We are delighted to announce that Avanti Park School has gained 100% on all of the Gatsby Benchmarks. This is the framework for schools to fulfil in order to deliver a high quality careers programme to all pupils. The current statutory requirement is for only secondary schools to work towards these benchmarks. However, we are one of the only local schools that delivers a career programme across both primary and secondary, from reception upwards. This helps to ensure that younger pupils are able to learn about a wide and diverse range of careers and pathways, and to have career stereotypes challenged early on. So far this academic year, there have been 21 different careers activities delivered across the school. These include university trips, apprenticeship talks, work experience programme, one-to-one careers guidance, careers talks and industry-led workshops, with even more activities planned for the summer term.
Rose Hiron-Grimes, who is the Careers Link Governor at the school says ‘This achievement represents a big team effort. Particular thanks should go to the Careers Lead, Brendan Bayew, and also the Personal Development Lead Alison Armstrong, who have put in so much effort to facilitate these activities across all classes. We would also like to thank our Enterprise Adviser, Karen Groot from Wessex Water, who volunteers her time to help support the careers programme. Many parents have also come in to the school to deliver talks and careers activities, especially during National Careers Week in March. This achievement belongs to us all and we are really proud of our careers programme at Avanti Park School.’
For more information about the Gatsby Benchmarks, see the Gatsby Foundation website here: https://www.gatsby.org.uk/education/focus-areas/good-career-guidance. The Talking Futures Website also has some useful guidance for parents about how to have careers conversations at home: https://www.talkingfutures.org.uk/ and for more information about the Avanti Park careers programme, see the website here https://avanti.org.uk/avantipark/school-life/careers/
https://avanti.org.uk/avantipark/school-life/careers/