Careers Education and Guidance
The Gatsby Benchmarks are a national standard used for assessing careers provision in schools. Sir John Lawes is proud to meet all 8 benchmarks, this is validated by our local careers and enterprise company.
The Gatsby Benchmark audit is undertaken termly and the results are recorded on Compass Plus.
The Gatsby Benchmarks:
- Every school should have an embedded programme of careers education and guidance that is known and understood by pupils, parents and carers, staff, governors, employers and other agencies.
- All pupils, parents and carers, teachers and staff who support pupils should have access to good-quality, up-to-date information about future pathways, study options and labour market opportunities. Young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their parents and carers may require different or additional information. All pupils will need the support of an informed adviser to make the best use of available information.
- Pupils have different careers guidance needs at different stages. Careers programmes should help pupils navigate their concerns about any barriers to career progression. In addition, opportunities should be tailored to the needs of each pupil, including any additional needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged pupils, young people with SEND and those who are absent.
- As part of the school’s programme of careers education, all teachers should link curriculum learning with careers. Subject teachers should highlight the progression routes for their subject and the relevance of the knowledge and skills developed in their subject for a wide range of career pathways.
- Every pupil should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment opportunities, including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes, and could include pupils’ own part-time employment where it exists.
- Every pupil should have first-hand experiences of workplaces to help their exploration of career opportunities and expand their networks.
- All pupils should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them, including academic, technical and vocational routes. This should incorporate learning in schools, colleges, independent training providers (ITPs), universities and in the workplace.
- Every pupil should have opportunities for guidance meetings with a careers adviser, who could be internal (a member of school staff) or external, provided they are trained to an appropriate level. These meetings should be available for all pupils whenever significant study or career choices are being made. They should be expected for all pupils but should be scheduled to meet their individual needs. The careers leader should work closely with the careers adviser, SEND coordinator (SENDCO) and other key staff to ensure personal guidance is effective and embedded in the careers programme.
Guidance
Students across all year groups are offered access to careers guidance, upon request, and all Year 11 students have a one-to-one careers interview. Sixth Form students receive tailored mentoring and guidance regarding Post 18 plans.
In addition, drop-in sessions are offered on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday lunchtime, in the Careers Office, located in the library.
For further information please contact our Careers Lead:
Tom Gilfeather, Careers Coordinator Year 7-13 - email TGilfeather@sjl.herts.sch.uk
SJL Careers - how to get involved:
The school has been awarded the full Quality Standard Award for careers provision, and in 2016 won The Herts Chamber of Commerce award in the category for 'Education in Employment'.
If you would like to find out more about Careers and Employability at Sir John Lawes School or if you are interested in supporting our careers programme by taking part in events such as our Careers Fair, delivering inspiring talks, offering mentoring or helping students develop key skills like interview techniques please contact TGilfeather@sjl.herts.sch.uk
You can also follow us on Linkedin - Sir John Lawes School | LinkedIn
Careers programme
Year 7
- Jigsaw PSHE module – Dreams and Goals. Using the Unifrog platform, students learn how to: identify skills, consider interests, explore jobs and record career-related activities
- 'Shadow a parent at work day' is encouraged during the Autumn Term Occasional Day
Year 8
- Jigsaw PSHE module – Dreams and Goals. Using the Unifrog platform, students learn how to: Understand and develop personal competencies, improve communication skills, write a first CV, explore the meaning of success and develop career terminology
- Access to guidance with Hertfordshire SfYP (Services for Young People) and Careers Co-ordinator
- Spring term Options Evening with access to careers advisers and resources - for students and parents
- Access to individual, impartial careers guidance through Services for Young People
Year 9
- Jigsaw PSHE module – Drams and Goals. : Using the Unifrog platform, students learn how to: Consider future options, identity subject strengths and weaknesses, make informed option choices and develop leadership skills
- Access to guidance with Hertfordshire SfYP and Careers Co-ordinator
- Spring term Options Evening with access to careers advisers and resources - for students and parents
- Targeted students interviewed by Hertfordshire SfYP
- Access to Careers Library
Year 10
- Jigsaw PSHE module – Dreams and Goals. Using the Unifrog platform, students learn how to: Research work experience placements, develop CVs and covering letters, contact an employer by phone and email and develop teamwork skills
