Careers

Current provision

All students at Clapton Girls' Academy take part in our careers programme, beginning in Year 7 and continuing throughout their time at the school. Provision differs between year groups, as the programme is designed to meet the students' changing needs as they progress through the school. Please see below for more detailed information concerning each year group.

Years 7 & 8

During their first two years at the school, in their PSHCE lessons the students cover topics such as Job Families, Personal Strengths, and The Labour Market. Within the curriculum, students will receive information about how each of their subjects relate to the world of work. For off-timetable Focus Days, Year 8s participate in enterprise event Custom Made, led by employer volunteers. Selected students in Year 7 are also invited to participate in Challenge Mentoring, a programme run in conjunction with our partners at Linklaters.

Year 9

In Year 9, students have access to guidance interviews to help them with their KS4 options. Our Options Focus Day includes an introduction to Unifrog, and is designed to support them in making an informed decision on their GCSE choices, as well as introducing them to the concepts of higher education, further education and apprenticeships. Within the curriculum, students will receive information about how each of their subjects relate to the world of work. In PSHCE, their units include Negotiation, Personal Finance, and Careers Pathways.

Years 10 & 11

At Key Stage 4, students have further support to develop their decision-making and employability skills. Topics covered in PSHCE include Personal Branding, Problem-Solving, and CV Writing. During Year 11, one-to-one guidance interviews help students choose their post-16 options, and they are invited to attend CGA's Sixth Form Taster Day. On their Options Focus Day, they look at Unifrog, and are helped to make plans for their future. There are opportunities for students to apply for work experience programmes as well as mentoring with our partners at Linklaters via Mentoring Works.

Sixth Form

Students are offered one-to-one guidance interviews to help them with their post-18 choices. They are encouraged to attend university Open Days and to continue to use Unifrog to support informed decision-making. PSHCE topics include Building Competencies, Personal Statements, and Professionalism in the Workplace. There are opportunities for students to apply for mentoring with our partners at Sir Robert McAlpine, Linklaters (via Mentoring Works) and Goldsmiths (via their Progression Scheme), in addition to a number of other mentoring/support programmes. All students take part in an extended work experience placement during Year 12, as well as the Stock Market Challenge enterprise event during Focus Day, and those students particularly focused on doing an apprenticeship can participate in our Apprenticeship Club, which features visits from a range of employers and support with applications.