At Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School we have set ourselves an aim of achieving “Success with Care”. A young person’s career is their pathway through learning and work. All young people need a planned programme of activities to help them make well informed and realistic decisions; and plan their careers; both in school and after they leave. The 2011 Education Act places a duty on schools to provide students in Years 7-11 access to careers education, information and guidance. Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School endeavours to extend this guidance to Years 12-13.
Under the Education Act 2011, CEIAG must be impartial, and provided by a skilled professional who is not employed by the school. This is further reinforced in the statutory guidance laid out in “Careers Guidance and Access for Educations and Training Providers”.
The school is committed to providing a planned programme of careers education, information and guidance for all students in Years 7 -13 in partnership with external providers. This encompasses curriculum provision, CPD for staff, Information provision, funding and management
of the provision.
Click here to go to the Entitlement Statement
Click here to go to the Access Statement
Click here to go to the Provider Information
Click here for details about Apprenticeships
Click here for Option Information
Click here to find out where you can get help in school
Click here for Work Experience Information
Policies and Procedures
Entitlement Statement
As a school we have a statutory and moral duty to provide students in Years 8 to 13 with careers education, information, advice and guidance. This is extended in Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School to include Year 7. Our careers strategy is now mapped against the eight Gatsby Career Benchmarks of,
- A stable careers programme
- Learning from career and labour market information
- Addressing the needs of each pupil
- Linking curriculum learning to careers
- Encounters with employers and employees
- Experiences of workplaces
- Encounters with further and higher education
- Personal guidance
which outlines what good careers guidance looks like.
The Careers Professionals in School are Mr K Pickles Assistant Headteacher who is the lead careers professional in school (RCDP) and Mrs Marshall is the Independent careers advisor in school (RCDP), Both are RCDP Registered Careers Development Professionals holding careers guidance qualifications.
Guidance takes place within the curriculum and with one to one interviews. Please liaise with Mr K Pickles regarding your child’s interview. Interview slots are communicated via your child’s mentor although we actively encourage parental / carer involvement in this process.
You are entitled to;
- clear advice and information about ALL the options available, so that you understand what they involve
- support and guidance to help you make choices and complete a career plan for the future
- regular personal support on information on how well you are doing
- help to decide what to do when you leave your course, including further learning, training and employment
- a programme of careers education helping you develop skills and knowledge to make choices and the transition to work and learning
- the opportunity to be involved in making decisions about things that effect your learning
- an opportunity to set out an individual learning plan, and
- an opportunity to learn about the world of work
Table to show Gatsby Benchmark Achievements
| Gatsby Benchmark | Total DHFS Achievement | % Schools Fully Achieving This Benchmark Nationally |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – A stable careers programme | 100% | 27% |
| 2 – Learning from career and labour market information | 100% | 52% |
| 3 – Addressing the needs of each pupil | 90% | 25% |
| 4 – Linking curriculum learning to careers | 100% | 45% |
| 5 – Encounters with employers and employees | 100% | 58% |
| 6 – Experiences of workplaces | 100% | 52% |
| 7 – Encounters with further and higher education | 100% | 30% |
| 8 – Personal guidance | 100% | 61% |
Careers preparation, called Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) is taught to all years within the school. As a snapshot of the curriculum, the main elements are:
Year 7
Students receive a taught module within our Enrichment Curriculum RE and drama lessons regarding self-awareness and Careers information matching. CEIAG supports access to information and advice from an earlier age, enabling better informed decisions at transition stages. Careers work can also be seen to raise aspirations and improve motivation to participate in education or training as a life long development.
Year 8
A Spiral Curriculum continues after Year 7 and is extended to the matching of Careers information to personal strengths, skills and attributes in making realistic and well informed decisions about future careers, courses and pathways. CEIAG supports access to information and advice from an earlier age, enabling better informed decisions at transition stages. Careers work can also be seen to raise aspirations and improve motivation to participate in education or training as a life long development.
Year 9
In Year 9, this continues to be developed into Options post Key Stage 4 are explored, and the Year 8 work on self-awareness and decision making is developed. Skills for employment and financial capability are added to the curriculum so that economic awareness is developed.
Year 10
We begin to explore Sixth Form options and interview skills. Work Related Learning also starts as students complete work experience. Work related skills alongside financial and economic competency are further developed.
Year 11
Apprenticeships and Sixth Form options are further explored, as are interview techniques and decision making. Awareness of the options available is a key area of study, as students begin to apply via the Common Application form. Work related skills alongside financial and economic competency are further developed.
Sixth Form
UCAS preparation is one core aspect of the pastoral support programme, as is interview techniques, job seeking and apprenticeship sessions. All none university options are also explored.
Access Statement
We welcome external training and education providers.
Provider Information
What are Apprenticeships?
As employees, apprentices earn a wage and work alongside experienced staff to gain job-specific skills. Off the job, usually on a day-release basis, apprentices receive training to work towards nationally recognised qualifications. Anyone living in England, over 16 years-old and not in full-time education can apply.
Apprenticeships can take between one and four years to complete depending on the level of Apprenticeship, the apprentices’ ability and the industry sector. The minimum salary is £4.81 per hour; however, many apprentices earn significantly more.
Who are they for?
Apprenticeships are open to all age groups above 16 years-old whether you are just leaving school, have been working for years or are seeking to start a new career. You just need to be living in England and not in full-time education.
What are the benefits?
