At Looe Community Academy there is a longstanding commitment to the belief that developing the skills, knowledge and attributes necessary for adult working life is a vital part of every student’s learning. Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance programmes (CEIAG) make a major contribution to preparing our young people for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences they need to succeed. It is our responsibility as a school to raise awareness of the range of careers, career pathways and training opportunities on offer to enable students to make the right choices at key transition points and leave compulsory education or training fully equipped for their chosen path(s) ahead.

The governors, headteacher and staff at Looe Community Academy are committed to sourcing and delivering high quality independent Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) for all students in Years 7-11. We work in local partnership with our wider school community and local businesses to promote equality of opportunity, social mobility and to make sure no student will be disadvantaged in gaining access to education, training or work. When students leave Looe Community Academy they will have received the appropriate and relevant information to enable them to progress to opportunities in further and higher education or training. Provision for students is based on the DfE Statutory Guidance ‘Careers strategy: Making the most of everyone’s skills and talents’ (Dec 2017), Gatsby Charitable Foundation's Benchmarks and recommendations from the OFSTED report ‘Going in the Right Direction’ (Sept 2012).

OVERALL AIMS

• Help students make informed decisions based on course and career awareness;
• Introduce students to the full range of career pathways, for example, apprenticeships, university courses, traineeships etc;
• Ensure students know where and how to access independent information, advice and guidance, for example online through the National Careers Service website and helpline, other websites signposted to them through careers related lessons, as well as the school’s Careers Advisor and the Personal Advisor (CSW) assigned to SEN and identified vulnerable students;
• Provide additional support for students with SEN needs and those from disadvantaged backgrounds (pupil premium);
• Expose students to a broad range of careers and employment opportunities including those available locally, nationally and  internationally; enable students to manage transitions in their lives, most importantly at 14, 16 and 18;
• Ensure no child leaves Looe Community School not in education, employment or training (NEET);
• Contribute to strategies for raising achievement, especially by increasing motivation;
• Support inclusion, challenge stereotyping and promote equality of opportunity;
• Develop enterprise and employability skills;
• Provide opportunities for students to experience the world of work and develop transferable skills;
• Contribute to the economic prosperity of individuals and communities

Jenna Reynolds is Looe Community Academy’s PSHCE & Careers Lead and a trained careers advisor. For further information please contact Mrs Reynolds at jreynolds@looeca.net