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Careers education
The Dixons Unity Academy careers programme aims to provide all students with regular access to employers, further education providers, expert guidance and workplace experiences to support students in making informed and educated decisions about their next steps. The careers programme is an integral element of the Dixons Unity Academy curriculum and careers information is interleaved with subject specific content delivered through the curriculum.
Our commitment to careers provision extends beyond the legal minimum entitlement for students and is underpinned by the Gatsby framework with a commitment to meeting all eight benchmarks.
The intended outcomes of the careers programme include, but are not limited to:
- Students will undertake various work related experiences
- Students will reflect upon and refine their aspirations
- Students will increase their knowledge of education, training and career opportunities
- Students will develop a career plan to help them achieve their sentence and realise their potential
The careers long term plan can be found below, in addition to a link to ‘Start’: an online platform designed to support students and parents in transitioning to the next step of their career. If you require any support in accessing Start, or have any questions about the careers programme at Dixons Unity Academy, please contact Angela Downing, Associate Assistant Vice Principal.
Resources for students
Prospects - Careers information and guidance – use this to find out more about different careers and what qualifications you would need.
Future Goals – this website uses Labour Market information, as well as employers and employees from local businesses to give an insight to employment opportunities within different sectors, including how the subjects you study link with future career options.
Amazing Apprenticeships – Apprenticeships explained – what are you looking for?
National Apprenticeship Service - search for apprenticeship vacancies or register for alerts and to apply.
BBC Bitesize - where could your favourite subject take you?
NCS - a chance to embark on exhilarating challenges, make your mark and build skills for work and life.
National Careers Service - a range of flexible contact channels - phone, email, webchat and SMS - providing information, advice and guidance relating to decisions on learning, training and work.
UCAS - online HE application system, information and guidance.
Success at School - explore Careers, employers, jobs, courses and advice.
Careermag - a magazine connecting students and their parents with helpful information about careers and qualifications, employability skills and CV writing.
Courses Online - guides covering what a role entails, the required qualifications, potential earnings etc.
Resources for parents
Apprenticeship Service - October Parent Pack
Advice for Parents when helping Young People plan their future
Parents' Guide to Careers in Engineering
Student Finance - What Parents need to know
Higher Education Progression Partnership (HEPP) - resources for Student and Parents
Amazing Apprenticeships – Parents’ Pack
Resources for career and labour market Information
Future Goals – this website uses Labour Market information, as well as employers and employees from local businesses to give an insight to employment opportunities within different sectors in the Leeds City Region
iCould - Real stories to inspire your career
Nomis - official Labour Market Statistics
Office for National Statistics
Prospects - Careers information and guidance
Informed Choices - a Russell Group Guide to making decisions about post-16 education
Higher Apprenticeships - infographic
Degree Apprenticeships - infographic
Which? University - search by university, by predicted grades and by category or use the A-level explorer tool.
Higher Education access for disabled and disadvantaged students
Resources for staff
Careers Leader – Mrs Downing
Mrs Downing is the Careers Leader in the academy and is responsible for the planning and delivery of the careers programme across all year groups. Please contact Mrs Downing by email at adowning@dixonsua.com if you would like to get involved with facilitating or delivering any aspect of careers at Dixons Unity or have any questions regarding the Career Policy.
Senior Leader Responsible for Careers – Ms Clynes
Ms Clynes is the senior leader responsible for monitoring the planning and delivery of the careers programme at Dixons Unity. Please contact Ms Cylnes by email at sclynes@dixonsua.com if you have any queries about our careers programme.
Independent Careers Adviser – Natasha Lloyd
Natasha is an external Career Consultant who works for Skills House - part of Leeds City Council. Natasha initially explores students' current perceptions of future career and education choices alongside feedback from their grades and teachers: this is followed by an informative session of possible options and actions for students to undertake. Every student in Year 11 is entitled to an independent careers advice meeting. A summary of each interaction with Natasha is shared with the Year 11 student directly with key next steps for the student to undertake.
Useful Links
Future Goals – this website uses Labour Market information, as well as employers and employees from local businesses to give an insight to employment opportunities within different sectors, including how your subject links with a range of careers.
A Level Explorer - See where your A level choices will take you. Direct students here to support them to consider how they can use your subject in future career options.
Prospects - Careers information and guidance
BBC Bitesize - Where could your favourite subject take you?
Information for employers
We are always looking to invite employers from different sectors to come in and work with our young people. If you are interested in hearing more about the opportunities that you could get involved in, please get in touch with our Careers Lead: adowning@dixonsua.com
Dixons unity Destinations
We are committed to supporting all of our students, not only during their time with us at Dixons Unity, but also in their Post-16 options and beyond. We are so fortunate that many of our previous students come back to Unity to share their experiences of their next steps and this is an invaluable message for our current students. If you are an alumni of Dixons Unity and would like to come back to share your story, please get in touch with Mrs Downing by email at adowning@dixonsua.com we would love to hear from you and arrange for you to come back and speak to our current students.
Careers Education Review
The careers education programme at Dixons Unity is constantly under review and refinement. A formal, annual review takes place each August when we publish the Careers policy which sets out the intended careers programme for the academic year ahead.