Top marks for providing the best possible careers education

It should be reassuring for students and parents/carers to know that all schools in our Trust are officially recognised as providing the BEST POSSIBLE careers education, information, advice, and guidance.

To evaluate how well secondary schools and colleges are supporting students with their careers, they use eight benchmarks that make up the Gatsby Framework.

We are pleased to announce that Cowley Academy has achieved a 97% score for the Gatsby Framework since joining the joined the Trust in September 2022. Bourne Academy, Spalding Academy and Giles Academy have all achieved 100%. This fantastic achievement is externally verified by the Greater Lincolnshire Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

The benchmarks that make up the Gatsby Framework, include providing a stable careers programme, addressing the needs of each students, encounters with employers, further and higher education, experiences of workplaces and linking the curriculum learning to careers.

These are just some of the activities that are conducted each year by our fantastic careers team across the Trust:

• Immersive and interactive annual Careers Fairs
• Enterprise events for all year groups
• Myth busting assemblies
• Ongoing group talks and workshops with external visitors
• UCAS personal statement and application support
• Sixth Form careers guidance
• Pastoral support
• Post-16 and Post-18 options information
• Mock interviews
• Apprenticeship process and application support
• CV writing
• Implementation of virtual and in-person work experience

Whilst we are doing everything that is required by the Gatsby Benchmark, we are not standing still as we are developing parent initiatives, upskilling our staff and creating a student alumni as well as continuing to improve links with local employers.

Mrs Lucy Conley, Chief Executive Officer at South Lincolnshire Academies Trust said “For all four schools to achieve such a high score is a testament to our dedicated careers team. We are proud to provide a robust and inspirational careers programme that includes students in every Year group. At our Trust, we are passionate about giving our young people an insight to as many industries and careers as possible in order that they aspire to achieve the best they can, with realistic but challenging goals.”

For the full calendar of careers activities for Years 7 to 11, visit: www.cowleyacademy.org.uk/careers