Our Careers Programme
Welcome to Careers Education at Academy 360 – Primary Phase. We believe that introducing careers-related learning early helps children develop curiosity, confidence, and ambition for the future. Our aim is to give every child the opportunity to explore the world of work in ways that are meaningful and age-appropriate, building the foundations for lifelong learning and success.
The fundamental focus of careers-related learning (C.R.L.) in our school, is that our children can participate in a wide range of authentic, meaningful and memorable experiences, carefully designed to provide a balance of content and format. This can be seen through our school’s provision of a wide range of employer and higher education encounters, workshops, discrete lessons and cross-curricular teaching. We hold that C.R.L. is an essential element in ensuring that our children are well - equipped to contribute positively to wider society, as well as being a vehicle to drive pupils’ own empowerment and realise their potential; by accessing our C.R.L. offer, our pupils receive a provision that meets the Gatsby Benchmarks, as well as gaining greater independence. This is particularly obvious in the engagement and enjoyment of our pupils with SEND.
C.R.L., in Academy 360’s Primary phase, aims to provide a firm foundation for pupils’ ongoing development and to demonstrate to all learners, regardless of their circumstances, that positive opportunities exist for all. Additionally, we currently hold an accreditation from our participation in the ‘Start Small, Dream Big’ Careers Pilot Programme, facilitated by Teach First.
E.Y.F.S. & Key Stage One
In the Early Years and Foundation Stage, children are encouraged to engage with careers, through role play and pupil - led exploration. They will encounter questions such as, ‘Who helps me?’ and ‘What jobs do I know about?’ Additionally, the access our pupils have to resources such as the ‘ESH Get into STEM Kit’, helps to facilitate their initial understanding of many sectors
As children progress to Key Stage One, their careers education begins with pupils being nurtured to engage with, and ask, an increasing variety of questions related to careers. Pupils will, as they progress through this element of their education, begin to demonstrate a limited awareness of local opportunities, through practitioners' proactive discussion of their context and encouragement to explore further with questioning.
Key Stage Two
In lower KS2, children are taught and encouraged more explicitly to draw links between their time in lessons, careers-related learning experiences, and the presence of a widening range of future options. As they progress through Key Stage Two, children will participate in a widening programme of events, experiences and employer encounters, in order to further encourage their understanding of the potential pathways towards further education and employment.
In upper KS2, children access a deeper degree of knowledge pertaining to C.R.L., as well as accessing a broader range of elements to build their awareness and confidence when discussing their own preferences. This can be through their starting of using knowledge to make decisions regarding future opportunities. Additionally, in order to provide a more expansive toolkit for applying C.R.L. knowledge and experience in other subjects and contexts, pupils are actively encouraged to have high expectations of themselves and others, whilst maintaining flexibility and building resilience. Pupils, by the end of their C.R.L. journey in our Primary, will show an increasing awareness of local opportunities and understand strategies and opportunities to realise their potential.
One of the highlights of our careers programme is our Bistro Event, a much-loved tradition that blends community engagement with careers education. It gives pupils responsibility and practical experience in planning and running a real event, developing teamwork, communication and leadership skills while raising funds for school projects.
Our mission is clear: to nurture ambition, raise aspirations and ensure every child leaves the primary phase with a growing awareness of the opportunities available to them.
