We have collated key resource and support for you to ensure that you can effectively support students to navigate application and recruitment processes and make effective transitions to their best next steps.
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Use the Future Skills Questionnaire and student voice for key student/cohorts to identify areas for development at students/cohort level.
Example FSQ questions, include:
- Do you know about different types of recruitment and selection processes, including interviews and assessment centres?
- Do you know how to make a good impression when applying for a course or job?
- Do you feel confident talking about your skills in an interview?
Students’ responses to these questions can support you to identify groups of students who may need additional support, or which areas of transition skills you may need to target support for an entire year group.
“We not only ask students for their intended destination, but we also capture whether they feel they require further support and where they have applied. This then informs us further as to who should be priority for a 1:1 appointment. SLT like to physically meet with Year 11 several times throughout the year to discuss their intentions. They keep a record of these interviews on a spreadsheet that also contains subject data and suitability for our 6th form which is RAG rated by the Head of Year”
Establish a calendar/process for regular collection and review of FSQ to identify gaps in student knowledge/skills development
There are five versions of the Future Skills Questionnaire, these are tailored to key transition points throughout secondary education and students with SEND. We suggest asking students to complete the questionnaire at each of these transition points, allowing you to evaluate and plan your careers programme.
These key transition points are:
- Starting Secondary (Year 7), to find out students’ baseline level of knowledge and views at the start of secondary school.
- Transition to KS4 (Years 8 and 9), to encourage students to think about their strengths and preferences, to make the connection between their GSCE subjects and careers, and to highlight needs for information and guidance.
- GCSE Years (Years 10 and 11) as students make post16 transition plans, to identify those with and without a plan or career ideas, to identify whether students know where to find IAG, and their understanding of selection/recruitment processes.
- Post-16 Study (Years 12 and 13) to support students to make post-18 transitions
Supporting students to make effective transitions through a progressive careers programme
Access our resource and support to allow you to build a progressive careers programme that prepare young people to develop the relevant knowledge, skills and ability to make effective transitions into their next best steps:
- ‘Building a progressive careers programme’ resource and CPD which are designed to support you to build a progressive careers programme with reference to key frameworks such as the CDI Career Development Framework and The Skills Builder Universal Framework.
- Securing Good Transitions: A resource pack to support the next steps of Key Stage 4 pupils with SEND.
- Funded Careers Leader training, which help Careers Leaders understand their role and develop the skills required to strategically embed a careers programme in their school or college.
Other supporting resources:
1. Key Resources:
- How to Write a CV, Barclays Life Skills. Engage students in this free 60/90min workshop from Barclays Life Skills around 'How to write a CV'
- Virtual Interview Practice, Barclays Life Skills: Encourage students to log in to Barclays Virtual Interview practice to experience different interview scenarios
- Create a Professional Online Presence, Future Learn: Encourage your students to engage with this free Future Learn online course to help them to Create a Professional Online Presence
Talking Futures is a suite of resources to help you support parents’ role in careers decision-making and increase their participation in your activities. Designed by the Gatsby Foundation, it is based on research exploring how institutions can best support parents to help young people make informed careers and education decisions.
Resources feature a range of tools and activities including:
- Parent-facing activities for events such as parents’ evenings and tailored family learning sessions.
- Student-facing activities to reinforce parents’ role in decision-making.
- Support for Careers Leaders to identify activities that will complement existing provision.
- Practical tips and guidance on how to deliver each type of activity.
- A range of preparation activities to help you and parents get the most out of each session
3: Funded Careers Leader Training
To access funded professional training that will support you in developing a progressive careers programme including how students can be supported to make informed decisions at key transitions, please access our training catalogue with details of all fully funded offers available, including information on the additional £1000 training bursary
4: Benchmark 7: Making it Meaningful
Access this resource to support you to plan meaningful encounters with providers to support your students to understand all learning opportunities available to them