Eastern Avenue, Burnley, Lancashire, BB10 2AT

Ridgewood Community High School

Inspire today achieve tomorrow

Ridgewood is committed to ensuring opportunities for a range of education and training providers to access students via our Provider Access Policy Statement.

What are the Gatsby Benchmarks?

Launched from research completed by Sir John Holman in 2013, the Gatsby benchmarks were designed to improve career guidance in England and give a framework that schools can use to develop a good careers programme.

There are eight benchmarks, and each have been developed to support schools in providing their pupils with the best possible careers education, information, advice and guidance.

Below, you can see how Ridgewood Community High School employs each of the Gatsby Benchmarks in our own careers programme.

Gatsby Benchmarks	How we meet these at Ridgewood Community High School
A stable careers programme	An embedded programme of career education and guidance that is led by a careers leader to meet the benchmarks and target key transition periods (e.g. post 16, KS3 to KS4). Termly evaluations of pupil progress through Ridgewood Employability Skills. Careers guidance in each subject
Learning from career and labour market information	Shared information via the website with links for students, families, teachers and external providers. Embedded careers sessions delivered in classes that include information regarding local market information. Annual Parents Evening
Addressing the needs of each pupil	RCHS strategic vision links directly to the ethos of ‘Inspire Today, Achieve Tomorrow’. We encourage kindness, resilience and success, whilst preparing our students for the future. It is aimed at meeting the needs of all students. Post 16 applications and destinations are tracked in Y11, continuously followed up and evaluated to prevent NEET and ensure appropriate and ambitious pathways. Access to 1:1 Independent Advice and Guidance appointments for relevant students with a registered Careers Advisor. Presentations from external providers that promote careers and opportunities for all students in all sectors to address stereotypes.
Linking curriculum learning to careers	Careers is embedded in the curriculum with a focus of Employability Skills. Clear links to STEAM subjects. Sessions delivered to Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 by external providers with a focus on stereotyping.
Encounters with employers and employees	Parents’ Evening. Y11 taster sessions at local colleges to support post 16 choice and opportunities. KS4 & FE careers lessons that include; college information, interview techniques and employability skills, personal skills and qualities. Visits from local businesses and entrepreneurs to discuss careers, LMI and progression
Experiences of workplaces	Work-related learning programme for FE & KS4 students take place throughout the year. Students have the opportunity to take part in internal WRL Experience.
Encounters with further and higher education	FE Taster days are attended by Year 11 & Sixth form students to Blackburn College, Myerscough College and Nelson & Colne Support with applications and enrolment, with constant communication between the Career’s Lead and Colleges.
Personal guidance	Impartial careers guidance interview opportunities during Key Stage 4. Bespoke sessions for Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 supported by Careers Lead. RCHS staff are available to help a guide with applications including interview techniques.

Useful Links

TEACHERS

https://resources.careersandenterprise.co.uk/all-resources-all-one-place

https://resources.careersandenterprise.co.uk/

https://resources.careersandenterprise.co.uk/resources/career-talks-finding-your-future-reaching-your-goals-send-resource

PARENTS

Local Fe Colleges

Nelson and Colne

https://www.nelson.ac.uk/16-18/choices-learning-difficulties-or-support-needs/

https://www.nelson.ac.uk/pre-advanced-programmes-entry-level-level-1/

Blackburn College

https://blackburn.ac.uk/find-a-course?term=entry+level&courseType=Technical%2FVocational

Myerscough Colleg

https://www.myerscough.ac.uk/courses/further-education/foundation-learning/

EMPLOYERS

https://resources.careersandenterprise.co.uk/

https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/elibrary/resource/491066/employer%E2%80%99s-guide-supporting-stem-careers-education-england

https://resources.careersandenterprise.co.uk/resources/inclusion-mag-employers – This series of four Careermag for Inclusion publications are designed for employers who do not currently work with young people with SEND. It showcases case studies of success to inspire employers to get involved and the highlights the benefits for the young people and for the business.

https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/what-we-do/employment/toolkits

Supported Internships, Traineeships &Apprenticeships

https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/children-education-families/special-educational-needs-and-disabilities/young-people-and-adulthood/project-search/

STUDENTS

Supported Internships, Traineeships &Apprenticeships

https://www.lancashireskillshub.co.uk

https://www.nltg.co.uk/

https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/children-education-families/special-educational-needs-and-disabilities/young-people-and-adulthood/project-search/

https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/children-education-families/special-educational-needs-and-disabilities/young-people-and-adulthood/supported-internships/

https://www.nelson.ac.uk/supported-internship/

https://www.craven-college.ac.uk/courses/supported-internships/

https://www.activelancashire.org.uk/projects/pendleyeshub