Careers

EMPOWERING THE MARSH ACADEMY COMMUNITY WITH THE INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES AND AMBITION TO THRIVE 

The aim of our Careers Curriculum at the Marsh Academy is to provide a stable careers programme where every student is provided with the optimum opportunity to prepare and engage with their transition into the ever changing world of work. Our Careers Curriculum aims to evoke aspirations within students, ensure social mobility, develop employability skills and enhance knowledge of labour market information (LMI) whilst also providing access to information and experiences of all future pathways.  

Students will engage with a range of encounters tailored to their individual needs and circumstances which will include experience of the workplace, encounters with employers, apprenticeship presentations, insights into further and higher education, options support and personal guidance interviews. Careers education is further delivered through all Academy department curricula, assemblies and our tutorial programme.  

Students can access further guidance and advice from our Careers Coordinator, Miss Shaw, either during lunchtime pop-ups in the canteen or by arranging an appointment.   

All students have access to Unifrog from Year 7, an online platform that brings all of the available information relating to careers and future pathways into one impartial, user friendly space. Through Unifrog students will: 

  • Explore pathways by creating their own profile based on interests, personality and work environment quizzes taken at key points every academic year 

  • Have access to a comprehensive careers and subject library linked to labour market information  

  • Record the activities and interactions that they participate in and use these to build a profile of the 12 competencies looked for by colleges, employers and universities 

  • Arrange their own work experience placements from application to reflection 

  • Write effective CVs and personal statements for their next steps 

  • Be able to hear directly from experts in their field via webinars and recommended films, books and podcasts 

  • Have access to a wide range of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) to boost their knowledge and employability 

Unifrog logo

When in Year 11, all students will be given a log in for the Kent Choices website, allowing them access to a free online prospectus and application system for young people wishing to apply to sixth forms, colleges, training providers and apprenticeships in Kent and East Sussex.  

In order to ensure that our Careers Curriculum has impact and supports students in developing the knowledge, experiences and skills they need to fully succeed in their future pathways we use a number of tools including: 

  • Annual student, staff and parent surveys 

  • The 8 Gatsby Benchmarks measured regularly using the Compass+ online tool – a framework for good career guidance developed to support schools in providing students with the best possible careers education, information, advice and guidance 

  • Student and visitor evaluations following careers activities 

  • Destination tracking post Year 11 

Our Careers Team is made up of both internal and external professionals who are appropriately trained, skilled and committed to providing a wide, challenging and varied careers programme. If you have any careers questions or suggestions in the first instance you should contact: 

The careers section of the school website will be kept up to date with information and will be fully reviewed alongside the Careers policy. 

Miss Alyson Shaw 

Careers / WEX Coordinator 

careers@marshacademy.org.uk 

wex@marshacademy.co.uk  

Miss Sally Cavanagh 

Careers Leader 

Mr Adam Bloomfield 

Careers Leader 

 

 

The Careers Curriculum

EMPOWERING THE MARSH ACADEMY COMMUNITY WITH THE INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES AND AMBITION TO THRIVE 

It is the responsibility of everyone in The Marsh Academy community to ensure that careers information and guidance is provided at every possible step – teachers, wider school staff, parents and carers. Students also have a responsibility to engage fully and inquisitively in the opportunities and education made available to them to maximise their potential for success in their future careers.  

The Careers Curriculum at The Marsh Academy delivers education, information, advice and guidance through a range of experiences, activities and encounters: 

  • Specific careers content is delivered through the tutorial and PSHE (personal, social, health and economic education) programmes of study by experienced staff 

  • Subject teachers make frequent and explicit links to careers and future pathways through their lesson delivery, highlighting opportunities and skills development that link their subject to the world of work and engaging with employers, HE institutes and experts to bring relevance to their content  

  • Universities work alongside the Academy to deliver workshops, mentoring, visits and resources to students from year 7 to P16 to ensure that all, regardless of their background, have equal opportunities to access higher education should that be the right path for them 

  • We work with employers and the wider community to bring meaningful career related experiences to students through talks, assemblies, visits and interviews and highlight opportunities for work experience, technical and vocational courses and apprenticeships at every step 

  • All students in Year 10 are expected to engage in a week of work experience and it is hoped that students will further develop their skills and experience through voluntary activities, part time jobs and enrichment   

  • Every student in Key Stage 4 will have access to at least one session with an external careers adviser from CXK and students can access guidance at any time from our internal team 

  • We hold information events at key points to ensure that students and parents are fully informed of the next steps, and where possible ensure CXK are in attendance for further guidance 

  • We encourage students and families to access the wealth of information available through Unifrog to guide them through their next steps 

Useful Guides and Resources

EMPOWERING THE MARSH ACADEMY COMMUNITY WITH THE INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES AND AMBITION TO THRIVE 

There is a wealth of information and support related to next steps, however, sometimes it can be overwhelming searching the internet without direction, so we have done some of the hard work for you. Whether you are a student or parent here you will find lots of links to sites and resources that will support you when navigating next steps.

 Post 16 study  

All students in Year 11 will be given a log in for the Kent Choices website to allow them to access the free online prospectus and application system for their next steps, whether it’s sixth form, college, traineeship or an apprenticeship.  

University applications  

We have strong partnership links with local universities and UCAS is the first place to access if you are thinking of going further afield. 

Apprenticeships 

There is a wealth of apprenticeship opportunities locally and further afield from intermediate to degree level.  

Careers and WEX guidance 

The sooner students start thinking about and researching their future career pathway and empower themselves with valuable encounters with the world of work the more employable they will be. All students in Year 10 participate in work experience, however, to really get ahead there are many opportunities to volunteer in the community, engage in work visits or shadow an employee.   

Skills development  

Employers are looking for recruits who have developed and can evidence the key employability skills below: 

Speaking 

Numeracy 

Teamwork 

Creativity / Innovation 

Reading 

Listening 

Leadership 

Independence 

Writing 

Aiming High 

Problem Solving 

Resilience 

Make sure you are updating your Unifrog profile with evidence of these skills from lessons, enrichment activities, work experience and your everyday life as well as the level you have achieved. 

For students 

Designed for students these sites will help you to navigate your way through the many pathways available to you.  

For parents  

Specifically for parents, these resources will help you in supporting your child in navigating their way through the next steps.  

For teachers 

A wealth of resources to support teachers in delivering CEIAG. 

  

Labour market information (LMI)

EMPOWERING THE MARSH ACADEMY COMMUNITY WITH THE INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES AND AMBITION TO THRIVE 

Labour market information (LMI) is information about what is happening in a labour market and is crucial to know when considering future career options. It considers the industries that are growing and declining and what supply of labour is available at different levels. It also gives guidance on that all-important question – ‘how much will I get paid?’ 

You can access LMI information for a wide range of careers at www.lmiforall.org.uk/careerometer by simply entering the area that you are interested in. You can also find out about LMI through the Careers Library on Unifrog and from Kent Choices LMI.

Employer links

EMPOWERING THE MARSH ACADEMY COMMUNITY WITH THE INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES AND AMBITION TO THRIVE 

Our students are your future employees and we need your help to raise aspirations, ensure social mobility, develop employability skills and enhance knowledge of labour market information.

While our provision already includes many opportunities for students to access a range of careers related activities and events we are always looking to expand our external network. If you feel that you could support in inspiring the students at The Marsh Academy please contact: 

Miss Alyson Shaw (Careers / WEX Coordinator) 

Miss Sally Cavanagh (Careers Leader)

Mr Adam Bloomfield (Careers Leader) 

There are many opportunities to support with this through our Careers Curriculum including: 

  • Working alongside our subject departments to support with learning links to the world of work, perhaps through a real-world project 

  • Providing opportunities for work experience or work shadowing  

  • Participation in careers fairs and pop-ups 

  • Support with mock interviews 

  • Giving an industry based talk in assemblies or lessons – in person or virtually 

  • Running a workshop for selected students linked to your industry or expertise 

  • Supporting with options evenings 

Alumni

EMPOWERING THE MARSH ACADEMY COMMUNITY WITH THE INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES AND AMBITION TO THRIVE 

We are incredibly proud of our students, both past and present, and hope that when they leave the Academy they will stay in touch to be a vital resource for future cohorts. Nothing speaks more strongly to students than advice and guidance from those that have gone before them. If you are an ex student of the school and feel that you could offer any of the following we would love to hear from you: 

  • Advice about the careers that you have gone on to pursue 

  • Insight into a further or higher educational institute that you have attended 

  • Information relating to courses that you have gone on to study  

  • Guidance on next steps, for example interviews, applications, budgeting and time management 

  • Opportunities for work visits or experience placements   

  • Time to speak to our current students, in person or virtually, to answer their questions about your journey and the world of work 

If you would be happy to stay in touch as an alumni, please join The Marsh Academy LinkedIn community or have further ideas about how you can support our Careers curriculum, please make contact with either: 

Miss Alyson Shaw (Careers / WEX Coordinator)

Miss Sally Cavanagh (Careers Leader)

Mr Adam Bloomfield (Careers Leader)