Careers Guidance and Development at LVA

Careers Education, Information, Advice, and Guidance (CEIAG) is an essential part of the curriculum for all students at Lea Valley Academy (LVA). Our goal is to ensure every student reaches their full academic, social, personal, and physical potential.

From Year 7 onwards, students are supported to make informed, healthy choices as maturing individuals within a global society. Through work-related learning and rich educational experiences, we help students develop the vital skills required to enhance their future life chances and enjoy long-term economic well-being.

As a diverse community, LVA plays a critical role in preparing students for successful transitions into the next stage of their journey, whether that leads to further education, higher education, apprenticeships, or employment.

 

Our CEIAG Framework & The Gatsby Benchmarks

Our careers programme forms a core part of the student entitlement curriculum and fully embeds the statutory government legislation alongside the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Career Guidance:

  1. Benchmark 1: A Stable Careers Programme
  2. Benchmark 2: Learning from Career and Labour Market Information
  3. Benchmark 3: Addressing the Needs of Each Pupil
  4. Benchmark 4: Linking Curriculum Learning to Careers
  5. Benchmark 5: Encounters with Employers and Employees
  6. Benchmark 6: Experiences of Workplaces
  7. Benchmark 7: Encounters with Further and Higher Education
  8. Benchmark 8: Personal Guidance

 

Key Contacts & Engagement

Parental Engagement

We work closely with parents and carers to support students through every stage of their career planning. Parents and carers are regularly invited to attend:

  • Parents' Evenings & Information Evenings
  • Academic Review Days
  • Open Evenings
  • Pre-NEET Focus Interviews

We actively invite parents and carers to share their industry expertise by delivering workshops and career talks. For any queries regarding careers education, please contact Ms Brown.

 

Provider & Employer Engagement

We welcome employers, colleges, universities, and training providers looking to engage with our students. To arrange a visit, workshop, or partnership opportunity, please contact our Careers Leader:

LVA Pathways and careers guides

We have developed short, practical guides to support students at key decision points:

Post-16 Progression Pathways

The majority of our Year 11 students choose to continue their studies in our Sixth Form. Explore our Sixth Form portal or download our guide below:

 

Post-18 Progression Pathways

By the end of Year 13 (or Year 14), LVA students are equipped to apply for university via UCAS, start a degree apprenticeship, enter full-time employment, or plan a gap year. Before making these decisions, students participate in workplace visits, career fairs, employer encounters, and practical work-readiness sessions.

 

Work Experience & Work Readiness

All students in Year 10 and Year 12 complete a mandatory work experience placement accompanied by workplace skills workshops. In year 10, the placement is one week, in year 12, the placement is two weeks.

Tip for Students: Placements fill up quickly! Start searching early to secure a placement in an industry or environment aligned with your personal interests. 

Through work experience and workshops, students develop key soft skills valued by top employers:

  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Professional communication
  • Commercial awareness & problem-solving

 

Recommended Work Experience Platforms

Practical Application Toolkits

  • CV Writing Guide: Learn how to present your skills, experience, and achievements clearly for work placements, apprenticeships, or entry-level jobs.

📄 Download: LVA CV Writing Guide (PDF)

  • Cover Letter Writing Guide: A tailored cover letter explains why you are applying and highlights your enthusiasm. Use our step-by-step guidance to tailor your cover letter to prospective employers.

Dedicated Careers Platforms at LVA

Platform
Target Audience
Key Features
JED (Job Explorer Database) 
All Year Groups 
  • Interactive quick career quizzes to match interests with roles
  • Detailed breakdowns of 800+ careers, qualifications, and pay scales
  • Video case studies and Labour Market Information (LMI)
Unifrog
Sixth Form (Years 12–13) 
  • Complete UCAS & University database search
  • National Apprenticeship search engine
  • Personal statement & CV feedback tools

National Careers Guidance & Resources

 

  • 🌐Find an Apprenticeship (GOV.UK): Search live government listings for Intermediate, Advanced, Higher, and Degree Apprenticeships across England.
  • 🌐National Careers Service: Free, impartial advice from qualified advisers to help review skills, outline career paths, and plan action steps.
  • 🌐Careersbox: A free streaming video library illustrating real-world job roles and daily responsibilities across various sectors.

