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Student Careers

A planned programme of careers and inspiration activities is a vital component in preparing young people for the world beyond The Victory Academy.

Careers Lead - Miss Alsop

We aim to raise aspirations, challenge stereotypes, maximise their academic and personal achievements and encourage students to consider a wide range of careers. Through careers education and guidance, students will be encouraged to make the most of their talents and to go on to jobs or courses, which suit their aspirations, needs and intelligence.

The Victory Academy is committed to providing its students with a planned programme of careers education for all students in Years 7-13, information, advice and guidance that is impartial and confidential and prepares students for the challenges of adult and working life.

Sixth form Careers provision

Delivery and Content

Careers Information and Advice is provided through dedicated lessons to provide informative guidance to assist in the development and future career directions of students. Prospective employers provide advice and guidance through group workshops, enterprise events, individual interviews, college and university visits, and presentations as well as bringing adults into the Academy to deliver content and subsequent mentoring of targeted students. Leaflets, display boards and other forms of printed material are provided and additional advice through subject teachers.

An Independent Careers Advisor attends the school at key times throughout the academic year to provide individual advice and guidance to students. All careers advice and guidance given is person-centred, impartial, unbiased and confidential (within legal confines) and meets professional standards of practice. During arranged events including ‘Parents Evenings’, ‘Open Evenings’ and ‘Options Evenings’, careers information and advice is made available to students, parents and carers.

Careers policy

Our Careers Programme is informed by the Gatsby Benchmarks:

The Victory Academy follows the principles of the Gatsby Benchmarks. The objectives for the careers programme are as follows: 

  1. Embedding a stable careers programme 
  2. Access to quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities 
  3. Addressing the needs of each student embedding equality and diversity 
  4. Linking curriculum learning to careers 
  5. Opportunities to learn from employers about work and the skills that are valued in the workplace 
  6. Experiences of workplaces
  7. Ensuring students are fully aware of the learning opportunities both academic and vocational, in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace 8).
  8. Providing every student the opportunity for personal guidance

Work-Related Learning:

The Victory Academy recognises the unique role that work-related learning can have in helping young people develop employability skills and the value that employers place on this when they are assessing young people for employment. Many young people appreciate the importance of improving their work-related skills in order to pursue their career aspirations. Such skills are already developed through the ‘Victory Virtues’ that are embedded throughout the Academy, enabling students to recognise links between their academic career and the work of work.

These include: 

  • ‘Bounceabilty’ when faced with new or unusual opportunities outside of the classroom or school environment 
  • Managing impulsivity and being pro-active in responding to challenges 
  • Persistence when dealing with real world challenges 
  • Striving for accuracy and challenging themselves to try new things 
  • Communicating with clarity and precision in unusual environments with a variety of individuals and groups 
  • Thinking interdependently and working with new people 
  • Applying past knowledge and making links between academic and vocational learning 
  • Listening with understanding and empathy by validating other people’s perspectives in the world of work to develop a collaborative and co-operative working environment