Here we have put together a set of resources for careers, career planning and career opportunities. Click on any of the links to take you down to the relevant section where there are lots of resources available.
At Cross Keys Learning we place great importance on ensuring that all our students are fully supported to achieve their optimum career/life outcomes and provide early career development and support that is aligned to their individual needs.
Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) is designed at Cross Keys Learning to prepare students for life by providing the knowledge, understanding, confidence and skills that they need to make informed choices and plans for their future learning, career and life.
Our careers programme is delivered in a variety of ways, including:
Our Key Stage 3 careers programme will support students in their planning and exploring future career ideas and pathways. This includes:
Our Key Stage 4 careers programme aims to help students research and understand their choices and routes into education and training. This includes:
Cross Keys Learning work closely with a range of employers to provide our students with work experience opportunities as well as the local community.
If you are interested in working with us to further extend the range of opportunities available to our students, please contact Sharon Mount – sharon.mount@kms.kent.sch.uk.
| Year Group | Theme/Focus Key | Learning Outcomes | Gatsby Benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 7 | Self-Awareness & Introduction to Work |
- Understand personal strengths and how they relate to jobs
- Define what a career is - Explore dream jobs and future ambitions - Understand key employability skills - Learn basic budgeting and saving |
BM1, BM2, BM3, BM4 |
| Year 8 | Exploring Work Sectors & the World of Work |
- Explore different work sectors (e.g. green, tech, creative)
- Research future-focused careers - Understand job recruitment processes - Explore workplace behaviours and expectations |
BM1, BM2, BM3, BM5 |
| Year 9 | Pathways & Personal Strengths |
- Identify pathways to specific careers
- Understand qualifications & LMI - Prepare for work experience (skills match) - Explore Post-16 options - Understand stereotypes in careers - Make informed financial choices |
BM1, BM2, BM3, BM5, BM7 |
| Year 10 | Careers in a Changing World |
- Understand the value of qualifications
- Examine how careers are changing (AI, green economy, etc.) - Develop career ambitions - Attend a work experience placement |
BM1, BM2, BM3, BM4, BM5, BM6 |
| Year 11 | Preparation for Post-16 & Financial Independence |
- Explore and evaluate Post-16 options
- Write CV and personal statement - Practice interview and presentation skills - Understand payslips, taxes, and adult finance (loans, insurance, etc.) - Explore paid and volunteer research roles |
BM1, BM2, BM3, BM4, BM5, BM7, BM8 |
Good career guidance can have a profound impact on social mobility, as it ensures that each and every young person, whatever their needs, background or ambitions, knows the options open to them to fulfil their potential. This is particularly important for the more than one million young people in England recognised as having SEND. Far too often these young people can be held back by negative stereotypes and assumptions about their limitations.
Cross Keys Learning students are provided with close support and regular guidance meetings to ensure that students feel empowered, supported and able to achieve their aspirations. This includes guidance meetings with our career’s advisor.
The Gatsby Benchmarks define what world-class career guidance looks like. During Gatsby’s pilot of the Benchmarks, experienced SEND practitioners and national advocates were brought together to form a SEND working group. Drawing on their expertise of developing careers programmes in different settings, in both special and mainstream schools and colleges, they gave the clear message that it would not be appropriate to define a separate set of Benchmarks for students with SEND.
For further help and support, you can talk to an impartial advisor at the National Careers Service on 0800 100 900.
Download our Gatsby Benchmarks Appendix 1
Labour Market Information (LMI) can provide us with insights into different jobs and opportunities, telling us what is available now or predicted to be in the future.
It can be gathered from a wide array of sources from websites run by Government funded organisations, through to adverts for job vacancies in local papers and online. Even anecdotal sources such as conversations with friends and family can give us information on who maybe recruiting. Each source can provide us with information on the labour market.
Turning it into intelligence, however, is key. To do that it is important to ask yourself, "How was the information gathered, when, by whom and for what purpose?" This will affect what the data is attempting to prove (if biased) or what it may mean for you and your career decisions.
For example: If the data was collected five years ago? How reliable is it? (not very) However, if the data was collected last week, it is likely to be more reliable.
Explore different roles and search by subject areas to find out where your choices could take you.
Complete the personality quiz called “The Buzz Quiz” to see if your personality is a good fit with different occupations.
This is useful for some students but not the only way to decide on your future choices.
Take this personality quiz to see how your character may link to your future career aspirations.
Only 10 minutes to get a "freakishly accurate" description of who you are and why you do things the way you do.
Information on all Post 16 options and routes. Application and support platform for Post-16 studying.
We will provide all year 11 students with a password and usernames before they complete year 10 and show you how to log on the first time.
Thinking about university? Take a look at some information.
This site can help school leavers with searching different opportunities available.
A to Z information about different Careers
Find out about careers that might be right for you by taking a skills assessment.
Career ideas and information for your future.
Complete our experiences around your studies and begin your career now.
The national careers film library, a free careers resource showing hundreds of real people doing real jobs.
For apprenticeship vacancies you can research Thanet, or further afield, or sign up to create an account to make applications at www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship.
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