VISION STATEMENT
Careers education and guidance at Somervale School enables all students to have high aspirations through supported and informed decision-making about their futures. A clear guidance programme is of vital importance in ensuring that students are successful, make positive contributions to society and feel fulfilled in their working lives.
DfE guidance states that high-quality careers guidance helps::
young people make informed choices about their futures, so they can develop their interests and potential, and follow the path that is right for them to progress into work
break down barriers to opportunity
improve skills needed for success in work
improve national productivity and grow the economy
The Baker Clause stipulates that schools must allow colleges and training providers access to every student in years 7 - 13 to discuss all career routes that are available to them. DfE Guidance states “Schools and colleges have a responsibility to set students on the path that will secure the best outcome which will enable them to progress in education and work and give employers the highly skilled people they need. That means schools and colleges must act impartially, in line with their statutory duty or contractual requirement, and not show bias towards any route, be that academic or technical. They should promote a full range of technical options.” To demonstrate this good practice, Somervale School ensures that all students are provided with meaningful encounters and experiences in order to offer each of them a unique pathway towards their chosen career.
Somervale School as part of the Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership has a comprehensive and inclusive careers programme, giving opportunities for all students to encounter a variety of experiences.
This is delivered through:
Careers Week
Assemblies
Visiting employers and workplaces
STEM experiences
Educational visits to Higher and Further Education establishments
Curriculum linked career presentations
Workshops that focus on skills based learning
Mock interviews with external experienced business professionals
Tutor mentoring
Individual meetings with our independent careers advisor, Ros Windsor
Alumni presentations
SLT support through the Options process in Year 9
PSHCE lessons
Use of tutor times to investigate potential careers pathways and career sectors
Writing a CV
A designated Careers Google Classroom, which is updated weekly for all students
Somervale School has consistently met all 8 Gatsby Benchmarks since the introduction of these standards in 2017. In a recent COMPASS evaluation, we continue to make progress on all of the benchmarks with a view to embedding the already good practice we have within our careers curriculum.
At Somervale School we assess the impact of the careers programme through student voice questionnaires, teacher voice questionnaires, parental feedback, employer feedback and progress data at the end of Key Stage Four. Evaluation is an indicator as to how we can make improvements to our programme, ensuring students are provided with the most appropriate support.
Destinations for students post Year 11 are monitored, collated and updated regularly. These are then monitored again the September following leaving Year 11 as part of the required September Guarantee. NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) figures are consistently extremely low (2024: 3.2%) and below the national average (National data for 2024 ages 16-24: 13.6%).
Post-16, students attend one of the following:
MSN Sixth Form (across all three sites)
Bath College (both City Centre and Somer Valley campuses, dependent on course)
Apprenticeships at Level 2 and Level 3
Lackham College
Stroud College
Hayesfield Sixth Form
St Brendan's Sixth Form College
Traineeships to support entering the workplace
The following institutions and employers participate and support Somervale students within our careers programme:
Bristol Robin’s Foundation NCS
At the end of the summer term, all Year 10 students were provided with either a Work Experience placement or an intensive in-house Careers Week. Students participated in activities that focus on careers information and considering their choices. These included:
Workshop from Bristol Robin’s Foundation
Presentations from Bath Spa University, MSN Sixth, Bath College
Creating CVs
Participation in Virtual Work Experience (VWEX) with McDonalds and Aldi
Preparation and completion of Mock Interviews with employers from the local community
Alumni talks from previous students who have gone onto all careers pathways, ranging from Further Education, apprenticeships, Higher Education and beyond
Completing self evaluation to examine student learning and possible career pathways
Students will also revisit their Mock Interviews in Year 11 to further enhance their experience.
Ros Windsor is the Independent Careers Adviser for Somervale, Norton Hill School and Midsomer Norton Sixth Form. All students are provided with at least two opportunities to have meetings to discuss their potential Post 16 choices, as well as further enhanced support where needed.
Ros is available in Somervale School on Wednesdays and Norton Hill School on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
If anyone, pupil, parent, teacher has any questions, please contact her via rwindsor@nortonhillschool.com or 07980872120
CareerPilot
Careerpilot is an award winning careers information website where you can research amongst other things:
Your choices at 14, 16 and 18
Information about different job sectors and up to date labour market information
Signposts to other recommended websites
Parentzone to provide support for parents
National Careers Service provides help, guidance and information.
For careers that need a degree or similar qualification Prospects has information about job roles, qualifications required and what careers particular degrees can lead to.
For information on apprenticeships, what they involve and how you can find one follow this link.
Local careers information, volunteering opportunities and up to date job sector information available.
Don’t feel like you are the only person who doesn’t have a clue what you want to do! There are a number of quizzes and assessments designed to help you generate ideas. Here are some of the best:
