Careers Advice

Outwood Academy Bydales seeks to positively support all students to acquire the educational, social and employability skills necessary for lifelong success in a diverse and changing world of work.

We are currently working with different providers to ensure our students receive a careers education and guidance programme which:

  • Is personal to you and always puts your interests first.
  • Motivates and inspires you to consider all opportunities both within and outside the academy.
  • Helps you to gain the skills you need to make your career ambitions a reality.
  • Provides the support you need to be successful.
  • Helps you access any additional support you might need.
  • Is delivered by trained and qualified teachers and advisers, with up-to-date knowledge.
  • Gives you an understanding of careers pathways and local labour market information.
  • Protect and respects your personal information and shares it only with your consent.

Together with staff from Progress Careers, one of the providers we work with, we will support your career development in a number of ways including:

  • Information and discussion in lessons and assemblies to help you make decisions about your future activties and events such as career fairs.
  • Access to career advisers in a variety of ways including individual meetings.
  • Drop-in sessions, learning pathway planning and results days.
  • Careers information and IT based careers programmes information and updates on notice boards, plasma screens and websites.

Students, parents/carers and staff can access our careers information site, including local apprenticeship opportunities, and hints & tips regarding careers:

Careers Portal

Progress Careers, are our commissioned external careers advisors and they offer students high quality, independent and impartial careers, education information advice and guidance supporting them to make informed choices about which post-16 courses suit their academic needs and aspirations. All Year 11 students receive a 1:1 Careers meeting. Early intervention 1:1 interviews in Y9 and Y10 ensure students are tracked, monitored and supported to make a positive transition into Y11 and beyond.
 
Lunchtime Drop In 
Every Half Term, colleges and training providers attend our lunchtime drop in session which allows students to discuss post 16 opportunities. College staff are recognisable and approachable due to consistently being in school.
 
Careers Enrichment 
Throughout the academic year students can attend subject and career specific Enrichment sessions delivered by external guest speakers. or virtually.
 
Kings College Cambridge Visit 
Kings College Cambridge Visit the Academy annually to share experience of University with our Y10 students through workshops and presentations. 
 
Careers Box
Every tutor room has a careers information box for easy, daily access to CEIAG resources and information for all year groups. 
 
Assemblies
Throughout the year, employers and colleges deliver assemblies to year groups on careers and post 16 options to raise awareness of opportunities. 
 
Careers and Employment Corner
Offers easy access to prospectuses and information for students to collect and browse.  
 
Y10 Taster Days
Students have the opportunity to attend 3 local college taster sessions to ‘taste’ courses of interest and gain an insight into college life.
 
Y9 Pre-Careers Meetings and Mentoring
Students receive intervention in Year 9 to discuss and explore potential careers interests. 
 
Work Place Visits
By the end of Year 11, every student will have had the opportunity to take part in a work place visit to an employer or organisation through their option subjects to gain an insight into the world of work and a real-life employer in action. These work place visits will mainly take place in Year 10. 
 
LIFE 
LIFE lessons include CEIAG input covering various topics such as skills and qualities, stereotyping.
 
National Careers and National Apprenticeship week
All year groups receive an assembly about careers of the future and options available to them and complete numerous activities during this week. 
 
Annual Careers Fair
Students can access and discuss various pathways and carers routes with over 35 colleges, training providers, employers and Universities at our annual Careers Fair.
 
Careers Displays across school
We have careers display areas across academy.
 
Y10 Mock Interviews
Year 10 take part in an annual Mock Interview event where they are each interviewed by a real-life employer, following applying and preparing for their chosen ‘job’. The employer then provides constructive feedback.

Careers Speed Dating
Students will participate in a careers lesson on stereotypes and gender roles in the work place. This is then followed by a face to face speed dating event with approximately 15 employers. Students will ask a series of questions to find out what job role they have and what industry they work for. The employers then give a talk on what they do and their company.

