assemblies, SMSC Respect Days, enrichment opportunities, clubs and societies, health and wellbeing activities, careers adviser programmes, therapeutic support and curriculum pathways.
Students benefit from:
- Careers education embedded across the curriculum.
- One-to-one impartial careers guidance from qualified careers advisers.
- Careers action planning and transition support.
- College, apprenticeship and training provider information.
- Encounters with employers and employees.
- Workplace visits and work-related learning opportunities.
- Further and higher education engagement activities.
- Enterprise projects, volunteering and community-based experiences.
- Support tailored to students' individual needs, including those with SEND, SEMH needs and EHCPs.
The programme is designed to help students develop employability skills such as communication, leadership, teamwork, resilience, problem-solving, decision-making and independence, alongside increasing their understanding of future pathways and opportunities.
Access to Careers Information
Information about the school's careers programme is available to:
- Students through lessons, assemblies, enrichment activities, careers interviews and resources available in school.
- Parents and carers through transition planning discussions, annual reviews, parents' evenings, school communications and direct contact with the Careers Leader.
- Teachers and staff through curriculum planning, careers resources and whole-school careers development activities.
- Employers, colleges, apprenticeship providers and training organisations through direct contact with the Careers Leader to arrange engagement activities, presentations, workshops, careers fairs and employer encounters.
Providers wishing to engage with students should contact Mrs A Ridley using the details above.
Student Voice Activities
Student voice is a key part of evaluating and developing the careers programme at Furrowfield School. Throughout the academic year, students are given opportunities to share their views on careers education through:
- Student surveys following careers events, employer encounters, workplace visits and guidance interviews.
- Discussions during PSHRE and Futures Pathway lessons.
- Feedback gathered through the School Council and Smart Council processes.
- Student reviews of careers guidance sessions and transition support.
- Individual discussions as part of annual reviews, EHCP reviews and careers action planning.
- Informal feedback collected by staff, careers advisers and pastoral teams regarding future aspirations and career learning experiences.
This feedback helps school leaders understand what students have learned, which activities have had the greatest impact, and how the programme can be further developed to meet the needs of all learners, particularly those with SEMH needs.
Measuring the Impact of Our Careers Programme
Furrowfield School is committed to continuous improvement and evaluates the effectiveness of its careers provision through a range of quality assurance measures, including:
- Gatsby Benchmark reviews.
- Analysis of destination data.
- Student voice activities.
- Parent and carer feedback.
- Staff feedback.
- Employer feedback.
- Governor monitoring.
- School self-evaluation and advancement planning.
We assess the impact of the programme by monitoring whether students:
- Develop higher aspirations and confidence.
- Acquire employability and life skills.
- Successfully transition to appropriate post-16 destinations.
- Sustain education, employment or training placements.
- Become increasingly independent and prepared for adulthood.
How We Measure Success
The impact of our careers programme is monitored and evaluated throughout the year to ensure it improves outcomes for students and effectively prepares them for adulthood. Success is measured through:
- The achievement of positive post-16 destinations, including college placements, apprenticeships, training programmes and employment pathways.
- A reduction in the number of students who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET).
- Increased participation in careers guidance interviews and careers activities.
- Improved student engagement, attendance and readiness for learning.
- Successful transitions from Year 11 into further education, training or employment.
- The number and quality of employer encounters, workplace experiences and provider interactions.
- Student confidence, aspirations and self-belief regarding future pathways.
- Progress towards achieving and maintaining all eight Gatsby Benchmarks.
- Evidence that students are developing employability skills, independence and preparation for adulthood outcomes.
School leaders also analyse destination data and gather feedback from students, parents, carers, staff, employers and governors to evaluate whether students are developing aspirations, acquiring employability skills, successfully accessing appropriate post-16 destinations and becoming increasingly independent and prepared for adult life. Findings from this evaluation process inform future planning and continuous improvement of the careers programme.