There are lots of benefits to doing an Apprenticeship. You can earn while you learn, and learn in a way that is best suited to you – through hands-on experience on the job. Key benefits of being an apprentice include;
- earning a salary
- getting paid holidays
- receiving training
- gaining qualifications
- learning job-specific skills
Apprenticeship / Trainee Job Listings
Apprenticeship Vacancies (AV) Live – updated every 24 hours
United Cast Bar – Apprenticeships
Ultra Refrigeration – Current Vacancies
AMRC Apprenticeship Current Vacancies
Amazing Apprenticeships – Higher & Degree Level Vacancy Listing
SWFC Football Development Programme
Derbyshire County Council Apprenticeships
Rolls-Royce submarines to launch Nuclear Skills Academy and new apprenticeships in Derby
Rolls-Royce Apprenticeships & School Leaver Information
Speakers for Schools : Upcoming Events
Apprenticeships – Further Information
A Guide to Apprenticeship Applications
A Guide to Apprenticeship Interviews
Degree Apprenticeships: An Open Day Guide
Parents’ and Carers’ Pack – Apprenticeship Information
Preparing for the First Day of Work
Read the ‘Guide to Apprenticeships’ Booklet at the GOV.uk website
Rate my Apprenticeship – The Guide to Career Options 2021
More information about Higher and Degree Apprenticeships on the GOV.uk website
Read the ‘Is a Traineeship for me?’ Fact Sheet at the GOV.uk website
Advice for Employers regarding Apprenticeships
Advice and Guidance
Guidance Software
Why are Options important?
It is never too early to consider your future, indeed, your options later may well be affected by the decisions that you make now. For example, if you aspire to complete a university course, then your entry will depend upon the right choices at GCSE and Sixth Form. The same is true of college and apprenticeship courses, which also have the ability to lead students on into level 5 (degree level) study.
There is no such thing as the best pathway, but you must choose the best pathway for you; Gather as much advice as you can and consider all options based on the best advice, information and reflection.
Options Information
Students have further optional choices at the start of Year 10. They are allowed to choose either two or three more options (each having two periods a week) from a wide choice that is available from each of the faculty areas. Each student’s options will be carefully considered and personalised wherever possible.
Some students will take fewer than the normal two options; this will be recommended by staff on the basis of a student’s particular needs. A small number of selected students may follow alternative curriculum programmes which may be available.
All option choices are subject to Head of Faculty approval, timetable and staffing, and financial constraints and we will inform parents and students if there are problems with any options choices.
Year 9 GCSE Options Evening, 13th January 2022.
Y9 Options Evening 13th January 2022 – Click here to book specific subject appointments
KS4 Options Evening Leaflet 13th Jan 2022
Key Stage 4 Options Course Resources
English
Maths
MFL
PSHE
Key Stage 5 Options Course Resources
Please click here for further information
Where can I get help in school?
- Margaret Marshall provides impartial advice to students and parent
- School Staff and Mentors
- School Digital Resources in the Careers IAG Advice area of the website
- The Careers Library based in the LRC
Careers Lessons
Students receive a full curriculum of Careers lessons from Year 7 to 13. These take place in formal lessons, drop down days, specialist input and cross-curriculum approaches:
- Enrichment day programmes
- Mentor time
- Careers convention and interview days
- Work experience
- STEM lessons
- Futures lessons – Sixth Form
- Social Studies / Lifeskills lessons – Years 10/11
Chesterfield College, Sheffield College and apprenticeship providers attend school regularly for both lesson and lunchtime drop in sessions.
Careers Interviews
The school operates an impartial Careers Service with Derbyshire County Council. Mrs Marshall visits school on two days each week to offer unbiased and impartial careers advice to students.
Students are invited for interview, but can also request support via: careers@dhfs.uk
Parents are welcome to attend the interview by arrangement.
Mr Pickles and Mrs Marshall also have a careers stand at every parents evening or open evening.
Year 11 Trial Interview Day: December
Trial Interview days are held in Term 2 each year for Year 11 students and are designed to allow students to experience the process from application form to interview, followed by feedback. Students experience a real job interview by guests from our employment community.
Careers Convention: November (evening event) / January (full day event)
Each year we hold two highly successful careers conventions. These allow students to access a wide range of impartial careers advice from universities, employers, training providers, colleges and apprenticeships in industry. Parents are welcome to attend.
Click Here to see photos from our recent Careers Convention
Click Here to see information about how we celebrated National Careers Week 2022
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are a valid choice after Year 11 and 13 for many students. We therefore allow open access to a wide range of apprenticeship and training providers so that our students are fully informed of the full range of opportunities available to them. The Careers area of our website and notice boards publicise vacancies, and students who are identified as being interested in such a pathway take part in a special forum supporting their applications
University Application
Our curriculum and assembly structure advises students on the application process and their options. Resources are available in the LRC, on the website, and via open evenings and careers conventions. Mrs Marshall, our careers advisor from the local authority, provides individual guidance based on student needs, our Sixth Form Team provide impartial advice led by a students’ individual needs, and a UCAS consultant assists students in writing their application statements alongside our Academic Mentor team.
Work Experience
Work Experience should be seen as an important part of the curriculum for all our students. Placement length, COVID-19
permitting, will be for one week. Placements take place in Year 10 and Year 12.
It should not be looked at as training for a particular occupation or the first step of sampling a chosen career. It should be viewed as an integral part of the process of preparing for the world of work. This involves detailed preparation and involves the socialisation of students into an
entirely different environment to that of the school. It should be an interesting and stimulating period that enables the
students to gain an insight into employment. Work Experience is therefore of increasing importance as the employment world
is forever changing. In addition, academic and vocational education should now complement each other to support the
development of a flexible and adaptive workforce.
Qualifications Explained
What different qualifications mean
Local Colleges
University Information
https://www.theuniguide.co.uk/
Data and Statistics
Office for National Statistics – Labour Market Overview
Data and Statistics for Derbyshire
Email Us
Questions ? Need Help ?
Request an Interview
careers@dhfs.uk
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