As a school with Key Stage 3 pupils, we are now required to implement a stable careers programme for all of our Year 7 and 8 pupils. In order to achieve this, we have eight areas that we are expected to cover; these are known as the Gatsby Benchmarks:

1. A Stable careers programme
2. Learning from career and labour market information
3. Assessing the needs of each pupil
4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
5. Encounters with employers and employees
6. Experiences of work places
7. Encounters with Further and Higher Education
8. Personal Guidance

As a result of this, we have put together a programme that we feel is appropriate for the needs and ages of our pupils. It is important that our citizens of the future have a better understanding of the areas of work that they may be interested in and the pathway choices that they may need to take to get there. We aim to provide them with the crucial knowledge and skills that they need to make informed choices and pursue their future career choices.

One of the main areas that we hope to empower them with is through workplace experiences. While we do not feel it is feasible for our pupils to embark on a full work experience, we are able to offer our Year 8 pupils the opportunity to take part in a ‘Take your child to work day’. Once an American concept, it is becoming an increasingly popular scheme in the UK through which young people can explore different aspects of adult’s working lives and identify new areas that may be of interest to them in the future. We are always trying to encourage pupils to look beyond stereotypes and traditional thinking, to widen their choices, to be confident in themselves, to be aspirational and believe that they can be whatever they want to be.

This is an exciting venture that will allow pupils to see first-hand what it is actually like to go to work! With the support of parents, family members and of course employers, they will be able to enter the workplace, see how businesses operate, how colleagues work alongside each other, recognise expectations of employers and responsibilities of all stakeholders! We believe that exposing young people to what adults in their lives do, is important. It is crucial that they see the value of their education and where it fits in to employment opportunities.

The date set aside for this opportunity each year is the fourth Thursday in April. This then coincides with the date set aside nationally so that if companies are running an event, our pupils can take part without adding an extra workload later in the year.

We recognise that not every young person has someone with whom they can go to work with on the day, so we are willing to allow them to go with a friend or relative other than a parent/carer. However, the parent/carer, with parental responsibility must be willing to take full responsibility for this. Where this is still not possible, the pupils concerned will still be expected to be in school, to take part in the activities that have been arranged for them.

Pupils will be expected to travel to and from the chosen workplace with the adult they are accompanying.

Certain workplaces are dangerous and careful consideration must be given as to whether a child should be taken into such an environment. If the decision is made to go ahead then the parent concerned must ensure that due precautions are made and that all health and safety procedures are closely followed.

It is worth noting that as long as the company has public liability insurance, they will be covered for the pupil’s presence on the premises, as they would for any other visitor, however, the company would need to be notified in advance so that they could inform the insurance company as a matter of courtesy.

The Academy will keep full records of the whereabouts of all pupils involved and the companies that they will be working with. Parents will be expected to sign a consent form, confirming that the place of employment has agreed to the pupil taking part and has put all safety measures into place.

While we want pupils to fully enjoy the day, this experience is considered to be an educational visit; the pupils will not be ‘having a day off’! In preparation for the day, teachers will be talking to them about the world of work, about equality and diversity in the workplace, about responsibility and appropriate workplace conduct! They will have tasks to complete and will be expected to report back to their peers and write up an account of their experience as part of a comprehensive follow up. If parents/carers work at home or alone, it is unfortunately not a new learning experience or environment and therefore it is not suitable and will not be approved.