Skip to content ↓

Staff Login Student Login
School Life

The Careers Programme

The RGS Careers Programme runs from Year 7 to Year 13 as we believe that it is crucial to build on a plan of support that is progressively more targeted as pupils move across to the older year groups.

Pupils are privy to a holistic programme of Careers Information, Education, Advice and Guidance which is delivered through the curriculum and through dedicated careers activities both in school and through visits.

All staff play a key role in enabling pupils to develop their subject knowledge and how it links to prospective careers and also in equipping pupils with character-building and employability skills which are wholly important in their next steps after school.

The aims for our Careers Programme are to enable pupils to:

  • Understand themselves and leverage their key competencies
  • Be knowledgeable regarding all the options available to them
  • Take part in employment-related activities both in school and in the workplace
  • Feel confident to make informed decisions about their future
  • Understand information about the current labour market and its latest trends
  • Embrace change, feeling supported during transition periods
  • Be mindful of their personal brand awareness, managing how they carry themselves in the outside world, immersing themselves in opportunities in a proactive way and being resourceful

For our detailed Careers Programme by year group, click here.

It is reviewed each academic year in the Summer Term.

Gatsby Benchmarks & Provider Access

  1. A stable careers programme
  2. Learning from career and labour market information
  3. Addressing the needs of each pupil
  4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
  5. Encounters with employers and employees
  6. Experience of the workplaces
  7. Encounters with further and higher education
  8. Personal guidance

Provider Access Policy
In line with RGS’ legal obligations under Section 42B of the Education Act 1997, the Skills and Post-16 Act 2022 of guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) on careers guidance and access for education and training providers, below is our Provider Access Policy.

RGS will organise:

  • 2 encounters for pupils during the 'first key phase' (Year 8 or 9)
    • All pupils must attend
    • Encounters can take place any time during Year 8, and between 1 September and 28 February during year 9
  • 2 encounters for pupils during the 'second key phase' (Year 10 or 11)
    • All pupils must attend
    • Encounters can take place any time during Year 10, and between 1 September and 28 February during Year 11
  • 2 encounters for pupils during the 'third key phase' (Year 12 or 13)
    • Pupils can chose to attend
    • Encounters can take place any time during Year 12, and between 1 September and 28 February during year 13

Implementation
A ‘rolling programme’ over a four-year period from Year 8 – Year 11, will be delivered as part of the larger Careers Programme. For the academic year 2023-2024 the below is in place:

  • Year 8: Berkshire College of Agriculture Post 16 Options talk Apprenticeships talk with BAE Systems
  • Year 9: Berkshire College of Agriculture Post 16 Options talk Apprenticeships talk with BAE Systems
  • Year 10: Henley College Post 16 Options talk and Apprenticeships talk with PwC
  • Year 11: Henley College Post 16 Options talk and Apprenticeships talk with PwC
  • Year 12/13: Apprenticeships talks, including tips on preparation and application from:
    • EY
    • Zenopa
    • Department for International Trade 

All students in Years 8-13 at RGS are entitled to:

  • Find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities as part of our careers programme, which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point
  • Hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships, e.g. through activities and events such as options events, assemblies and taster events
  • Understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses

Management of Provider Access requests:

Procedure
A provider wishing to request access should contact our Careers Lead, Mrs Thakrar on swt@rgshw.com or 01494 524955

Opportunities for access
A number of events, integrated into our careers programme, will offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to students and/or their parents/carers. Examples are included in Implementation above and in our Careers Programme.