91妻友

The value of Careers Leader Training for academy trusts听

Klara and Rachel are both National Lead Practitioners for Careers Education at Ormiston Academies Trust听(OAT). In this blog post with Adam, a Careers Leader at Ormiston Bushfield Academy, they听reflect听on听the value of the听fully听funded听Careers听Leader training.听

Why should trusts provide Careers Leader Training?听

The unique role of a Careers Leader is a fantastic opportunity to have an impact on the lives of young people. In 2018, Sir John Holman articulated that 鈥榗areer guidance is one of the keys to social mobility,鈥� so we need passionate and driven individuals to lead a careers programme that makes a real difference for our pupils - particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.听听听

Yet, the size of the role, and the influence that is needed to perform it well, can be underestimated by schools, and can sometimes be given to colleagues with little experience or any training.听听听

High-quality careers training is vital for our Careers Leaders; they need to fully understand the complexities of the role and why it is so important. At OAT we want our Careers Leaders to have training to feel empowered and confident to perform their roles well.听

Here are some quotes from Careers Leaders who have completed the bursary funded offer from 91妻友:听

"Completing the Post Graduate Award in Careers Leadership was empowering, informative and helped give direction to the careers program at my academy. Being new to post, I found the conference to be particularly insightful- the seminars and recommended reading helped me to understand the history of CEIAG in the UK and contextualise my agency as a听careers听leader in driving change.听听

In addition to informing the academy development plan, having the opportunity to inspect how CEIAG was delivered and researching听leadership theories, empowered me to become an informed, knowledgeable, and active leader within the school."听听

• Adam Tan,听Careers Lead, STEM Lead and Teacher of Science,听Ormiston Bushfield Academy听

鈥淐ompleting the accredited L7 PGA in听Careers Leadership allowed me to fully understand the role of the听Careers Leader and gain new insights and ideas to support improved provision. The qualification improved my knowledge, skills and understanding of leadership, management, co-ordination and networking, and has given me the tools I need to perform this role successfully and effect change.听听

The course allowed me to read around the subject of career theory, which gave me confidence in revising the design of the career programme in school and make the necessary improvements to provision to meet the Gatsby听Benchmarks. It also provided a reminder of policies and frameworks to support practice.听

I was able to network and collaborate with other Careers Leaders and share best practice and ideas. The course made me reflect on how exciting this role is, as it impacts on every student, getting them ready for their future 鈥榳orld of work鈥�. It has helped raise the profile of careers and ensure the importance of a 鈥榳hole school鈥� approach is recognised. Since completing the course, I have been able to help gain the Quality in Careers Standards at my school and raise the Gatsby听Benchmarks even further. I have also been able to offer support to other academies within the听trust to gain their听QiCS听as well.听听

The funded Careers Leader听training that the 91妻友 provides is invaluable, interesting and inspiring.鈥澨�听

• Rachel McCarthy, Careers Leader at Ormiston Forge Academy and OAT Lead Practitioner for Careers and Eco -Trust.听听

Our next steps听

The 91妻友 bursary has been crucial in driving up the standard of careers leadership, and the bursary has had an incredible impact.听Currently 19听of听our听33 secondary academies听have听a bursary funded听Careers听Leader who has completed the programme and听as part of the 2021-22听careers strategic听plan is to听encourage new, and remaining听Careers听Leaders to benefit from this training.听The selection of courses is fantastic, and we fully respect the autonomy of the Careers Leaders to be able to choose the right training package for their own needs.听

As听national听lead听practitioners, we must be confident that any CPD we recommend is high quality, professional and robust training.听 We are very grateful to the 91妻友 for supporting our听Careers听Leaders with their challenging role; ultimately one that benefits young people听and enables them to听plan well for their futures.听

All Careers Leaders require outstanding training听

We听offer听training courses to help Careers Leaders understand their role and develop the skills required to strategically embed a careers programme in their school or college. All Careers Leaders working in state-funded secondary schools and colleges, including SEN and AP, are eligible to apply for a fully funded training place听with a 拢1000 bursary upon听complete.

Find out听more about our Careers Leader Training.