Careers and the Curriculum

Year 7

Self‑awareness, strengths, values, teamwork, introduction to the concept of careers

Year 8

Job vs career, equality of opportunity, workplace expectations, role models, challenging stereotypes

Year 9

Career sectors, employability skills, entrepreneurship (Tenner Challenge), GCSE options, independent research

Year 10

Labour market information, revision & wellbeing, research skills, debates, drugs & media influences, initial careers planning

Year 11

Post‑16 routes, interviews, personal statements, exam strategies, applications, preparing for employment

What is a career? What is work?

1

Students understand the difference between work, jobs, and careers.

Identifying personal values

1, 3

Students recognise what matters to them and how it affects future choices.

Skills: Hard vs soft skills

1, 4

Understand the skills employers value and begin to self‑assess.

Teamwork fundamentals

1, 4

Students practise group roles, leadership, and communication.

Using oracy in presentations

1, 4

Develop confidence speaking formally — essential for interviews.

Careers vocabulary and job families

1, 2

Students begin categorising jobs into sectors.

How do people choose careers?

1, 3

Understand motivations and external influences.

Recognising personal strengths

1, 3

Students identify skills that can be developed over time.

Local labour market overview (intro)

2

Students gain awareness of Leeds/West Yorkshire employment sectors.

What makes a good team?

1, 4

Students experience employer‑style teamwork tasks.

Problem‑solving challenge

1, 4

Students practise transferable workplace skills.

Diversity in the workplace

3, 4

Early introduction to equality of opportunity.

Positive communication

1, 4

Students learn effective communication for workplace contexts.

Introduction to goal‑setting

1, 3

Start linking short‑term goals with long‑term aspiration.

Careers in school subjects (taster)

4

Understand how subjects link to job families.

Career stereotypes

3, 4

Students identify and challenge stereotypes.

Aspiration building project

1, 3

Students make a visual “future pathway” plan.

End‑of‑year reflections

1, 3

Students track growth in confidence and skills.

What is a workplace?

1

Understand expectations and behaviour in the workplace.

Job vs career

1

Students learn long‑term planning vs short‑term work.

Equality & discrimination at work

3, 4

Understand fairness and legal protections.

Role models in employment

3, 5

Students explore inspiring figures and challenges overcome.

Challenging stereotypes

3, 4

Students understand bias and under‑representation.

Mapping skills to careers

1, 3

Students match their skills to job types.

What are GCSEs?

1, 2, 7

Understand the structure of Key Stage 4.

Why subject choices matter

4

Students link interests to academic subjects.

Exploring future pathways

2, 3, 7

Students research local options: sixth forms, colleges.

Understanding success at KS3

1, 3

Helps develop habits linked to employability.

Workplace mindsets

4

Begin understanding resilience, punctuality, independence.

Group challenge: “Design a workplace”

1, 4

Introduces employer‑style thinking.

Skills audit

1, 3

Students self‑evaluate and identify development areas.

Future goals toolkit

1, 3

Students begin basic future planning.

Subject‑to‑career map

4

Understanding direct and indirect subject links.

Careers research task

2

Students learn how to find reliable information.

Presentation: “My Future Self”

1

Formal speaking practice linked to interviews.

Reflection and planning

1, 3

Students record growth and next steps.

Overview of job sectors

2

Students understand major UK industries.

Labour market information (LMI)

2

Students learn how to interpret employment data.

Local jobs in Leeds & Yorkshire

2

Focus on real opportunities regionally.

Strengths & interests profile

1, 3

Students develop a personalised skills picture.

Learning styles & workplace preferences

1, 3

Students identify environments they may thrive in.

First look at post‑16 options

7

Early awareness of sixth form & vocational pathways.

Introduction to entrepreneurial thinking

4

Prepares students for enterprise challenge.

Tenner Challenge launch

4, 5, 6

Students create a small business with £10.

Market research skills

2

Learn to gather and analyse data.

Branding and marketing

4, 5

Develop presentation and persuasion skills.

Budgeting & finance

4

Understand real‑world money management.

Team leadership in business

1, 4

Students practise leading a group project.

GCSE choices workshop

1, 3, 7

Students evaluate their options.

Subject–career mapping

4

Understanding which GCSEs open which doors.

Research skills for careers

2, 3

Using LMI and reliable sources.

Writing a mini action plan

1, 3

Early personalised careers planning.

Understanding FE pathways

7

Sixth form, apprenticeships, vocational routes.

Reflection: “My Pathway to Year 10”

1, 3

Clear next steps defined.

Introduction to Careers in Year 10

1

Students understand programme expectations.

Labour market changes

2

Students respond to new economic trends.

Revision & wellbeing

1, 3

Establish strategies supporting future success.

Study habits for the workplace

4

Transfer KS4 habits to workplace behaviours.

Setting SMART future goals

1, 3

Build long-term thinking.

Strengths & targets review

3

Students reflect on development areas.

Role models in modern careers

3, 5

Examining resilience, self‑belief.

Ethical careers questions (AI, sanctions, economy)

4

Students debate employer-style issues.

How media influences career decisions

2, 3

Students think critically about influence.

Research skills: How to analyse sources

2

Distinguish high‑quality careers information.

Post‑16 pathways introduction

7

Students compare sixth form/college routes.

Mapping workplace behaviours

4

Students identify behaviours employers expect.

Communication for interviews

5, 8

Students practise interview scenarios.

What employers look for

5

Learn key employability traits.

CV basics (intro)

4

Identify information needed for a first CV.

Presentation skills

1, 4

Develop confidence under pressure.

Career exploration case studies

2, 3

Exposure to varied pathways.

Preparing for Year 11 transition

1, 3

Students begin personal planning.

Revision & exam strategies

1, 3

Students prepare for assessments.

Managing stress & workload

1, 3

Develop resilience for post‑16 study.

Writing a personal statement

3, 8

Students create a post‑16 personal statement.

Understanding post‑16 choices

7

Sixth form, college, apprenticeships.

Careers guidance meetings (1:1)

8

Individual advice & action planning.

Mock interview preparation

5, 8

Students prepare responses to real questions.

Filling in applications

4, 5, 8

Students complete real application forms.

Writing a CV

4

Students create a professional first CV.

Writing a cover letter

4

Students learn formal workplace communication.

Recruitment testing

4, 5

Students try employer‑style tasks.

Preparing for interviews

5, 8

Mock and peer interviews.

Careers exploration project

2, 3

Students deeply research a chosen pathway.

Understanding student finance

2

Early prep for long‑term planning.

Preparing to transition to KS5

1, 3, 7

Students reflect on next steps.

Independent learning skills

4

Prepares students for post‑16 expectations.

Workplace behaviour

5

Students prepare for part‑time work.

Post‑16 transition conversations

8

Final personal guidance.

Exit interview & next steps

1, 3, 8

Students complete their individual careers plan.