Careers
Our vision
The aim of Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance at Harris Academy Chobham is to ensure that students who study here are exceptionally well prepared for the next stage of their education, training or employment.
We focus on the following benchmarks to ensure that students receive good career guidance:
1. A stable careers programme
2. Learning from career and labour market information
3. Addressing the needs of each pupil
4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
5. Encounters with employers and employees
6. Experiences of workplaces
7. Encounters with further and higher education
8. Personal guidance
The Careers Leader at the Academy is Mrs Emma Robinson. Mrs Robinson can be contacted via email E.Robinson@chobhamacademy.org.uk or via the main academy reception on 0203 747 6060.
Preparation for the future
Careers Advisor
Students at Chobham Academy can work with a highly experienced Careers Advisor, Ann Evans. Ann is part of the Harris Federation Careers Advisor team and works across the Federation's Academies. She offers bespoke and personalised careers guidance and advice. Students across year groups have access to her advice, either through 1:1 interview, group interviews, assemblies, our tutor programme or a lunch-time drop in clinic.
UNIFROG
All our students and parents have access to UNIFROG.
Unifrog provides students with all the information they need to make important decisions about future careers and the subjects, courses and training available to help them attain their career destination. For those unsure of what careers to pursue, Unifrog provides suggestions based on an individual’s interests. Students can also discover what careers their chosen subjects can lead to.
Microsoft (MS) Teams Careers Channel
To keep students up-to-date with all career opportunities on offer, we have a dedicated careers channel attached to their year group on MS Teams. We share weekly updates about labour market information, work experience opportunities, webinars and all things careers.
Work Related Learning – Self Find Work Experience
We encourage students from Y10 to 13 to seek out suitable work experience placements that best suit their interests, via our Self-Find programme. Employers across the country are welcoming back young people on work placements. The best way to do this is to make full use of your network: do you have friends, relatives or neighbours who work at, or might be able to signpost you to, a suitable company or employer?
Once a placement has been found during the Academy holidays, complete the simple form linked here.
The form which requires parents/guardians AND employers to consent to the placement going ahead and hand in at reception. We look forward to hearing about your plans!
Alternatively, you can register for the Speakers for schools virtual work experience by heading to their website:
https://www.speakersforschools.org/experience-2/vwex/
Career Networking Event
The Career Networking Event involves a range of employees from various industries volunteering their time to discuss their own careers and employment pathways. Students can talk to them about their experiences and gain insider tips and insights into pathways they may or may not have considered previously. Feedback from both students and professionals indicated that this was an enjoyable and informative day for all involved. The next event will take place in June 2022.
Aleandro Year 12:
“This event has really inspired me as it has given me a better and more focused idea of what I want to do in future. I spoke with ITV about how important it is to make decisions now and it has really got me thinking about alternative pathways such as apprenticeships. We also spoke about how important it is to pursue a career that makes you happy and that’s what I want to do”.
Sarah Whitaker – Global Events
“I wish that there had been events like this when I was their age. I am so impressed by how focused they all are. The students are so passionate and they have really made me think today about what more my company can offer young people and the skills that we can help them to develop”.
How can parents and carers help?
We are always looking to generate opportunities for our students, so they are better equipped to enter their chosen future pathways. Can you, or do you know someone, who could support with our work-related learning programme of events this coming year? This could be help with work experience, career talks, networking events, mock interviews or any other support that would be of value to students. If so, please contact us either via email at info@chobhamacademy.org.uk or call the Academy reception on 02037476060.
Building Opportunities and Skills ‘BOSS’ Day – Year 10
This is an annual event with emphasis on employer encounters, first impressions workshops, interview technique, Unifrog investigations, including next steps, and completing a CV for upcoming work experience.
External Partnerships
We are fortunate to have many industries that volunteer their time and resources for our students. These include:
- The London School of Fashion - Weekly enrichment program focusing on branding, consumers and design
- MACE – Enrichment program focusing on the breadth of the construction industry with the opportunity to undertake a week’s work experience
- 15 billion – Facilitate a range of mentoring, mock interview, and enterprise days throughout the year with companies such as Macfarlanes, Deutsche Bank and KPMG.
Tutor Programme/Innovation Days
At various points in the academic year, students from Years 7 to 13 have access to a bespoke year group career focused tutor programme. This includes a range of guidance from UCAS and higher education institutions to GCSE options. The Innovation Day programme also provides an opportunity for students to develop their soft work skills in a range of settings.
Nationals Apprenticeship Week 2022 – 7th - 13th February 2022
National Apprenticeship Week 2022 aims to shine a light on the amazing work being done by employers and apprentices across the country.
As a parent or carer, it is important for you to know about all the different options available to your children as they navigate further education and employment pathways.
Please find the information about apprenticeships, traineeships and the new T Level qualifications that were implemented last year.
Apprenticeships - www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship and https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/apprentices/browse-apprenticeships
Amazing apprenticeships - www.amazingapprenticeships.com
T Levels - www.tlevels.gov.uk
Nationals Careers Week 2022 – 7th to 12th March
“NCW is run as a not-for-profit company to promote the importance of good careers education in schools and colleges, founded and backed by a number of volunteers with a wealth of experience from education, business and careers guidance.”
Find more information about National Careers Week at the link below:
https://nationalcareersweek.com
Labour Market Information and useful links:
https://www.harriscareerseducation.org.uk
https://www.gatsby.org.uk/education/focus-areas/good-career-guidance
https://www.lmiforall.org.uk/widget/
Provider Access Policy/Baker clause
Our policy statement sets out our arrangements for managing the access of providers to students at the Academy from year 8 through to year 13, for the purpose of giving them information on a wide range of education and training provider’s education both academic and vocational. This complies with the school’s legal obligations under Section 42B of the Education Act 1997.
In line with the Baker clause, our academy gives students access to other FE colleges and training providers from years 8- 13 to discuss non-academic routes that are available; this includes main federation events like Next Steps, where colleges and training providers are encouraged to attend, as well as academy initiatives guided by the careers link and the careers adviser.
In addition to this, the dedicated Harris Careers Website outlines all of the Post 16 options. Students also have individual and guided access to Unifrog from Year 7 which offers additional impartial information on an ad hoc basis. This outlines all educational routes that they may wish to consider.
Countdown to Careers You Tube Channel
The careers team have created videos to help you discover a range of pathways from experts in their field. You can view these on our Harris Academy Chobham YouTube channel.
Page Downloads
Page Gallery
