Careers
Careers Programme Overview: Empowering Futures Together
At The Eastwood Academy, we believe every pupil deserves the opportunity to explore their future with confidence, curiosity, and ambition. Our Careers Programme is designed to inspire, inform, and equip pupils with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions about their next steps—whether that’s further education, apprenticeships, or entering the world of work.
We work closely with pupils, parents, employers, and educators to create a rich and inclusive careers experience that meets the nationally recognised Gatsby Benchmarks—a framework that ensures high-quality careers guidance in schools.
What Pupils and Parents Can Expect
Here’s how our Careers Programme supports your journey:
- 1. A Stable Careers Programme Our careers curriculum is embedded across all year groups, with clear goals and regular updates. It’s reviewed annually and shared with parents and governors.
- 2. Learning from Career and Labour Market Information Pupils and families receive up-to-date information about job trends, salaries, and local opportunities—helping them understand where different paths can lead.
- 3. Addressing the Needs of Each Pupil We tailor guidance to each student’s interests, strengths, and aspirations. Our programme actively promotes equality and challenges stereotypes.
- 4. Linking Curriculum Learning to Careers Subjects come alive with real-world relevance. Whether it’s maths in engineering or English in journalism, we show how classroom learning connects to future careers.
- 5. Encounters with Employers and Employees Pupils meet professionals from a wide range of industries through talks, workshops, and career fairs—building confidence and broadening horizons.
- 6. Experiences of Workplaces We offer work experience opportunities and workplace visits, giving pupils a taste of the working world and helping them develop essential employability skills.
- 7. Encounters with Further and Higher Education From college visits to university taster days, pupils explore all post-16 and post-18 options. We also host events with apprenticeship providers and training organisations.
- 8. Personal Guidance Every pupil has access to one-to-one careers advice from a qualified careers adviser—ensuring personalised support at key decision points.
Careers Education: From Year 7 to Year 11
Building Aspirations, Skills, and Confidence Every Step of the Way
At The Eastwood Academy, our Careers Programme is a journey—not a one-off event. From the moment pupils arrive in Year 7, we begin to nurture their understanding of the world of work, helping them discover their strengths, explore opportunities, and make informed decisions about their future. Here's how careers education grows and evolves across each year group:
Year 7: Discovering Possibilities
Focus: Awareness and Inspiration
- Introduction to careers and the idea of lifelong learning and work
- Introduction to Unifrog – Careers Platform. Use of digital platforms to explore job sectors and future pathways
- Activities to explore personal strengths, interests, and values
- Curriculum links to careers in subjects like science, English, and art.
- Careers in the curriculum include guest speakers
- Take Your Child to Work (TYCTW) experiences of the workplace.
- Gatsby Benchmarks: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6
Year 8: Exploring Pathways
Focus: Broadening Horizons
- Deeper exploration of career sectors and how they relate to school subjects
- Sessions on challenging stereotypes and promoting equality in the workplace during PDE
- Labour market information shared with pupils and parents
- Employer talks and interactive career events
- Take Your Child to Work (TYCTW) experiences of the workplace.
- Gatsby Benchmarks: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Year 9: Making Connections
Focus: Linking Learning to Life
- Emphasis on how GCSE subjects connect to future careers - Unifrog
- Encounters with further education providers and apprenticeships
- Personal guidance interviews for key pupils needing support with choices
- Continued employer engagement and workplace insights
- Take Your Child to Work (TYCTW) experiences of the workplace.
- Gatsby Benchmarks: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8
Year 10: Experiencing the World of Work
Focus: Real-World Exposure
- Work experience placements to develop employability skills
- CV writing and interview preparation workshops -PDE
- Encounters with employers, colleges, universities, and training providers
- Careers fairs and industry-specific events
- One-to-one careers interviews to support post-16 planning
- Gatsby Benchmarks: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8
Year 11: Planning for the Future
Focus: Decision-Making and Transition
- Intensive support with post-16 applications (college, sixth form, apprenticeships)
- Personal guidance interviews to finalise career plans
- Workshops on managing transitions and building resilience
- Continued employer and education provider engagement
- Parents invited to careers evenings and transition support sessions
- Gatsby Benchmarks: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8
Work Experience at The Eastwood Academy.
Successful work experience is more than just a week away from school—it’s a powerful opportunity for pupils to gain real-world insight, build confidence, and develop essential skills for their future. Here’s what makes it truly effective:
At KS3 The Academy supports Take Your Child To Work, encouraging parents, family and friends to provide work experience opportunities for pupils.
In Year 10 pupils will experience a workplace for a week. Allowing for deeper knowledge of the workplace.
Our goal is;
Clear Purpose and Preparation
- Pupils understand the goals of their placement and what they hope to learn.
