Careers at Bedford
Our school’s careers leader is Mrs J Madden, Director of Learning, j.madden@bedford.wigan.sch.uk, 01942 909009.
“Careers education is about inspiration and aspiration as much as advice.”
The vision of our careers team is that students will leave our school with the drive and ambition to accomplish their chosen career pathway, and that they will become ambitious, successful, caring citizens equipped with the confidence and skills capable of making decisions in any given situation.
Our Careers programme runs from Year 7 to Year 11 and prepares students well for life after they leave the school. It has been designed to align with the eight Gatsby Benchmarks which have been recognised by the government as outlining the requirements of an excellent careers programme.
Students have many encounters with employers and learn about the different careers and the various routes into these careers. It helps students to find the careers that suit them and prepare them to follow their desired path. Students learn about the different work sectors and are taught to challenge the various stereotypes and discrimination that exists in the world of work. Students learn how to take responsibility for their own career by planning for the future. They learn how to create an effective CV and learn useful skills such as developing a professional and successful interview technique. The programme supports pupils through each of the transitions they face such as choosing Year 9 options and deciding what to do after Year 11. Students complete a week of work experience in Year 10.
Further work –
Business Partnership Programme
Bedford Alumni Programme
FROG Careers Pages
Our Careers programme is evaluated every year. The next evaluation will take place in July 2022. We will review what is working well and will identify areas that require further development so that we can continue to improve our practice and further strengthen our Careers programme. An annual Careers report will be created and shared with governors.
We review all feedback from:
- Year 11 destination data
- Questionnaires completed by students, staff and parents
- Student voice
- Evaluation with our careers advisor
- Evaluation of work experience
The 8 Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Career Guidance
The Gatsby Benchmarks are a framework of 8 guidelines that define the best careers provision in schools and colleges.
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
Gatsby Benchmarks
The Gatsby Benchmarks are now fully integrated into the strategic plan for CEIAG. The most recent assessment, from July 2020 judges that we have currently met 6 of the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks to 100%.
Post-16 Activity Survey 2020
Post-16 destinations are captured by Aspiring Futures and presented in the annual activity report, which is shared with schools in the spring term. This shows student engagement in post-16 college and training providers, apprenticeships and those who, at the time of the data capture, are NEET.
Cohort number: 192
| Participation | 96.9% | 157 |
| FE | 85.94% | 165 |
| Employment with apprenticeship/training | 6.25% | 12 |
| Training without employment | 2.6% | 5 |
| Employment without training | 1.56% | 3 |
| Voluntary / Part-Time employment | 0% | 0 |
| Unknown | 0% | 0 |
| NEET | 3.65% | 7 |
Additional Support and Guidance
Aspiring Futures
Aspiring Futures is the employment and skills service for young people in Wigan borough. They provide careers information and advice for young people. Bedford High School currently have a service level agreement with Aspiring Futures to which provides our students with access to independent and impartial careers guidance that both inspires them and raises their aspirations.
Aspiring futures also support our school with CEIAG events and work experience, helping us to deliver the objectives in the Careers Strategy (2018).
In addition to scheduled 1:1 support for students, parents and students can also self-refer. To do this, parents and/or students should speak to Mrs Birchall, who will help facilitate this.
Careers Websites
The National Apprenticeship Service has the latest news, information and advice to help you find and apply for an apprenticeship vacancy.
The National Careers Service is a free careers advice service for adults and young people aged 13 years and over. Access support by the website link above, telephone: 0800 100 900 or book a free call back through the website if you do not have access to a landline and you have a pay-as-you-go mobile.
Play the game to discover jobs that match your personality, interests and skills.
The UK’s national volunteering database, Do-it.org makes it easy for anyone to volunteer in their community.
The Bridge provides unique insights and helpful figures, Labour Market Information.