Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance at Carshalton Girls provides a stable careers programme of learning to develop the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions about career pathways. 

CEIAG at Carshalton Girls is delivered within the Careers curriculum and is integrated into the CARES Personal Development curriculum. The Careers Programme includes Work Experience, Work Related Learning and Enterprise. The school is committed to providing a comprehensive careers programme that meets these requirements and fulfils the criteria for the Investor in Careers award and fully meets the Gatsby Benchmarks. 

Our Careers Policy gives details of the careers, education information, advice and guidance at Carshalton Girls and how the impact of the programme is measured. The next review for this policy will be in Spring 2027. 

Mrs Sylvie Hrouda
Careers Coordinator
Telephone: 020 8647 8294
Email: shrouda@carshaltongirls.org.uk

Access to Providers (Baker Clause) 

Our mission is to give students meaningful encounters with employers and to provide them with information regarding all the pathways that are available to them, not only during their time here with us but for life after Carshalton Girls. Throughout the year, we have a number of opportunities for colleges and training providers to support our careers programme. We would encourage you to contact our careers coordinator if you would like to discuss our careers programme. 

Advice and Guidance at Carshalton Girls 

At Carshalton Girls, students are guided by our Careers Coordinator, our Independent Careers Advisor, Senior Leaders, teachers and support staff to ensure they are supported to make informed choices to meet their future career aspirations.  We aim to widen aspirations through our curriculum and ensure we help remove barriers to careers based on one’s social, economic or ethnic background. 

Careers Curriculum: Years 7–13 

Year 7 – Introduction to Careers and Self-Awareness  

Students are introduced to the idea of careers as a journey rather than simply a single job. Through enrollment to Unifrog and their CARES sessions, students explore their interests, strengths, skills, values and personal qualities, and begin to consider how these might relate to different occupations. Students learn about the wide range of careers available and challenge common stereotypes about particular jobs and industries. They are introduced to the concept of transferable skills and begin to recognise skills they develop through lessons, hobbies, sport, clubs and other activities.  

Students also begin to understand the importance of education and qualifications in relation to future opportunities. They are introduced to different types of employment and encouraged to develop positive attitudes towards work, including reliability, teamwork, communication and resilience. Where possible, students should have opportunities to meet people from different careers or hear about different career journeys.  

Year 8 – Exploring the World of Work  

In Year 8, students build on their understanding of themselves and begin to explore the world of work in greater depth. They investigate a range of occupations, sectors and industries, including careers they may not previously have encountered. Students learn about the changing nature of work, including the impact of technology, automation, sustainability and new industries.  All Year 8 students will be involved in an Enterprise Day with the Inspirational Learning Group, which brings students into contact with company initiatives and planning.  

Students should begin to connect subjects they study at school with potential careers and understand why different subjects and skills can be useful in a wide range of occupations. Year 8 careers learning helps students make informed decisions about their Key Stage 4 subjects while keeping their longer-term options open.  They explore career stereotypes and consider how personal interests, skills and values can influence career choices. Students are introduced to basic labour-market information, including the idea that opportunities can vary between sectors and geographical areas.  

Year 9 – Options, Pathways and Future Choices  

Year 9 careers learning enables students to explore how GCSEs and other qualifications can relate to future pathways, while understanding that there are often multiple routes into a particular career. They learn about sixth form, college, apprenticeships, technical and vocational qualifications, and other post-16 options.  

Students should undertake more structured self-assessment through Unifrog, considering their interests, strengths, skills and aspirations. They can begin researching careers that appeal to them and identifying the qualifications, skills and experience associated with those careers. Students should also understand the importance of keeping options open, avoiding decisions based solely on stereotypes or assumptions, and seeking reliable information and advice when making choices.  

Throughout the year, Year 9 students have access to a range of educational workshops and visits with STEM and finance companies to widen aspirations.  Students also have the opportunity to begin the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award and develop a unique set of skills, experiences and volunteering in community projects.  

Year 10 – Careers Research and Employability  

In Year 10, careers education becomes increasingly focused on preparation for life after school. Students develop their ability to research careers, employers, industries and post-16 pathways using reliable sources. They are taught to understand the difference between qualifications, skills, experience and personal qualities and how employers may assess these.  

Students will develop core employability skills, including communication, teamwork, problem-solving, organisation and professional behaviour and this will be put into practice with a week’s work experience. In the process of searching for work experience, students learn about applications and recruitment processes, including application forms, CVs, personal statements and interviews. Students are introduced to workplace expectations, equality and diversity, professional conduct, workplace rights and responsibilities, and basic financial awareness such as wages, tax, pensions and budgeting.  Ongoing through the year, students have access to Virtual Work Experience events with live webinars, employer encounters at our Careers Fair and industry visits and some students will work with mentors from The Talent Foundry and engage in industry challenges through work with Motivez.  

Year 11 – Transition and Post-16 Choices  

Year 11 careers learning provides students with the knowledge and confidence to make informed post-16 decisions. Students explore sixth-form, college, apprenticeships, vocational and technical qualifications, employment and other relevant pathways. They will understand entry requirements, application processes, deadlines and progression routes associated with different options.    

From both the Independent Careers Advisor and the Careers Co-Ordinator, students receive practical one-to-one support with applications, including writing personal statements, completing application forms, preparing for interviews and researching institutions and employers. They will be guided to consider how their chosen pathway relates to their longer-term aspirations while recognising that career routes can change. Our Year 11 students have access to our 6th Form Opening Evening and induction to ensure they are fully informed of post-16 life.  Students will also develop practical knowledge for adulthood, including managing money, understanding employment contracts and payslips, workplace rights and responsibilities, and professional communication.  

Year 12 – Career Planning and Progression  

Year 12 careers learning moves students towards greater independence in managing their own career development. Students should explore their intended progression routes, whether towards university, higher and degree apprenticeships, employment, professional training, entrepreneurship or other destinations. Through Uninfrog and Academic Mentoring session, they will research specific courses, institutions, employers and industries and understand the entry requirements and application processes involved.  Year 12 students are invited to one-to-one careers guidance from our Independent Careers Advisor and will take part in a mock professional interview, with thorough feedback given.  

Students should develop a strong understanding of recruitment and selection processes, including CVs, applications, interviews, assessment centres and networking. They should have opportunities to develop their employability through work experience, volunteering, projects, employer encounters, careers events and other meaningful experiences. Students also learn how to use labour-market information to inform their decisions and understand the importance of developing a professional online presence and reputation.  

Year 13 – Preparation for Life Beyond School  

Year 13 careers learning focuses on successful transition beyond secondary education and preparation for adult working life. Students receive tailored support for their chosen destinations, including university, higher or degree apprenticeships, employment, further training, gap years or other pathways. UCAS mentors are chosen from across the experienced staff body to allow for further support and guidance.  Students become confident in completing applications, meeting deadlines, preparing for interviews and communicating professionally with employers and education providers.  

Students also develop practical knowledge and skills for independent adult life. This should include understanding employment contracts, salary and benefits, tax, National Insurance, pensions, budgeting, renting and other financial considerations. They should reflect on their skills, achievements and experiences gained during school and be able to articulate these effectively to employers or education providers. The overall aim is for students to leave Year 13 with a realistic understanding of their next steps, the confidence to pursue them, and the skills to continue managing their career development independently.  

 

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Further careers advice can be found here: