Careers education, information advice and guidance provides all of our students with the ability to make aspirational and appropriate choices about their next steps in education, training or employment. Lifelong learning is a key concept for all students leaving Burnside College and this includes providing opportunities to develop key employability and character skills which are highly valued by employers, colleges, universities and apprenticeship providers.
Every curriculum area is committed to delivering the careers curriculum through their individual subject area, making links to job sectors, using Labour Market Information and organising activities that show how the skills developed through the subject have a real life context. By engaging parents and the local community our aim is for every child to fulfil their potential and be inspired to achieve a successful future.
The Careers Curriculum is developed in consideration of the CDI (Career Development Institute) framework. The three key areas are:
- Self Development: Learning through careers education, engagement with employers and training providers
- Careers Exploration: Learning about careers and the world of work
- Career Management: Learning how to develop career management and employability skills including managing change and transitions
The Careers Curriculum for 2023/24 can be found here
Quality in Careers Standard Award
We are delighted that Burnside College has been successful in gaining the full award for the Quality in Careers Standard with working towards fully meeting the Gatsby Benchmarks. This is a national award that recognises schools who provide students with careers education and support of the highest quality.
To achieve this national award we had a rigorous assessment where everyone involved in the careers programme was assessed against a national standard. The award recognises that we are educating, inspiring and preparing our young people to make decisions about their next steps and that our careers programme is having an impact on student’s future destinations.
Destination Data
Destination data is what is used to measure whether a student sustained their destination for up to two terms after Year 11 and Year 13. We work with Connexions to track student’s destinations up to three years after they leave Burnside College. The latest destination data from Connexions can be found here.
Further information from the Department for Education about Destination Data can be found here.
Supporting Documents
For further information about our careers provision please contact:
Careers Leader: Mrs H Patterson h.patterson@burnsidecollege.org.uk
Connexions
Connexions provide impartial information, advice, guidance and support for 13-19 year olds to help them make choices for careers and learning.
Connexions advisers (qualified careers advisers) work closely with North Tyneside schools to ensure young people have access to impartial information, advice and guidance. Advisers have extensive knowledge of the opportunities available and are fully trained in guidance skills to help young people make informed decisions.
The service is accredited to the Matrix Standard, a national award that recognises the high quality of careers advice and guidance provision. Further information can be found here.
Our Connexions Advisors are James Carr and Helen Heslop who can be contacted at: connexions@burnsidecollege.org.uk
Enterprise Advisor
As part of the government’s careers strategy, every school must now have an Enterprise Advisor who works in industry and who can support a school with their strategic careers plans. Our Enterprise Advisor is James Crowther.
The North East LEP is a public, private and education partnership organisation that works strategically to support growth, employment and productivity for our region.
Alexandra’s role within the Skills Team at the North East LEP is to support the school in its achievement of the Good Career Guidance Benchmarks and improve our employer connections within the region. One way we have been doing this is participating in the Enterprise Adviser Network, a national initiative spearheaded by the Careers & Enterprise Company and delivered by the North East LEP.
Alexandra’s background has predominantly been in the Hospitality, Tourism and Events sector before moving into Education. She has specific experience in developing and delivering careers activities to students from Primary to Post-16 and is well connected in the region to support employer engagement.
To find out more about the Enterprise Advisor program visit https://www.northeastlep.co.uk/enterprise-adviser-network
Enterprise Partner
We have established a successful partnership with the global engineering company Freudenberg who are based on the Cobalt Business Park. They work closely with our students by attending career events and allowing students to visit their site to experience the workplace. Also, we collaborate on our careers strategy and they work with us to promote apprenticeships and technical pathways, industry support for STEM curriculum areas and girls into STEM initiatives.
Support for Employers
We work with a wide range of employers from across the North East area. Across all key stages we have planned employer engagement events as follows:
Year 7: Character Building in the Workplace
Year 8: Career Speed Dating
Year 9: Careers Zone
Year 10: Mock Interviews and Virtual Work Experience Opportunities
Year 12: Mock Interviews, Work Experience Week and Progression Module
How could you support our careers programme?
- Careers talks or an assembly about your job sector
- Targeted workshops tailored to those interested in your job sector
- Provide placements for students for Work Experience Week in Y12
- Participate in planned career events across each key stage
- Link with curriculum areas to work with groups of students
If you would like further information then please contact h.patterson@burnsidecollege.org.uk. Also further information is available from the Careers and Enterprise Company here.
Support for Students and Parents
Here, you will find a range of information that you can use to make choices and decisions at Post 14, Post 16 and Post 18. It is important to remember that students must stay in education or training until they are 18 years old.
You can start thinking about your career and personality text by taking the Buzz Quiz
Labour Market Information
In the north-east, the Local Enterprise Partnership has identified 4 job sectors that will provide future jobs for young people. They are:
- Digital
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Health and Life Science
- Subsea, Offshore and Energy Technology
It is important to think about where the potential future jobs will be in the local area in the future. Further information from the Local Enterprise Partnership can be found here.
Post 14 Options
Students make their option choices in Year 9. Further information about option choices can be found here.They choose academic GCSE subjects and/or vocational BTEC qualifications.
Further information about how to make the right choices can be found here.
Post 16 Options
Students have the option of continuing their education at a sixth form college or further education college in the local area by choosing academic, vocational or technical qualifications or they can apply for an Apprenticeship or Traineeship. Here is information about the potential pathways available to students at the end of Year 11.
Further information about Post 16 options can be found here.
Post 18 Options
Students have the option of continuing to further education by attending University to study at degree level or applying for a Higher Level or Degree Apprenticeship or accepting an employment offer
Further information about Post 18 options can be found here.
Unifrog
Unifrog is the destination platform that we use in school and offers students the opportunity to fully research what they intend to do in the future and it helps them make choices by comparing those options. Further information can be provided here and all students have a login so they can access Unifrog at home or in school. All meetings with Connexions are recorded on this platform and can be accessed by students and parents.
Globalbridge
Globalbridge is a connecting talent digital platform that allows students to keep a record of activities that they are involved in within school and outside of school and connect with future education and career opportunities. The platform can be accessed here both in school and outside of school. All students have received a login.
Springpod
Springpod is a digital platform that can be used in school and outside of school to offer students virtual work experience opportunities. All students have received a login and we would encourage students to maximise this opportunity. The platform can be accessed here.
Useful Career Websites:
icould: Career Ideas and Information for your Future
Careers and Enterprise Company
Traineeships/Apprenticeships/T Levels
Supporting Adults into Work
North Tyneside Employment and Skills Team
If you are an adult looking to find a job that fits around your family commitments, gain new skills, or simply gain a better understanding of local opportunities, your North Tyneside Council Employment and Skills Team can help.
- Ono-to-one confidential, local appointments (face to face, by phone or video call)
- Links with local employers and exclusive opportunities
- Help with job searching, application forms, CV writing and job interview skills
- Support into training and volunteering opportunities
- Help with your confidence, health, and wellbeing
- Advice on housing, money, and debt management
- Digital skills support and much more!
You can get more information here or by calling 0191 643 2111 or emailing employability.skills@northtyneside.gov.uk.
Burnside Alumni
We know that students are successful at Burnside College and it is great for current students to hear our past students talking about their career journey. If you are a past student and interested in joining the Burnside Alumni and talking to students about your job sector and journey then please complete this form.
Evaluation of the Careers Curriculum
To help us improve the careers curriculum at Burnside College, we would like feedback from parents, students and employers about the events and impact of the Careers Curriculum.
Please complete the following feedback forms:
Student Evaluation of the Careers Curriculum
