Careers Curriculum
Welcome to our Careers education page. We believe that our Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) here at AES ensures that our students make informed decisions about their futures.
We deliver a comprehensive work-related learning programme across all year groups which develops business acumen, financial literacy and current labour market information, thus allowing students to make informed career choices. This programme includes Citizenship lessons; assemblies, presentations, workshops, events, visits, work experience placements and exchange visits.
These involve students, staff, alumni, parents and a large number of professionals who willingly support us with their time and expertise. We are supported by an independent Careers Advisor who offers personal guidance.
In addition, all students are registered and regularly interact with the Unifrog platform, an on-line careers information and destination platform designed to help young people consider and apply to their next step pathway, be it college, university, apprenticeship, gap year or work.
Careers Guidance
All students receive internal course counselling before their GCSE options in Year 9, in addition to next destinations counselling in Year 11.
An independent careers advisor is also available to give impartial careers guidance for all. Mr Knights will arrange this with Year 11 students in advance.
Careers in the Curriculum
Year 6 transition
Students develop enterprising attributes during our summer school and identify learner profile attributes of strength.
Year 7
Students undertake an enterprise module in Citizenship lessons, applying communication, project management and leadership competencies to a business dilemma. Year 7 financial literacy is enhanced (financial planning and budgeting) as our Lower Sixth LIBF Financial studies students deliver a personal finance session. Students develop course knowledge and presentation competencies when delivering this content to Year 7 students.
Year 8
Financial literacy and mathematical abilities are applied to an economics career context, through the “Discovery Risk” workshop. Students reflect upon their learner profile attribute development using Unifrog, careers lead maps identified “attributes of strength” to careers guidance and opportunities.
Year 9
All students partake in “Enterprise Day”, whereby enterprising attributes are developed further, problem solving, risk taking and financial planning all enhanced. Introduction to GCSE Business content and a “dragons den” style competition. All students are given personal guidance by senior leaders for GCSE options.
Students reflect upon their learner profile attribute development, careers lead maps identified “attributes of strength” to careers guidance and opportunities.
Year 10
During citizenship modules, students create CVs, personal statements and are prepared for the world of work with etiquette and business acumen addressed. Students undertake a work experience placement which is linked to previously identified attributes of strength. Students create a reflective project (replicating the IBCP reflective project) which considers an ethical dilemma in the workplace.
Students have the option to undertake our flagship “enterprising” course, AQA GCSE Business.
Students reflect upon their learner profile attribute development, careers lead maps identified “attributes of strength” to careers guidance and opportunities.
Year 11
Students refine CVs and personals statements from Year 10 and are prepared for the recruitment process (e.g. application and interview) in our “world of work” day. Students are interviewed and build professional networks, social capital and interview technique. All students are given personal guidance by senior teachers for next steps.
Students have the option to undertake our flagship “enterprising” course, AQA GCSE Business.
Students reflect upon their learner profile attribute development, careers lead maps identified “attributes of strength” to careers guidance and opportunities.
Sixth Form
During Citizenship and Tutor Period sessions, all students engage in a series of lessons which prepare them for their future destinations. Using Unifrog, our online careers platform, students explore career options and this is embedded within the curriculum. Students are mentored in their applications to University, apprenticeships or employment and attend personal finance sessions from “Wizeup” Education to learn about personal finance, managing credit and budgeting. A monthly “opportunities bulletin” is sent to all students, with a variety of summer school, internship, part time employment and university open day opportunities. In addition, all students may attend the annual careers convention, thus encountering employers from a range of industries.
All Lower Sixth students take a work experience placement, which could be abroad. This allows students to apply their learning to the world or work and encounter workplaces. IBCP students take a two week placement, allowing them to develop their career ready competencies.
Students studying Business, Economics or Financial Studies join our International Enterprise Academy, with the opportunity to work with the Peter Jones Foundation and enter their national entrepreneurship competitions. Work experience placements are available from the foundation, who regularly meet students and provide guest speakers.
Work Experience
In Year 10, students undertake a work experience placement which is linked to their future career ambition and/or an identified learner profile attribute of strength. Beforehand, students undertake a work related module in Citizenship, and afterwards students create a reflective project (replicating the IBCP reflective project) which considers an ethical dilemma in the workplace.
In Lower Sixth, students undertake an additional placement, which could be abroad. Students develop business acumen and develop crucial work ready competencies. Students utilise the Unifrog platform to consider suitable industries in advance of this placement, in addition to undertaking a work related learning module in Citizenship.
World of Work Day
Year 11 students will participate in our annual “World of Work” day, where they will gain an insight into the skills and attitudes required to flourish in their future careers.
In recent Citizenship lessons, the students have created a curriculum vitae using our online careers platform, Unifrog.
These documents will be analysed by experienced professionals from a variety of industry backgrounds during the “mock interview” part of the day. The students will articulate their learner profile attributes of strength, their passion for the subjects they study and their ambitions for their future careers, before receiving feedback from the professionals.
The students shall then move on to a personal finance workshop hosted by “Wizeup financial education”, where they shall learn about taxation, investment and pensions, before exploring a wide variety of career pathways on Unifrog.
The day will culminate with a visiting speaker from the Peter Jones Foundation, who shall inform students of her experiences as an entrepreneur.