Here at Shuttleworth College, we have an award-winning programme of careers education, information, advice and guidance; having been presented with the East Lancashire Education Awards’ Career Aspiration Award two years running and been among the first schools in England to fully achieve all eight Gatsby Benchmarks! We are also the lead school for the Lancashire Careers Hub.

Shuttleworth Careers Programme

Our programme helps young people to learn to make decisions and manage transitions as learners and workers. As we develop career awareness and broaden horizons, we are supporting the vision and mission of the school that all learners ‘Think Big, Chase Dreams, Succeed Together’. It is essential that the school contributes in preparing young people for the opportunities, responsibilities, and experience of adult life, as evidence suggests improved Careers education is linked to higher achievement at GCSE. All students who attend Shuttleworth College will be exposed to the knowledge and skills they need to make informed choices and achieve economic wellbeing in later life.

Our award-winning, five-year careers programme meets the eight government-set ‘Gatsby Benchmarks’ in every area. Here’s what that looks like here at Shuttleworth: Policy & Plan. A summarised, parent/carer guide to the Gatsby Benchmarks can be found here. A summary and link information can be found below in each of the relevant sections.

1: A Stable Careers Programme

Our five-year CEIAG programme is designed to meet all the Gatbsy Benchmarks and target key transition periods for our pupils. This results in informed decisions for our pupils as they move into further and higher education, training and beyond. The full programme can be found in our five year plan, which can be downloaded above.

2: Learning from Career and Labour Market Information

It is important that all our pupils understand the world of work and how to research and evaluate information. Key sources of information are: Lancashire Enterprise Partnership’s Lancashire Labour Market Intelligence Report, Local Area Factsheet and Start Lancashire. Other useful sources of information are the National Careers Service, BBC Bitesize, and Lancashire Growth and you can find out more about different careers below.

3: Addressing the Needs of Each Pupil

The individual aspirations, achievements and needs of all our pupils are met through our CEIAG programme, directly supporting the College ethos of ‘Think Big, Chase Dreams, Succeed Together’ by challenging stereotypes and celebrating a diverse range of education and employment paths. All CEIAG activities are tracked for each pupil, aspirations and intended destinations are monitored and post-16 applications and final destinations are tracked to prevent NEET and ensure appropriate and ambitious pathways. More information can be found at Career Pilot and Icould.

4: Linking Curriculum Learning to Careers

CEIAG is linked to the curriculum through both embedded lessons and discrete activities such as tailored lessons, employer visits, speakers, extra-curricular activities and trips. Examples of these activities can be found in our plan. The curriculum is enhanced by our work with local employers.

5: Encounters with Employers and Employees

Each year group has at least one meaningful interaction with an employer or employee in each academic year. This comes through a variety of subject enhancements, speakers, trips and mentoring sessions.

6: Experiences of Workplaces

Pupils have at least two opportunities during their time at Shuttleworth College to visit a workplace and to learn about working life through work shadowing and meeting employees on-site. The main visits take place in Year 8 (prior to choosing GCSE Options) and in Year 10 (during the Aspire Employability Week). Pupils undertake preparation work to ensure that the visits are as meaningful as possible. Where practical, visits are allocated according to individual pupil interest.

7: Encounters with Further and Higher Education

Click here to see our Provider Access Statement.

When pupils are thinking about a future career there’s a lot to consider: our pupils are supported to meet and see a variety of education and training providers to assist them in making informed decisions, not only about their post-16 options, but for their futures. Below there are some of the most common education and training routes for young people. Please note that it is alright to change directions or to find something that suits you better – it just might take a bit longer. Sometimes, thinking about long-term preferences helps to make the shorter-term decisions.

  A Levels T Level Vocational Apprenticeship
How many subjects? 3-4 1 1 1
Theory or practical? Theory Mixed More practical

Some theory

Practical
Exam or coursework? Exams Exams

Coursework

Work-based project

Coursework

Smaller exams

Assessment at work

Coursework

Where?

Sixth Form /

College

College College Workplace
Typical

Timetable

4-5 days a week 4-5 days a week

+ 45 days industry placement

4-5 days a week

4 days in work

1 day in college

Entry Criteria

(Check individual courses and providers)

At least 5 GCSEs at grade 5+

(Some subjects require grade 6+)

At least 5 GCSEs at grade 4-5+ For Level 3:

At least 5 GCSEs at grade 4-5+

For Level 2:

At least 2 GCSEs at grade 4-5+

For Level 1:

At least 2 GCSEs at grade 3s

For Entry Level:

Individual requirements apply

For Level 3:

5 GCSE grade 4-5s

For Level 2:

2 GCSE grade 4-5s

For Traineeships:

Individual requirements apply

Key information about local further education and training providers and general information can be found here:

Much of this information is also available in the Careers section of the library.

If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed or worried, please get in touch with Mrs. Ackroyd, or talk to your pastoral leader. We also provide the  Aspire Employability Week at the end of Year 10, so you will be more prepared to start Year 11 with a CV, interview skills, and all the necessary knowledge and experiences to go on to succeed in the world of education and work.

8: Personal Guidance

Personal Guidance is a cornerstone of CEIAG provision. Mrs. Ackroyd, our Careers Leader, is available for any pupil who requires Information, Advice or Guidance around Careers and different education pathways. All Year 11 pupils are given appointments with Mrs. Ackroyd or another Level 6-qualified advisor and further sessions are available on request or for any pupils unsure about their post-16 routes. Application sessions, interview and CV guidance and support is also available.

One of the key measures of success for any school is the destinations data for former pupils as they transition into their post-16 options. Click here to read our Destination Data Report 2024, with information on cohorts 2016-2023. More information for pupils and families can be found via the government careers helpline, the National Careers Service, and Barclays LifeSkills.

Year 11 Support

You can find links to each of our local sixth forms, colleges and training providers in Section 7 above.

A summary of the providers, courses and subjects available following Year 11 are available here in Explaining Post-16 Options.

If you are worried about the status of an application for Post-16 Education or Training, please contact Mrs Ackroyd by email (fackroyd@shuttleworth.lancs.sch.uk) or contact the education/ training provider or employer directly.

Applying for Apprenticeships 

The application process for apprenticeships is typically longer than for other post-16 options. You will be expected to prepare in more detail and:

  • Complete a CV
  • Attend preparation workshops
  • Research potential employers
  • Apply to more providers
  • Attend interviews with apprenticeship providers and employers

If you would like a CV template, please email Mrs Ackroyd. You may find the following resources useful, which have been provided by Future U:

CV Writing           Interview Skills

Industry-Specific Resources

All Sectors

BBC Bitesize Careers          BuzzQuiz: Personality Test           Career Pilot: Career Planning & Information          DfE Explore Careers          Literacy Trust          icould: videos and case studies of different occupations          National Careers Service          Parent Guide to Careers              Speakers for Schools vtalks          Barclays LifeSkills: Money, Wellbeing & Employability          Understanding Labour Market Information          Understanding LMI & Skills (Videos)          Lancashire LMI Information

Construction 

Find your construction role          WOW Show: Construction special

Creative & Digital 

Discover Creative Careers          Accenture Digital Skills          BBC Bitesize Creativity & Innovation          Screen Skills Job Profiles          Sidequest: Design your own video game

Engineering & Manufacturing 

Rolls Royce Youtube Channel          This is Engineering          Young Engineers Youtube Channel

Health & Social Care 

Health & NHS Careers           Health Education England: Cradle to Grave services           Brighton & Hove Medical School Virtual Work Experience

Renewables & Energy 

National Geographic: Renewable Energy Explained

Mental Health & Wellbeing at Work

Barclays LifeSkills: Managing Wellbeing              Hope & Managing Stress            NHS Mental Wellbeing          Think Ninja: Managing Anxiety & Stress          Young Minds

Employability Skills

Barclays Life Skills: Building your skills, Preparing for Interview          Being an enterpreneur          FutureLearn: Entrepreneurial Thinking               PWC: Employability Hub          Skills Builder Framework     Understanding recruitment          Youth Employment: Skills Booklet          Youth Social Action             Barclays LifeSkills: Employability skills          Shuttleworth CV Builder

Home Learning Activities

Please see the downloadable files below for careers education activities:

Y7-9 Careers Home Learning

Y10-11 Careers Home Learning

Y12-13 Careers Home Learning

Apprenticeship Activities

Future U have provided the following resources. There are prizes available for some activities!

Interview Skills       Community Wellbeing Project       Competitive Creativity     CV Writing     Gaming Goals

 

Careers Week 2021 Resources

Here is a helpful guide for parents on supporting their child toward a sucessful future.

Find out which job might suit you best.  Complete the buzz quiz and then explore jobs linked to your skills.  Take The ‘Buzz Quiz’ Careers Test. What Job Could You Do? (ucas.com)

What’s your favourite subject and how does this link to different jobs?  Explore jobs | UCAS

Virtual Careers Fair https://www.ncw2021.co.uk

Get online advice on which GSCEs to choose or what choices you have at 16 and 18.  Take a look at the top careers in Burnley using this brand new online resource.  Find out which are the growth employment sectors in Lancashire, what types of jobs are available in Burnley and what is offered by local colleges and training companies.

General link to online careers support and resources    Start Beta (startprofile.com)

Explore your region for careers and inspiration       https://lancashire.startprofile.com/page/burnley-pendle-area-overview

Encounters with employers, employees and experiences of workplaces are most effective when aligned with the interests of students in order to prepare them for the world of work and the skills they will need. Your company, staff and guidance have an essential part to play in helping our pupils transition to life beyond school and developing their understanding of the wealth of working opportunities their future could hold. If you or your company could help, even with just an hour of your time, please contact our Careers Leader, Mrs. Ackroyd.
Click here to see our Provider Access Statement.

 

Key Contact

Mrs. Ackroyd
fackroyd@shuttleworth.lancs.sch.uk
01282 682300 Ext 12109