Careers

Careers education is about inspiration and aspiration as much as advice.

The world has changed greatly in the last 20 years with many people working in jobs today that simply didn’t exist when their parents left education. The idea of a ‘job for life’ has disappeared. What’s important is to recognise these exciting new opportunities that are available and to gain the knowledge, skills and expertise that will enable you to work in those areas.

The Gatsby benchmarks are at the heart of the careers programme at Harris Boys’ Academy East Dulwich. These are eight benchmarks covering different areas of quality career curriculum (see below).

Our lead person for careers at Harris Boys' Academy East Dulwich is James Allison, j.allison@harrisdulwichboys.org.uk, tel 020 8299 5300. Download our careers and education guidance policy from our Equalities and additional intervention page. 

Read the latest careers news from Harris Boys' Academy East Dulwich.

Download our guide to Unifrog

Unifrog is a careers platform where you can easily explore your interests, then find and successfully apply for your best next step after school.

Download our Guide to Unifrog, including how to log in and an introduction to how it works. Unifrog will help you to explore your key interests and what career paths you can take to reach your goals. Sign in to Unifrog at www.unifrog.org/sign-in.

Gatsby 1 - A stable careers programme

We are committed to providing a varied programme of activities for all students from Year 7 to 13 and beyond. Various careers-related opportunities are provided via a number of different methods such as assemblies, tutor time programme, theme days, careers interviews, career-based interest guides and websites, trips to employers and universities, and visiting speakers.

Our students also benefit from attending careers fairs, having direct support with university/sixth form applications, student finance, CV advice, and we offer particular support for DSEN students. The focus is to provide activities and events that meet the needs of the individual students and thus will incorporate independent and impartial careers guidance to support career and option choices, raising the aspirations of individual students and equipping them with the necessary skills, attitudes, knowledge and understanding.

Harris Boys' Academy utilises the expertise of the Harris Federation Careers Advisor who supports students on a regular basis either during drop in sessions or also for booked appointments. These sessions can be either 1-2-1, or completed in a group.

We also recognise that parents/carers come from many different work backgrounds and can also contribute to helping our students make informed decisions. Therefore, if you are able to offer some time to deliver an occupational talk, host a stand at our annual careers fair, or are able to take a student for a work experience placement we would really welcome you contacting us at info@harrisdulwichboys.org.uk.

Below is an overview of our careers programme for Years 7-13.

Premises. The school will make the main hall, classrooms or private meeting rooms available for discussions between the provider and students, as appropriate to the activity. The school will also make available AV and other specialist equipment to support provider presentations. This will all be discussed and agreed in advance of the visit with the Careers Leader or a member of their team. Providers are welcome to leave a copy of their prospectus or other relevant course literature at the Careers Resource Centre, which is managed by the school librarian. The Resource Centre is available to all students at lunch and break times.

Gatsby 2 - Learning from career and labour market information 

We understand that all students need to prepare themselves for progression through learning and education into adulthood. We aim to prepare students for life after school along with providing information on the ever-changing future, occupations and progression routes to sixth form, college, university or work/apprenticeships, as appropriate. All Year 8 -13 students can access the latest labour market information through their Unifrog account. Students also have access to https://www.harriscareerseducation.org.uk/ to access the latest career and labour market information.

We produce regular labour market reports which provide students with the information they need to make informed choices. The reports look at, for example, current employment rates, possible future trends for job growth and average salaries. You can download our latest labour market and economic information report at the bottom of this page.

Harris Boys' Academy East Dulwich understands that all students need to prepare themselves for progression through learning and education into adulthood. We aim to prepare students for life after school along with providing information on the ever-changing future, occupations and progression routes to sixth form, college, university or work/apprenticeships, as appropriate.

Gatsby 3 - Addressing the needs of each pupil

At Harris Boys Academy East Dulwich we support students to explore different careers pathways and options through our Careers Launchpad programme. Careers Launchpad is delivered through our PSHE programme and our students benefit from frequent visits from employers, employees and entrepreneurs who lead the sessions.

At Key Stage 3, Careers Launchpad seeks to help our students explore a variety of different Career Paths, helping students to understand their options as well as challenge any misconceptions they may hold about different employment options. You can see links to some of our Careers Launchpad PSHE and Assembly sessions below.

At Key Stage 4, students have increased opportunities to engage directly with employees and employers through our PSHE programme as well as careers-focused Personal Development Days.

All Year 11-13 students also have one-to-one careers interviews with an independent Careers Advisor. Students also receive Careers Guidance in Year 9 prior to picking their options choices in Year 10.

Students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) are given extended appointments with our Careers Advisor, the SEN team and parents, to help ensure successful progression onto the next steps.

In addition, all Year 8-13 students will have their own careers portfolio on their Unifrog account where they can access their careers record and track the advice they have been given.

Gatsby 4 - Linking curriculum to careers

At Harris Boys Academy East Dulwich, we believe it is vital that students can connect what they have learnt in school with the knowledge and skills required in the workplace. 

Teachers in their lessons frequently connect the topic being studied to the knowledge and skills required by employers.  Through our extended curriculum, which includes form time, assemblies, extra-curricular clubs as well as trips and visits, students have been able to hear from and meet local employers.  Please see below for some examples of ways in which our students have been able to connect their subject knowledge with the world of work.

ICT careers trip to Met Police Cyber Crime Unit

Art careers trip to South London Gallery

Music careers trip to the Guildhall

Dance careers trip to the Barbican

Science careers trip to Microsoft

Entrepreneur Mark Segal explains connections between curriculum and world of work

Entrepreneur Mark Jenner highlights skills required for the workplace

Gatsby 5 - Encounters with employers and employees

In addition to trips to businesses we also organise careers talks at the school covering, for example, careers in technology, literature, hospitality, acting, publishing and graphic design.

We welcome outside speakers and organisations to contribute to our careers programme. Other examples of opportunities that our boys have to meet professionals from different sectors include:

• 2019 Careers Evening (see below)
• Career Ready mentoring programme for Year 12
• Careers in publishing - visit to Harper Collins
• Careers in creative writing - meeting author Phil Earle

An organisation wishing to request access should contact Jamie Allison, Assistant Principal, on 020 8299 5300 or j.allison@harrisdulwichboys.org.uk. Requests will be considered in line with our visiting speaker procedure within our safeguarding policy. Please speak to our Careers Leader James Allison j.allison@harrisdulwichboys.org.uk to identify the most suitable opportunity for you.

Careers Evening 2019. An architect, barrister, doctor, IT analyst, surveyor, charity programme director and theatre manager were among the business people who came to HBAED for our 2019 careers evening.

Sectors covered by our business volunteers on the night included marketing, banking, human resources, medicine, journalism, construction, government, computing, law and the arts.

The boys chose who to meet at the event, based on their interests, and had 20 minute sessions so they could learn in-depth how people chose their careers, what's involved, the skills you need, and what people like and dislike about their jobs.

Gatsby 6 - Experiences of workplace

Plan for all students in Year 10 to have work place visits and Year 12 to have Work Experience placements in Summer 2020.

• ICT careers trip to Met Police Cyber Crime Unit
• Art careers trip to South London Gallery
• Music careers trip to Guildhall
• Dance careers trip to the Barbican Centre
• Science careers trip to Microsoft
• Maths Careers trip to DG Cities
• Business Enterprise careers trip to Mitsubishi
• Design and Technology careers trip to the City Centre Point
• Sixth Form careers trip to Skills London
• Creative careers trip to Christie's Auction House
• Engineering and architecture careers explored with Grimshaws Architects

This short film was produced by our Performing Arts students during a trip to the Barbican. What does a theatre department do? What sort of jobs are available? What sort of people are likely to enjoy working there. How to get started. They showed great initiative, skill and creativity in producing this clip.

Gatsby 7 - Encounters with further and higher education

We provide opportunities for students to experience what further and higher education are like, in order to inspire and excite them about future possibilities. Places visited recently include:

• Guildhall School of Music and Drama
• Goldsmiths University London
• Cambridge University
• University College London
• Kingston University
• Southwark College

Year 10 trip to Imperial College London.

Gatsby 8 - Personal guidance

All Year 11s, 12s and 13s students have one-to-one careers interviews. Pictured below: Careers Adviser Caroline Jackson arranges a careers desk in the school canteen to answer careers-related questions from boys in all year groups. “The idea was to make sure every student knows there is a careers adviser they can come and talk to at any time,” said Mr Allison, our Careers Lead.

Destinations

As a result of the bespoke information, advice and guidance that our students receive the transition from Year 11 to Post 16 is exceptionally successful. The majority of our Year 11 students opt to remain at Harris Boys' Academy, seeking to continue their Post 16 education in traditional A levels, BTECs or a blend of the two.

Destinations data for 2016 is based on DfE statistics and is the most recent available.  The data shown for 2017 and 2018 is based on internal audits of pupil destinations and can therefore be subject to change if pupils do not complete at least two terms of study at their chosen destination.