At Ossett Academy, we provide impartial information, advice and guidance to students on a wide range of issues that help them build the skills they will need for working life.
Careers and Progression Manager: Mr D Green
Telephone: 01924 232882
Careers is an integral part of the curriculum offer within the academy and sixth form and aims to ensure students achieve the appropriate guidance to make informed choices and progress positively when they leave us.
The careers provision and activities set out below are in line with the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks to enable breadth and choice for students in their career decisions for the future. The careers provision is constantly being reviewed to ensure it meets the needs of the students.
Further information about Careers and Provider Access to the academy can be found in our policies or by contacting Mr D Green via enquiries@ossett.accordmat.org.
At Ossett Academy and throughout the Trust we consistently monitor and review the impact of all the activities we carry out. This includes the provision of Careers Education and Guidance. We review the delivery of the program constantly to meet the needs of our young people through evaluation and consultation. The Careers Guidance policy outlines in further detail how this is carried out. The policy is formally updated every two years.
All students in Year 11 are entitled to a 1:1 careers appointment and will be given a written action plan to help them realise their goal, and to take home and discuss with parents/carers so that they can assist in carrying out these actions. All action plans will be written by a professional from the Careers Team. Progress against actions set will be reviewed by members of the Careers Team. Some students will also be offered individual careers advice by Connexions.
Students can also access careers information, advice and guidance and support in the following ways:
We have access to a wide variety of career resources both web and paper-based. In the LRC, ILC and careers office there are prospectuses for all the local further education colleges and universities nationally, as well as access to internet sites for researching career information and opportunities in general.
The links below outline the destination data for Ossett Academy, showing the current breakdown of destinations for the 2021 cohort and the three year Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) and In – Learning trend.
The academy widely promotes apprenticeship opportunities to all its students through group sessions and apprenticeship workshops. It offers students the chance to complete CVs and to research what qualifications are required for the job, what hours they could expect to work and what salary they can expect. Students are directed to the national apprenticeship service website www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship and parents/carers can also use the site to support their children. The academy also works closely with Wakefield Apprenticeship Hub which focuses on supporting residents in the area to find apprenticeships. Vacancies are regularly promoted around the academy and through social media.
We host an annual Careers Convention for students in Years 7-13 in the autumn term. The convention involves employers and educators from both regional and national organisations, offering advice and information on Apprenticeships, Work, Higher Education and Gap Years.
In the summer term, Accord Sixth Form College hosts a higher education fair focusing on students’ progression to university. This is focused on Year 12 and 13 students, but Year 11 students are also encouraged to attend. The fair also hosts guest speakers who present on the UCAS system and student finance.
Work experience can be available on a bespoke basis for the student. This can be anything from one day up to a week in length and can be arranged by the student with the help of the Careers Team. For further information, please see a member of the Careers Team.
In Year 7 you will be introduced to the support the Careers Department can offer you and the range of resources you can access throughout your time at Ossett Academy.
In Year 8 you will start to explore different careers in relation to the subjects you study and the career and occupations they relate to in the world of work. You will also have access to the interactive educational resources ‘The Real Game’ and ‘Career Detectives’.
In Year 9 you will have the opportunity to discuss options for Key Stage 4 with the Careers Team, to assist you with your choices and future career aspirations.
In Year 10, you will complete a mock job application and interview with an external member of the community or employer to give you a real-life experience of an interview situation. This is vital in preparing you for applying to sixth form, college or apprenticeship after Year 11.
In Year 11 you will be issued with your individual login and password for the Wakefield Prospectus online application system. This is where all applications are made to Post 16 providers e.g. Sixth Form or College. You will receive support in lessons to complete your application but you are encouraged to research the opportunities available to you at home, where possible. The website is www.wakefieldprospectus.co.uk.
To support you to complete the Personal Statement Section of applications, we recommend following the step by step guide found below to produce that ‘winning statement’. You will also receive support from form tutors to complete it.