Careers

Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance

At Bedford Modern School we aim to prepare our students to become ‘career ready’, to enable them to be successful and independent upon leaving education. The careers learning programme provides access to careers education activities, opportunities to find out about the local and national labour market, and regular employer engagement within the curriculum, as well as the opportunity to access impartial 1:1 careers guidance. BMS has a culture of high aspiration, high expectation and success. Careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) is recognised as playing a vital role in motivating students, promoting equality of opportunity, and maximising their academic and personal achievement at school and beyond. The Head of Careers manages and develops delivery to ensure the needs of students are met.

The careers programme supports, and is itself underpinned by, a range of key priorities and best practice, including the Department for Education document ‘Careers guidance and access for education and training providers‘ and the eight Gatsby Benchmarks, which were devised from their international careers survey as to what good quality impartial CEIAG in schools should look like.

Provision

At BMS we aim to ensure that all our students are prepared to make well-informed decisions about their future career progression, employment, training or further education.

Students have access to, and support with using, careers information that is:

  • Easy to find and available at convenient times and in convenient locations, including online signposting
  • Clearly labelled, referenced and comprehensive, giving details of all progression opportunities and associated support arrangements such as financial help
  • Unbiased and up-to-date.

Students take part in a careers programme in Years 7-13 which helps them to:

  • Access relevant information and learning from career activities and encounters with employers
  • Understand all the options available for their future, so that they understand what they involve
  • Develop the skills they need to plan and manage their own personal development and career progression
  • Make and maintain individual progression plans to help them improve their prospects of success
  • Offer feedback and ideas on how to improve the careers programme.

In addition to the above, all students have access to 1:1 career guidance that is focused on individual needs and fit for purpose. It is delivered by people with relevant training and expertise, in a way that is impartial, confidential and supportive of equality of opportunity. All parents and carers can expect to have access to tutors, subject teachers and specialist advisers to discuss their child(ren)’s progress and prospects. They will receive invitations to take part in careers events, thereby contributing to the careers programme, and opportunities to offer feedback and ideas on how to improve the careers programme.

Unifrog

All students in Years 9-13 have access to Unifrog, an online universal destinations platform. Over their time at BMS they will use this to record their career learning activities and the competencies they develop, which will show all the employability skills they need for the world of work. They will be able to search for post-16 and post-18 pathways – including Sixth Form, college and apprenticeships, as well as UK and international universities. Their form tutors will use the information on Unifrog for their transition conversations and to support their decision-making for GCSE, post-16 and post-18 options.

Click here to view Unifrog’s introductory presentation to BMS parents.

Provider Access Arrangements

BMS recognises the importance of working with partners to deliver a successful careers and work-related learning programme. Provision is commissioned from a variety of partners who provide enhanced opportunities for students during their time at the school. The school also recognises the essential role that local employers play in providing opportunity for students to gain work experience and learn about Labour Market Information. The school has also developed links with colleges and universities to enhance provision for students during their time at BMS.

We are committed to helping every student to reach their full potential and progress onto a successful destination by providing them with the widest possible range of employer and careers-related opportunities. The school values the help and support businesses can offer students in developing the skills needed for a successful future. The Head of Careers builds relationships with further, higher education and training providers and liaises with local and regional employers, as well as members of the OBM Club, to organise events that widen horizons and raise the aspirations of our student community.

If you would like to discuss opportunities to support our students, please contact Mrs Joanne Saward on jsaward@bedmod.co.uk or 01234 332525.

"The careers and higher education guidance, led by specialist staff, is greatly appreciated by the pupils." Independent Schools Inspectorate 2014