Modern world
Look to the future
Karen Williams celebrates the National Quality in Careers Standard awarded to Sutton Valence School This standard is only awarded to schools and education providers who can demonstrate the importance they place on careers and how they support students to make decisions about their life after school. Sutton Valence is currently the only independent school in the country to have achieved this accolade. With the rapidly evolving careers landscape, it is important that schools keep pace and engender in their students a careers resilience if they are to thrive in the modern world. Today an employee will change jobs on average every five years, with greater numbers than ever changing career track during their working life. The School’s own skills audit had highlighted the need to provide opportunities for students to develop creative and critical thinking and have experiential learning opportunities. This links to the opportunities that are already being provided by mini gaps of three to four weeks in China and India. These, along with being offered a number of sports, volunteering, mentoring, Crest awards, STEM activities, Duke of Edinburgh Award and CCF outside our normal curriculum, were deemed to develop the whole person. The School encourages continuous learning and fosters a growth mind-set in its students, so that they can adapt, up-skill and absorb ever changing technology, new businesses and new careers. Beyond this, the School’s expectation is that its pupils will grow in their determination and self-esteem, leaving as confident, charming and capable, but not arrogant, young adults able to cope with the rigours of modern life. Mrs Christine Carter, the Head of Careers has completed her master’s degree and postgraduate diploma in Careers Guidance with Canterbury Christchurch, and under her expert guidance the School has been working continuously to improve the chances and opportunities of all our students. The assessment process for the Quality in Careers Standard looked at all aspects of our careers guidance and how it contributes to students’ preparation for the world beyond Sutton Valence. To achieve this, all careers support was appraised and substantial evidence gathered to show the effectiveness of the provision and advice. An independent expert spent a day at the School, posing questions to students, staff and the Headmaster, and then the Head of Careers went before the final board of assessors. Sutton Valence pupils follow a structured careers guidance programme that is appropriate to their age, following the Gatsby Charitable Foundation’s Benchmarks (used to develop and improve careers provision within schools), and informed by the revised national criteria and statutory guidance from the Department of Education. At Sutton Valence, the Headmaster, Governors and senior management team take a strategic view of careers guidance. The School’s provision aims to inspire, motivate and inform students, supporting their individual aspirations and challenging their assumptions. All students 24
Spring 2019
have access to bespoke impartial and professional career guidance to help them with decision-making and managing transition, and to prepare them for the opportunities and responsibilities of life. A careers education programme for First to Sixth Forms is delivered, involving employers, former pupils and independent career professionals. The School is fortunate to have a very strong alumni network. Old Suttonians (OS) offer support in many ways, but especially in progression and career interests and many have provided placements. As well as OS, a number of parents are also involved in the biennial careers fair and, in the intervening years, a Next Steps event is run where OS return to talk about their careers and how they chose them. Students who have left the School within the last five years are invited back to give a brief summary of what they have been doing since they finished School. Those who visit have taken a variety of paths and are able to speak candidly about their experiences, offering a contemporary view of the current jobs market. The School recognises and values the input from employers in preparing students for the working world. Local firms such as BAE Systems, Berkeley Homes and Whitehead Monkton Solicitors, are regularly invited to visit and participate in careers events and work placements. There are talks from universities and employers offering information on Higher Apprenticeships and School Leaver schemes. The School’s connections with the Universities of Sussex and Kent have meant that they regularly