- They receive guidance beforehand on expectations, behaviour, and how to make the most of the experience.
Meaningful Learning
- Pupils engage in tasks that reflect real workplace responsibilities—not just shadowing.
- They learn about different roles, career pathways, and how teams collaborate.
Interaction and Reflection
- Pupils have opportunities to speak with staff, ask questions, and learn from professionals.
- They reflect on their experience through journals, discussions, or presentations—connecting it to their future goals.
Skills Development
- Pupils build transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, time management, and problem-solving.
- They gain confidence in unfamiliar settings and learn to adapt to new challenges.
Positive Relationships
- Employers provide a welcoming, supportive environment.
- Pupils feel valued, respected, and encouraged to contribute.
Impact on Future Choices
- Pupils leave with a clearer sense of what they enjoy, what they’re good at, and what they might want to pursue.
- The experience helps inform post-16 decisions and sparks ambition.
Statutory Careers Guidance
In July 2021, the DfE issued statutory careers guidance under Section 45A of the Education Act 1997 organised within the eight Gatsby Benchmarks - DfE Careers Guidance . This guidance was subsequently updated in January 2023.
Gatsby Benchmarks
Measuring Impact
The Academy assesses and evaluates the impact of its career strategy in the following ways:
- Scrutinising published destination data.
- Tracking Year 11 leavers in October and March against their intended destination.
- Online surveys for pupils, parents and focus groups.
- Feedback from external providers/employers.
Information for Pupils and Parents
Post-16
Year 11 pupils' official leaving date is the last Friday in June. They must then choose whether to:
- Stay in full-time education - e.g. at school, sixth form college, further education college or University Technical College (UTC).
- Start an apprenticeship or traineeship.
- Spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering while also doing part-time education or training.
Information on Post 16 options | National Careers Service
Labour Market Information
There are a range of videos covering the key sectors:
Finance Industry
The Creative Industries
Health and Social Care
Construction Industries
Digital Industries
Other useful websites include:
Links to key sectors on Thurrock Opportunities or Essex Opportunities
National Careers Service
LMI For All
ICould
Progression Pathways and Opportunities
Kudos
Southend and Thurrock Careers Hub Careers Resources (padlet.com)
Essex Provider Network
Find an Apprenticeship
Find a Traineeship
South Essex College Supported Internship webpage
Guide designed to support young people as they prepare for the next steps after Year 11 and Year 13 My Choices Guide for students | CEC Resource Directory (careersandenterprise.co.uk)
Guide designed to support parents to guide their child through post-16 and 18 options My Choices Guide for parents/guardians | CEC Resource Directory (careersandenterprise.co.uk)
Apprenticeship Information
'Amazing Apprenticeships' have many resources, including Rapid Reads
Apprenticeships website
Apprenticeship parent packs
Apprenticeship information for employers
Apprenticeship information for each subject
Find an Apprenticeship
Part-Time Employment
Young people interested in pursuing part-time employment, should consult Southend Borough Council's Child Employment Guide
Information for Pupils and Teachers
Subject-Based
Where can your option choices take you? | My World of Work
Apprenticeship information for each subject
Information for Employers
How Can You Support Us?
Having employers like you helping to inspire young minds and transform attitudes through a range of activities and opportunities is the foundation of an excellent careers programme as set out by the Gatsby Foundation’s eight Benchmarks of good practice and the Careers and Enterprise Company.
Specifically, you can support the Academy in the following ways:
- Be part of our mock interviews with Year 10 or 11 pupils and help them structure their CVs.
- Get involved in extracurricular clubs and activities.
- Give an inspiring talk based on your industry or job role.
- Provide a coaching/mentoring service through a structured programme.
- Run a hands-on workshop with activities relating to your area of expertise.
- Be part of our discussions about pathways after school, e.g. apprenticeships.
- Help champion specific issues and challenge barriers in the workplace around gender stereotyping, disability etc.
- Help bring a subject lesson to life by linking it to your industry.
- Offer a work experience placement for pupils at you business premises.
- Become an ambassador supporting employment routes for young people with special educational needs and disabilities and offer a work experience placement that is co-supported by the Academy.
- Provide a Supported Internship opportunity.
The Academy has the benefit of a key business volunteer who works with us on a strategic level, encouraging the development of our careers programme and connecting us to the business community across the county.
This role is recognised nationally as an Enterprise Adviser (EA) and they are part of the Southend Careers Hub community of support driving the connection between careers education and the business sector.
The Academy's EA is Mrs. L. Chalkley. She would be delighted to discuss how you could get involved in our programme. Email: careershub@southend.gov.uk or Tel: 01702 534253
If you would like to contact the careers lead at the academy please contact N.Dunn at ndunn@eastwood.southend.sch.uk