A science lesson at Ark Boulton Academy in Birmingham
High-quality careers provision is pivotal to social mobility. For this reason, careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) is critical to Ark achieving its mission of making sure that all children, regardless of their background, have access to a great education and real choices in life. Ark facilitates transformational change in the lives of the young people that we serve by ensuring they can move on to excellent post-18 destinations.
The vision for this work is that all students experience excellence in their careers and destinations provision, from early years to sixth form. The careers provision broadens students’ horizons and ensures that they have the aspiration, advice and confidence that they need to make informed and ambitious decisions about their futures. This provision prepares them to not only select and secure these destinations, but to thrive there too – shaping their futures for the better.
83%
Eighty-three percent of our sixth form students go to university at 18, compared to 38 percent nationally. Of those progressing to university, six in 10 attend a top third university compared to three in 10 nationally.
Primary
Careers education at Ark begins in the early years and is crucial to ensuring equitable access to future opportunities for all pupils. Without early intervention, children as young as five begin to form stereotypical views about careers based on gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. By age 10, these attitudes can significantly impact their future educational and career outcomes. Early careers education at Ark therefore plays a vital role in promoting ambition, challenging potential stereotypes, and broadening our pupils’ horizons. Through engaging, age-appropriate experiences with employers, workplaces, and higher education providers, pupils develop the foundational skills and understanding of the world of work to ensure their success as they transition to secondary school and beyond.
Secondary
High quality careers education continues when students move into our secondary schools. Research shows that careers education in secondary schools is vital for raising aspirations, promoting social mobility and driving student outcomes in school and beyond. Through high quality careers provision, our students gain meaningful insights into the world of work. This enables them to make well informed choices about their futures, and equips them with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to pursue rewarding careers, so that they can fulfil their potential.
Sixth Form
Our Sixth Form and Destinations team works with school leaders and teachers to improve the post-16 academic and destinations outcomes of students in Ark sixth forms. Across the country, students from less advantaged backgrounds are under-represented in higher ranked universities and professional careers. Redressing this imbalance is at the centre of our vision for high quality post 16 education. We want our students to become informed, ambitious, confident and compassionate young adults who can thrive in modern society. We aim to open up a wide range of future opportunities and possibilities, and to foster an ambitious destinations culture that encourages students to aim as high as possible and make brave, ambitious choices.
Professional Pathways is a sixth form programme offered exclusively at Ark Schools. The course is Ark’s unique approach to delivering vocational qualifications for students whose potential is not being realised through a traditional, purely academic, linearly assessed curriculum. It aims to provide a high-quality alternative pathway to aspirational and ambitious post 18 destinations – including selective apprenticeships and universities – ensuring that Ark’s mission is achievable for all.
Not everyone knows what they want to do for a career. You have to expose students to a wide range of opportunities. Some students think certain careers aren’t possible for them. They may not know anyone in that career. They might be perfect for a career that they don’t know exists.
If we can help students to take that step, to be pioneers, to get into an industry through the experiences that Ark has given them, then maybe the next person who comes after them feels less intimidated, less in awe. They know they can do it too.
Teacher | Ark Globe