 

Additional Resources for LVA Students

1. Post-16 & Post-18 Pathway Exploration

  • Amazing Apprenticeships: Explains T-Levels, Traineeships, and Higher/Degree Apprenticeships. Includes dedicated Parent & Carer monthly packs.
  • UCAS Hub: The official central application system for UK Higher Education courses, university open days, and tariff calculators.
  • Not Going to Uni: Premier search platform for alternative pathways including gap years, distance learning, entry-level employment, and vocational training.

 

2. Skill-Building & Employability

  • BBC Bitesize Careers: Real-life story videos categorised by school subjects, making it easy for students to link classroom subjects to future jobs.
  • S1Jobs Employer Guide: 20 Ways to Make You Stand Out to Employers – Practical advice on building commercial awareness, interviewing, and workplace communication.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  1. How do I book a 1-on-1 career appointment? Students can visit the Careers Office during break or lunchtime or send an email directly to Ms S Brown or Ms Pastore to schedule an appointment.
  2. When should I start looking for Year 10 or Year 12 work experience? As early as possible! We recommend securing your placement at least 3 to 4 months in advance to ensure you find an opportunity aligned with your career goals.
  3. How do I get my login for JED, Start Profile, or Unifrog? Login details and school access codes are distributed during form time. If you have forgotten your password or lost your login information, please visit the Careers Team for help.
  4. Are apprenticeships better than going to university? Neither path is "better" it depends entirely on your learning style and career aspirations. University offers academic specialisation and degree paths, while apprenticeships provide paid, practical workplace training. Our team is here to help you explore both options to see what fits you best.

 

Useful websites

 

 

https://website.u-explore.com/

At LVA, we are providing ALL students in year groups 7 to 11, the opportunity to join U-Explore Start Profile as part of our career programme.  This will give each student their own individual career path that will stay with them thorough out their time at the school. This online web app allows users to learn about the world of work, the various career options available and the training you will need to get on the right path.

Start-Profile is an online careers platform designed to connect 11–18-year-olds with their future career potential. It combines the most comprehensive source of information with a personalised experience and career planning tools, helping our students to make more informed decisions about their future study and career options, as well as developing their employability. Start-Profile includes:

  • A student profile: students build their profile and access personalised study and career information.
  • Modules: activities to guide students through the information on Start at the right time.
  • Up to date information: engaging content on what to study, where to learn and the world of work.
  • Locker: an online record of achievement to evidence skills for future applications and CVs.
  • Employability action plan: Students can set goals and stay in control of their career planning.

 

 www.unifrog.org/

At LVA we are providing all Sixth Form students, the opportunity to join Unifrog as part of our career programme. They help students find their future by bringing all the available information platform that helps students make the best choices for their future careers.

 

A University Graduate’s Guide to Boosting Career Prospects – 20 Ways to Make You Stand Out to Employers" - https://www.s1jobs.com/resources/20-ways-to-stand-out-to-employers-after-graduation/

 

 

 

 

 

Other Useful links

 

 

The National Careers Service provides information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work opportunities. The service offers confidential and impartial advice. This is supported by qualified careers advisers.

The National Careers Service website aims to:

  • help you with careers decisions and planning support you in reviewing your skills and abilities and develop new goals motivate you to implement your plan of action enable you to make the best use of high-quality career related tools.

Careersbox is a free online library of careers related film, news and information. As the preferred digital new media partner to the Institute of Career Guidance, the largest careers body in the UK, Careersbox aim is to deliver a new way for students to explore their skills and career options.

 

Register on this website to find out about current Apprenticeship opportunities. Find an apprenticeship - GOV.UK

 

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