Mayfield Grammar School, Gravesend
Careers
Careers Leader: Miss A Johnson
Careers Education is high profile at Mayfield Grammar School. We were one of the first schools to gain the Investors in Careers Award in 2004. Since 2004 we have continued to develop our provision, passing our reassessments in 2007, 2009, 2013 and 2016 with outstanding reports. The Gatsby Benchmarks are a framework of eight guidelines that govern what makes the best Careers provision in schools. Currently, Mayfield Grammar school is either meeting or exceeding the criteria for all eight of the guidelines, highlighting the fact that our Careers Education, Information and Guidance programme is of a high standard.
How does MGSG meet the Gatsby Benchmarks?
We measure the impact of the careers programme in various ways. Sixth Form students are asked to comment on our careers provision annually and staff also evaluate and update our programme to ensure that it meets the needs of our students. Students in Year 10 present to their peers on what they have learned from their work experience day in English lessons and in Year 12 students report back and assess their work experience placements. We support our students by building capability through the transition from Lower School to Upper School to Sixth Form and then on to the world of work, via university, apprenticeships and training positions. Our aim is to prepare students to successfully meet the changing demands of the employment market. There are several strands of our comprehensive delivery of Careers:
- Careers Education throughout the school. Delivered through PSHE, within lessons and in the General Lecture and Prep Programmes in the 6th form.
- Work Experience- in Year 10, 11 and the Sixth Form
- Individual interviews
- Economic Awareness
- Financial Capability
We emphasise both academic achievement and employability skills, and organise activities to develop these. We are well resourced with an excellent Careers Library and have Careers Software packages on the school computer network. Miss Johnson, our Careers Leader, is readily available on site for students to ask for advice or book Careers interviews. All students have two Academic Tutoring sessions per year with their form tutor who tracks their progress and gives initial advice, referring on students for further advice and guidance. All Year 11, 12 and 13 students attend at least one Careers interview each academic year with our Careers Leader to discuss option choices and post-16 and post-18 opportunities. In the April of Year 12 students attend a Higher Education Convention at University of Kent. We also run a Higher Education Evening for students and parents on site to set in motion the process of University applications through UCAS. During term 1 and 2 of Year 13 students have a Mock Interview in the evening with two external interviewers in order to better prepare them for their future working life.
Potential medical and Oxbridge students are interviewed by professionals who are Oxbridge graduates or Oxbridge academics. Last summer Year 10 students visited the University of Surrey to learn more about University Life and Degree course options. The Careers Leader is available via the school switchboard if parents want to discuss issues relating to Option Choices, work experience or Careers. Parents and students can keep up-to-date with current provision through the MGSG Newsletters and also via the MGSG Twitter account. The MGSG Twitter account is a closed account. It is available to all parents and students through a request to follow. This is an excellent resource with information on everything from apprenticeships, how to write a CV and UCAS applications.
How does MGSG measure and assess the impact of the Careers programme on pupils?
- We try and encourage regular feedback from students with regards to the Careers programme to ensure that the student voice is always considered when developing the Careers programme.
- Examples of this include The Year 13 questionnaire in which students complete a survey about their school experiences, including detailed feedback about different elements of the Careers programme.
- Year 11 also complete a MS Forms survey of their experiences of their Careers Guidance interviews.
- We are developing the role of the Year 12 Careers Prefect; this helps to raise the profile of Careers in the school, and is another way of capturing student feedback when developing the Careers programme.
- We also try and evaluate careers related activities such as Careers related trips or practice interview sessions to support us in developing our Careers programme.
Quality in Careers Standard
Mayfield Grammar School has held the Investors in Careers quality award since 2004, and we have successfully passed reassessments every three years. We are currently committed to working towards the revised Quality in Careers standard which incorporates all of the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks for Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance. All students have access to Independent and Impartial advice and Guidance from our Level 6 qualified Careers adviser Miss Johnson, who is also on the CDI professional Register.
“Unifrog is a complete destinations platform that allows students to search for opportunities and make applications for their next steps.” https://www.unifrog.org/student Careers Leader, Miss Johnson can be contacted on 01474 352896 or by emailing: johnsona@mgsg.kent.sch.uk
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