Careers Provision and Work Experience

Miss Gibson is the teacher in charge of Careers Education & Information Advice and Guidance (IAG). The school also provides access to an independent careers advisor.

For further information, Miss Gibson can be contacted at : lgibson@johnmason.school

If you have young people who are going into learning this September, please encourage them to self-report their learning destination at http://www.oxme.info/register.

Careers Provision

Careers provision at John Mason School is fully mapped to address the national framework for good careers guidance known as ‘The Gatsby Benchmarks’. They are listed below:

A stable careers programme
Learning from career and labour market information
Addressing the needs of each pupil
Linking curriculum learning to careers
Encounters with employers and employees
Experiences of workplaces
Encounters with further and higher education
Personal guidance

Careers education and guidance programmes play a major part in helping young people between the ages of 14-19 choose career pathways that suit their interests, abilities and individual needs. It gives the students a number of opportunities to have encounters with further & higher education, local employers as well as gaining information regarding the labour market. A robust careers programme helps avoid disengagement, puts school learning into a wider and more relevant context, and helps raise aspirations. The CEIAG programme aims to help our students plan and manage their careers effectively, ensuring progression which is ambitious and aspirational.

Careers Summary of Programme 2024/25

Year	autumn term	spring term	summer term
Y7		National Apprenticeship Week Events Employability Skills Sessions in tutor time Assemblies
Y8		National Apprenticeship Week Human Library Event Assemblies
Y9	Assembly - employability skills	National Apprenticeship Week Year 10 options event – students’ assembly and parent’s evening	Apprenticeship and technical education presentation Entrepreneurship Day – with assemblies and tutor time dedicated to entrepreneurship skills prior to the day
Y10	Assembly and tutor group opportunities - employability skills CV writing and interview support in tutor time	National Apprenticeship Week OxLEP Careers Fest Work Experience	Apprenticeship and technical education presentation
Y11	Careers Advice and Guidance interviews begin. Individual meeting with every student throughout the year Mock Interviews Assembly on opportunities at 16	National Apprenticeship Week Post-16 assembly and parents’ evening Post-16 taster sessions Apprenticeships – support with applications	Supported College visits (where required)

Other useful websites available to students include:

www.oxme.info; information provided by Oxfordshire County Council for young people aged 8-19. It includes an updated guide of volunteering, job opportunities and apprenticeship vacancies in Oxfordshire.

https://www.oxfordshireapprenticeships.co.uk/: comprehensive information on apprenticeships available in Oxfordshire.

www.ucas.com: ”At the heart of connecting people to higher education”. Information on all aspects of higher education- no also including information on 16-18 choices.

Work Experience

Work experience during Year 10 is an invaluable opportunity for students to gain practical knowledge, explore potential career paths, and develop essential skills for the future. As they embark on this exciting phase of their educational journey, we will support our students, whether they are curious about the world of business, technology, healthcare, or the arts, in finding a placement and guiding them through the process so that they are inspired by the opportunity of their placement.

For information on all aspects of offering a young person work experience please visit

Work Experience in Oxfordshire | OXME.INFO

Who participates in work experience?

All students should have the opportunity to undertake a work experience placement in Year 10 at John Mason School. Further work experience is offered in Sixth Form. Students of vocational subjects may also participate in work experience to support their course.

If you have any queries about work experience then please email WorkExperience@johnmason.school

John Mason School has purchased the online platform Unifrog. This can be used by students both in lessons and at home. This year students are beginning to be introduced to the program where it will be used to support option choices in Year 9, work experience in Year 10 & 12, along with post-16 choices. The resource allows students to research regularly updated information on over 1000 jobs and careers. It enables students to make well informed decisions about their future.

Unifrog : https://www.unifrog.org/