Happy National Careers Week 2025
Keeping it brief this week as appreciate many of you will have lots of NCW related activities and events happing throughout the week. We would love to hear more about your activities this week and share across our SMCH careers family. Please email careershub@southmidlands.org.uk and tag @southmidlandscareeershub into anything you share on LinkedIn.
Masterclasses
We had a great turn out for our last masterclass which focused on another of the themes that came out of the Gatsby 10 year review – Engagement of Parents & Carers. Please find the slide deck below and a copy of the recording here. Massive thank you again to our Sarah MacDougall from Wootton Park school for her fab contribution and to Dawn Lord from Vandyke Upper School for sharing her great practice too.
Our next masterclass is 18/03/24, focusing on another of the 5 themes from Gatsby 10 meaningful and varied encounters and experiences. Calendar invites will be sent out to Careers Leaders this week. Details of relevant info from the updated GBM (Gatsby10) below
‘The most impactful careers guidance balances the number and variety of encounters and experiences in education and work, while also providing time for young people to prepare and reflect. This principle has been recognised by expanding the definitions of ‘meaningful’ in Benchmarks 5 and 7 and adding one to Benchmark 6. The updated definitions encourage variation and flexibility in how educational institutions and employers work with young people, with a focus on ensuring the activity has a real impact and benefits their decision-making.
Planning encounters and experiences as part of a progressive and sequenced careers program for each student will also help ensure the greatest impact.
All three definitions emphasise that encounters should offer young people the opportunity to experience what study or work is truly like in that setting, including the recruitment and application process. They also stress the importance of sharing the purpose of the activity with all involved parties, ensuring the activity is underpinned by learning outcomes, promoting two-way interaction between young people and employers or education institutions, and supporting young people to prepare for their interactions and reflect on what they have learned. For a meaningful workplace experience, the importance of students being assigned tasks by the employer and receiving feedback on their work has also been highlighted.
The importance of young people engaging with a broad range of stakeholders has been made clear.
- Benchmark 5 emphasises engagement with the self-employed, businesses of various sizes, and different sectors.
- Benchmark 6 encourages meeting a variety of people in the workplace.
- Benchmark 7 stresses interacting with a range of staff and students.
- The definitions also reiterate the need for tailored support for disadvantaged, vulnerable, and SEND students.
As technology changes workplaces and recruitment practices, it can support young people in their preparation and expand the range of educational institutions, businesses, and other agencies they can access. However, virtual encounters and experiences should complement, not replace, in-person activities.’
Using AI to support planning and delivery 30/04/2025 @14.00
This will be a practical session delivered by Rob Howe , Head of Learning & Technology at University of Northampton. Prior to joining the session please check you can log on to Copilot or Chat GTP etc.
Agenda to include
- Intro to AI via a fun task!
- Using AI to support developing plans
- Using AI to support development of resources and presentations
- Ethics
If you have any specific questions or anything in particular you would like covered lease email mandy.green@southmidlands.org.uk wit AI Masterclass I the subject box
Generation Logistics free resources
Details and links below to new resources from Generation Logistics to help you inspire your learners about careers in the fast-paced, well-paid world of logistics! All the resources are ready to be weaved into dynamic, engaging lessons including:
📐Maths: Mini Market Produce a feasibility study to determine whether an electric van should replace a diesel lorry
🖥️ Computing: Programming A coding challenge to create a working computer programme to calculate how much a journey costs
⚛️ Science: Which fuel is best? Building pupils’ knowledge so they are able to select the best fuel for delivery vans and justify their choice
⚙️ Tech & Engineering: Podcast – What future careers can engineering and tech enable? James, Sanjay and Lucy talk about the importance of engineering and technology in logistics
Educator Hub: All the resources featured are curriculum relevant and ready to be weaved into dynamic, engaging lessons. Use the filter function to display according to key stage or subject (and find the perfect content for your students!).
Careers Booklet: Our hope is to help you deliver memorable learning experiences that deliver career- changing moments along the way