High Tide Industry Career Workshops
Y8  will participate in Interactive Career Workshops with High Tide Foundation, bringing the world of work directly into school. These industry-led sessions are delivered by professionals from an extensive network of local businesses representing a diverse range of sectors.
Key Features:
  • Local Experts: Workshops are led by local business leaders and professionals who provide first-hand insights and inspiration
  • Real-life Stories: Students engage with a diverse range of speakers to delve into real-life journeys, challenges and choices
  • Gatsby Benchmarks: All workshops are aligned with the Gatsby benchmarks for good career guidance
  • Variety of Sectors: Students can explore a wide range of industries, helping them understand different career opportunities 

 STEM Passport
 Working in partnership with RTC North, STEM Hub and the North East Stem Foundation students in KS3 will work to complete 8 STEM activities to help them understand and experience the world of Careers in STEM.

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Final certificate OA Bydales (1).pdf 54.1 KB

The following information can be found on this page:

  • Our Provider Access Policy
  • the name, email address and telephone number of our Careers Leader.
  • a summary of the careers programme, including details of how students, parents, teachers and employers may access information about careers.
  • how the school measures and assesses the impact of the careers programme on students.
  • the date of the school's next review of the information published.

  1. A stable careers programme
    Our schools will have an embedded programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by students, parents, teachers, governors and employers.
  2. Learning from career and labour market informtion (LMI)
    Every student, and their parents, will have access to good quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities, that is relevant to our local area, supported by an informed adviser to make best use of available information.
  3. Addressing the need of each student
    Students have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each student. Our school’s careers programme should embed equality and diversity considerations throughout.
  4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
    All teachers will link curriculum learning with careers where possible. STEM subject teachers will highlight the relevance of STEM subjects for a wide range of future career paths where lesson opportunities present themselves.
  5. Encounters with employers and employees
    Every student will have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace, in particular within curriculum lessons, at least one per year.
  6. Experiences of workplaces
    Every student will have first-hand experiences of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities, and expand their networks.
  7. Encounters with further and higher education
    All students will understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them. This includes both academic and vocational routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace.
  8. Personal guidance
    Every student will have opportunities for guidance interviews with a career adviser, who is trained at Level 6 or higher, whenever significant study or career choices are being made. These interviews will be expected for all students but should be timed to meet their individual needs.

Lunchtime Drop-in Sessions 2024/25


The lunchtime drop-in sessions are designed so that students can have one-to-one support with college engagement teams. During these sessions, students are free to talk to representatives from Middlesbrough College, Prior Pursglove College, Redcar & Cleveland College and Northern School of Art about courses, post-16 options and careers. 


Autumn Term
2 October 2024
6 November 2024
11 December 2024

Spring Term
8 January 2025
5 February 2025
5 March 2025
2 April 2025
 

Summer Term
7 May 2025
4 June 2025
2 July 2025


Outwood Academy Bydales is passionate about supporting every student in their educational journey. From Year 7 right through to Year 11, students will benefit from an academy that encourages them to reach their full potential, equipping them with the skills they will need to thrive in a constantly evolving world of work. 
 
Our careers programme is designed to construct the foundation on which you will build your future. We aim to:


  • Listen to your ambitions and help you take the necessary steps to make them a reality
  • Provide you with a wide range of opportunities that will enable you to develop your skill base
  • Offer you the support you need to ensure your success
  • Acquire any additional support, information or guidance you may need
  • Involve you in career-focused lessons and activities during enrichment to help you realise what you are capable of achieving
  • Help you to understand the demands of the current labour market, various career pathways and the essential skills required to navigate both 
  • Allow you access to visit local further educational and higher educational establishments
  • Introduce you to local employers and training providers so that you can benefit from their wealth of expertise 
 
All staff at the academy are dedicated professionals who have made a commitment to ensure that students are encouraged to be confident in their abilities, knowledgeable about the world outside of school and determined that they can achieve whatever they have set their mind to. 
 
Additionally, Bydales will provide:


  • Information and discussion in lessons and assemblies 
  • Career related events such as career fairs and mock interview days
  • Individual one-to-one careers meetings with friendly career advisors from Progress Education who will help you make informed decisions about your future
  • Careers information and IT based careers programmes information and updates on notice boards, plasma screens and websites

Name:
Jo Ferris
Email:
j.ferris@bydales.outwood.com
Phone Number:
01642 474000

We review the success of our careers programme by looking at the destinations of our leaving Year 11 students with a target of 0% NEET (students not in education, employment or training).

The careers information on this website will be reviewed every academic year.