- Week block work placement for all students – summer term
- Preparation for Work Experience during Life Skills lessons
- Access to guidance with Hertfordshire SfYP and Careers Co-ordinator
- Targeted students interviewed by Hertfordshire SfYP
- Lunch time drop-in sessions throughout the year
- Access to Careers Library
- Further exploration of careers websites
Year 11
- Jigsaw PSHE module – Dreams and Goals. Using the Unifrog platform, students: Investigate all Post-16 options, including A Levels, vocational courses and apprenticeships. Investigate Level 4 entry requirements to inform Level 3 subject choices. Explore career interests, skill sets and labour market information
- Impartial, individual guidance interviews for all students through Services for Young People
- Post 16 Information Evening – with the opportunity for students and parents to speak to Post 16 providers, including local colleges
- Morrisby career profiling service available
- Apprenticeship information sessions for students and parents
- Lunch time drop-in sessions with Hertfordshire SfYP throughout the year
- Careers Day with input from Sixth Form students, local employers and FE colleges
- On line career exploration through Life Skills lessons including programmes such as Xello, Channel Mogo, My Career Springboard and UCAS
- Unlimited access to Careers Library
- Autumn 'Future Fair' day focused on Post 16 options including visits from local FE colleges, apprenticeship providers and SfYP
Sixth Form
- Careers unit delivered through General Studies and Enrichment lessons
- Students use the Unifrog platform to support Post-18 study and career progression
- One week block work placement in Year 12
- UCAS preparation through Enrichment Studies
- Student mentoring
- Access to individual, impartial careers guidance through Services for Young People
- Apprenticeship Evening for students and parents
- Careers Fair with employer representatives
- Hertfordshire SfYP and apprenticeships sessions for non-university students
- Morrisby Profiling and interview sessions
- Employer visits during assemblies and Enrichment lessons
- Labour market information lessons
- Introduction to The National Careers Service
Measuring Impact of Careers Programme
The school measures the impact of Careers Education and Guidance through the following methods and procedures:
- Evaluation of work experience programmes in Year 10 and Year 12 (students, staff and employers)
- Evaluation of curriculum careers programmes (students and staff)
- Evaluation of Hertfordshire SfYP guidance interviews (students)
- Evaluation of in-school guidance interviews (students)
- Evaluation of external careers provision delivered by Services for Young People (SLT and Head of Careers)
- Formal faculty review of Life Skills incorporating careers education lessons (SLT)
- Careers Fair evaluation (students and employers)
- Parental Survey on careers provision (parents)
- Evaluation of apprenticeship events (students, parents and employers)
- Destination Data tracking (Services for Young People and Head of Careers)
Date of next review
The school will next review the information published in November 2024
Destinations
Policy and procedures
Scholars' Education Trust Provider Access Statement
Our Careers policy can be found here
Useful links
Work experience
Planning ahead - Year 10 and Year 12 Work Experience
All Year 10 and Year 12 students will participate in a one-week block work placement in the summer term of 2026.
The dates for work experience in 2026 are as follows:
- Year 12: Monday 18 May - Friday 22 May 2026
- Year 10: Monday 29 June - Friday 3 July 2026
Please note: if you are not able to secure your own work placement, we also have a limited number of placements available which are sourced through Hertfordshire Services for Young People. More information will be provided on year 10 work experience during the Year 10 Information Evening in the autumn term, and for year 12 students information will also be provided during the autumn term.
Year 10
- A 5 day work placement for all year 10 students in July of each year.
- The programme is co-ordinated in conjunction with Services for Young People (SfYP).
- Commonly, the placements are a combination of around 120 sourced privately and 60 sourced via SfYP.
- Prior to the week of work placement, a series of preparation lessons take place in school.
- During the week students are visited by the year 10 Tutor Team to monitor progress and offer support.
- Progress is also monitored through the school liaising with the placement supervisor.
- Students review the work experience and write letters of thanks to their employer.
- The work experience programme is seen to develop the key skills required for the work place, such as communication, group work, reliability, initiative and self-confidence.
- The experience receives favourable reviews form students, parents and employers.
- The process is linked to to a Careers unit of work within the Key Stage 4 Life Skills curriculum which revolves around job applications and expectations in the workplace.
Year 10 Private Placement Form
Year 12
- Work experience in Year 12 is designed to support career aspirations and progression.
- A 5-day work placement for all year 12 students in May of each year.
- The programme is co-ordinated in conjunction with Services for Young People
- During the week students are contacted by the 6 Form Team to monitor progress and offer support.
- Progress is also monitored through the school liaising with the placement supervisor.
- The work experience programme receives favourable reviews from students, parents and employers.
