Careers education, information, advice and guidance all form an essential part of the support we offer at International School Pune. Effective careers education can help prepare young people for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life; it can help them to make effective decisions and manage transitions as learners and workers. As options for young people become more varied and complex, it is important that we support them to develop the knowledge and skills they need to make informed choices for their future. As a result, the careers programmed has a whole-school remit designed to complement the rest of the school curriculum.
Aims and Objectives
Our vision as a School is to provide an inclusive, effective and ambitious careers education, which raises our students’ aspirations throughout the entirety of their school career. This is important in order to ensure that students are able to be adaptable, dynamic, innovative, flexible, resilient, self-initiating and collaborative to accommodate and thrive in the workplace. To achieve this, we strive to address the needs of each student by providing them with enriching career and educational related experiences and guidance, to ensure they are fully equipped with the knowledge to which they are entitled, to enable them to make informed decisions about important life and school choices.
Delivery
The content of the taught careers’ education is primarily delivered through RSHE lessons, the details of which can be found in the RSHE policy.
Year 7, 8 & 9
Lessons may include what work is, how salaries relate to different jobs, stereotyping around jobs, how to find out about jobs, the skills needed for work, financial literacy and jobs of the future. Activities will support the GCSE options process.
By the end of Year 9, all students will have had the opportunity to:
- Examine the link between qualifications, jobs and lifestyle.
- The importance of budgeting and numeracy skills
- Receive support to make their GCSE choices via assemblies, parents’ evenings, options evenings and RSHE lessons with their Form Tutor.
Year 10
Lessons may include preparing for job interviews, completing applications, the impact of unemployment and the importance of CVs.
By the end of Year 10, students will have the opportunity to:
- Learn how to write a CV and cover letters.
- Complete model application forms and a mock interview process
- Examine the impact of lifestyle choices/work and unemployment on their lifestyle.
- Develop self-awareness and career management skills.
Year 11
Lessons may include the updating of one’s CV, job applications and interview skills, as well as an introduction to post-16 education. The Principal and Head of Sixth Form will meet each student and their parents individually, to discuss post-16 decisions.
By the end of Year 11, students will have the opportunity to:
- Attend our Careers Fair
- Develop their self-awareness and career-management skills.
- Apply for post-16 options.
- Develop the skills needed for a successful transition to post-16 learning.
Years 12 & 13
In Year 12, lessons could include post-18 options, covering both university and alternatives. In addition, a range of other activities are available to support students to develop additional skills and knowledge.
In Year 13, Oxbridge students will have a mock interview and support from the Head of Sixth Form and Principal. All students are supported through the post-18 application process, including UCAS and apprenticeship, or Gap Year options.
By the end of the Sixth Form, all students will have had the opportunity to:
- Use a range of resources, with support as required, to explore post-18 options, especially but not exclusively, from Uniform.
- Develop their self-awareness and career-management skills.
- Attend events in and outside of School where they can speak to employers, Schools, universities and training providers.
Student Involvement
All students are encouraged to take an active role in their own career development, as such the careers education we offer emphasizes student participation with a focus on self-development, learning about careers, the world of work and developing career-management and employability skills.
During their time at school, all students can expect:
- The support they need to make personal choices at KS4/GCSE, after Year 11 and Year 13
- Support to develop the self-awareness and career-management skills needed for their future.
- Career lessons, withing the RSHE curriculum, from Year 7 to Year 13 covering options after school, the world of work, the job market, employability skills and jobs of the future
- A meaningful encounter with a representative from the world of work each school year; this could be through careers fair, assemblies and careers speakers.
- The opportunity to talk through their career and educational choices with staff, including Form Tutors and the Head of Sixth Form
- The opportunity to relate what they learn in lessons to their life and career beyond school.
Parental Involvement
Young people do not make career decisions in isolation and parents can have a substantial impact, as well as a clear interest in the right outcomes for their young person. International School Pune is keen to foster parental involvement in the careers programme, wherever possible.
Events for parents
Parents are invited into school to discuss their son’s/daughter’s progress at Parents’ Evenings.
Specialist events for parents include KS4/GCSE Options Evening, Sixth Form Open Evening (Year 11 parents)
Parents are kept up to date with career-related events and activities affecting their son/daughter via letters, emails and social media.
