Careers Education Information and Guidance (CEIAG) at West Kirby School

At West Kirby School and College, we are committed to providing a high-quality and inclusive Careers Curriculum for all pupils from Year 7 to Year 14. Our careers programme is fully aligned with the Gatsby Benchmarks and meets all current statutory careers guidance, ensuring that pupils receive appropriate, timely and personalised careers support.

Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) is an important part of school life and is embedded across the curriculum. It supports pupils to develop confidence, understand their strengths and explore realistic and meaningful future pathways, including further education, training and employment.

Our careers provision is led by Helen Shallcross, Career Pathways Officer, who works closely with pupils, families, staff, and external partners. We also work with Ruth Evans from Career Connect, an independent careers adviser who provides impartial advice and guidance. This is in addition to any careers support offered by pupils’ local authorities, ensuring a coordinated and supportive approach.

In line with the Provider Access Legislation (formerly known as the Baker Clause), pupils are given opportunities to meet a wide range of education and training providers, including colleges, training organisations, employers and employees. These opportunities take place through events, talks, workshops, curriculum activities, and school visits. This ensures pupils and families are well informed and able to make confident, informed decisions about next steps.

Our Pathway to Adulthood curriculum supports the wider personal development and wellbeing of pupils. We recognise and value individual strengths and abilities and aim to prepare every pupil for a positive and independent future. By providing meaningful experiences, clear and impartial guidance and high aspirations, we support pupils to achieve their potential and make a positive contribution to their community.

Helen Shallcross, Career Pathways Officer

Ruth Evans, Career Connect Adviser

Support and guidance is embedded across the school, with all staff playing an active role in motivating and inspiring our pupils. Our Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) programme is designed to help pupils build confidence, gain appropriate qualifications and develop transferable skills that will support them throughout their lives.

Policies

Our Career Policy, Entitlement Statement & Providers Access Policy, please click here

For further information on careers, education, information and guidance

Please contact the school on 0151 632 3201 and ask to speak to our Career Pathways Officer, Helen Shallcross or email her on hshallcross@wkrs.co.uk

Careers (CEIAG) at West Kirby School and College aims to:

Pupils follow a tailor-made, individual careers programme that enables them to:

Understand how education, training, and employment can support their transition from West Kirby School and College.
Develop the skills needed for work, further learning, and independent living.
Identify their strengths and areas for development, and understand how these can guide their future choices.
Explore the world of work and what it means to live independently in the future.
Build the skills needed to plan and manage their own personal development and career progression.
Access information, taster activities, and workplace experiences to make informed decisions about their next steps.
Create and maintain individual progression plans to improve their prospects of success.
Give feedback and suggestions to help us continually improve our careers programme.
Meet with a Career Connect adviser each academic year for impartial, professional guidance.

To be provided with career guidance, that is:

Impartial, confidential, and flexible, so each pupil receives advice that meets their individual needs.
Personalised and relevant, helping pupils make informed choices about their education, training, and future careers.
Promotes equality and diversity, supporting all pupils and respecting protected characteristics.
Delivered by trained and experienced careers professionals, including internal staff and independent advisers.
Accessible within the school timetable, ensuring guidance fits seamlessly with pupils’ learning and development.

What parents and carers can expect:

At West Kirby School and College, we value the role of parents and carers in supporting pupils’ career development. You can expect to:

Discuss your child’s progress, achievements, and future prospects.
Encourage and support your child to follow their own interests and aspirations.
Be involved in your child’s career discussions and stay in contact with the Career Pathways Officer throughout the school year.
Share your feedback and ideas to help us continue improving our careers programme.
Receive invitations to take part in feedback, career events, transition workshops and information sessions, helping to shape and enhance the career offer we provide.
We aim to work in partnership with parents and carers so that every pupil is informed, supported and confident in planning their future.

WKS School CEIAG programme

Our CEIAG programme aims to deliver a wide range of activities and information that fully prepares our students for their independence and future careers. It aims to inspire, raise aspirations and challenge pupils’ perceptions about a broad range of possible future pathways and provide them with all the information they will need when leaving school.

The key aims of the programme are:

To deliver personalised, impartial careers advice to all students so they can make informed decisions about their futures
To develop links with local employers, ex-students and external agencies, to help inform students of possible career and training options
To develop life skills and behaviours, pupils will need to work and be independent in modern Britain.
To continually analyse the impact of our CEIAG programme and to develop the programme in line with current guidelines
Throughout their time at West Kirby School, our pupils will engage in a range of activities and have access to information that helps them make informed choices about their future.

This will be done by:

Career curriculum is embedded in the Pathways to Adulthood programme
1:1 CEAIG sessions with the Careers Pathways Officer every academic year for Year 7-14 pupils
Access to careers drop-in sessions
Access to 1:1 CEAIG sessions by Career Connect Careers and Career Wales Advisors each academic year
Advice and guidance on apprenticeship and technical/vocational education pathways
Visits and taster sessions to other schools, colleges, workplace environments and universities
Hosting events, such as Meet The College, Training Provider and Employer Event
Attending employer talks offered on a monthly basis
Attending local career fairs and events
Application support for colleges, apprenticeships, employment opportunities and universities.
Preparing and building CVs
Job application form training and assistance
Interview preparation with mock interviews
Providing up-to-date local labour market information
Assisting with steps to independence, such as travel training, money matters

Through the continuous networking of a dedicated teaching and support team, pupils at West Kirby School and College enjoy excellent links with employers and advice, guidance and support to access higher and further education, training and employment routes.

For further information on careers, education, information and guidance, please contact the school on 0151 632 3201 or email Helen Shallcross (Career Pathways Officer) hshallcross@wkrs.co.uk