Description

We are looking for an experienced careers counsellor to join our growing school for an August 2023 start (later start date possible if necessary for the right candidate)

For all staff in school we share a responsibility to ensure that children are safe and properly supervised at all times. Our school is committed to ‘amazing learning’- providing enjoyable and meaningful learning experiences so that every pupil makes as much progress as possible. All staff are expected to adhere to The Aquila Professional Code of Conduct and commit to promoting our vision – ‘A happy community school with amazing learning at its heart where pupils are empowered to make choices, engage in meaningful learning experiences and make exceptional progress’. Our focus is providing children with amazing learning and to be the school of choice for the community we serve.

The Aquila School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years’ employment history. 

Core purposes:

• To co-ordinate and develop a range of programmes and structures to lead our school’s programme of careers education, information, advice and guidance service provided to all pupils at school (whole-school). Providing and tracking the impact of an inspiring and best practice careers advisory service throughout the School allowing all learners access to impartial and up to date information which supports them to make successful future careers choices and applications to their university of choice. 

Key qualities and skills:

• Commitment to the protection and safeguarding of children and young people.
• Willingness and ability to work co-operatively as part of a team
• Willingness and ability to use own initiative and work without constant supervision
• Flexibility and ability to cope with a wide range of tasks in a busy and changing environment
• Enthusiastic, innovative and highly motivated
• Genuine commitment to delivering positive outcomes for pupils
• Dedicated to achieving excellence, conscientious and hard working
• Ability to engage with and relate to young people
• Highly proficient in the use of IT systems
• Good written and spoken communication skills and the ability to verbally present information to staff, pupils and parents
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills
• Ability to prioritise workloads
• Ability to handle confidential issues and materials sensitively and appropriately
• Ability to work to deadlines accurately
• Understanding of world-wide university and college application systems and processes
• Proof reading skills 

Key duties include:

Learning Support

• Act as central point of information and guidance for all pupils, parents and staff in relation to careers information advice and guidance
• Co-ordinate and conduct individual and group careers interviews with pupils across the school.
• Identification of targeted provision and delivery of the School’s Careers Delivery Plan through liaison with the Assistant Headteacher and Heads of Year.
• Support pupils through the securing of placements and application procedures for post-18 and work experience.
• Provide guidance to pupils on completing application forms, interview techniques and presentation skills
• Organisation of careers questionnaires and psychometric testing, and provision of feedback
• Monitor, record and communicate leaver destination information to relevant members of the school community, ISP team and local regulator
• Liaise with external careers services
• Develop employer engagement opportunities through visits/talks and improve links with local employers 

Management

• Plan the programme of activity in careers guidance
• Brief and support teachers involved in careers guidance
• Monitor delivery of careers guidance across the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks
• Support tutors, providing initial information and advice
• Monitoring access to, and take up of, guidance and participation in careers activities
• Ensuring colleges and universities have access to the school to share opportunities with all pupils
• Managing the careers budget as appropriate
• Managing their own CPD and supporting the ongoing CPD of colleagues in the careers team
• Advise the senior leadership team on policy, strategy and resources for careers guidance
• Review and evaluate careers guidance and provide information for school improvement planning, DSIB and other purposes
• Prepare and implement a careers guidance development plan
• Ensure that details of the school’s careers programme and the provider access policy statement are published on the school’s website. 

Coordination

• Manage the provision of career and labour market information
• Manage the careers section of the school’s website, ensuring information is accurate and up to date
• Liaise with the PSHE leader and other subject leaders to plan their contribution to careers guidance
• Coordinate encounters with employers and work experience
• Communicate with pupils and their parents
• Promote and ensure all pupils access and utilise Unifrog 

Networking

• Establish and develop links with universities
• Establish and develop links with employers
• Commission careers guidance services where appropriate
• Manage links with external organisations
• Secure funding for careers related projects
• Build a network of alumni who can help with the careers guidance programme
• Manage, coordinate and develop the alumni network
• Manage the alumni Linkedin page 

Policy, Planning and Service Development

• Contribute to the work of the school by participating positively in staff meetings and/or working groups 

Training & Personal Development

• Ensure personal knowledge of the careers and higher education advice and information is constantly updated
• Willingness to undertake relevant training and professional development 

In addition, all staff are required to carry out any tasks required by the school or the regional office to facilitate the smooth day to day running of the school 

To be line managed by the head of secondary and assistant head of secondary 

Holidays- as per school calendar (except external examination results days and the day before and after). Attendance is required on staff training days. 

Hours of work: 7:25am to 4:15pm Monday to Thursday and from 7:25am to 12:00noon on Friday’s. The post holder will be required to work some evenings, in particular, to provide a service for open days, parents evenings and other promotional events. 

Person specification: 

 About The International Schools Partnership:

The Aquila School is owned by a London based company called International Schools Partnership (ISP).  The International Schools Partnership (ISP) is a growing group of committed colleagues in financially responsible schools around the world, all of which aim to be the school of choice in their local area. Learning is at the heart of everything we do for our pupils, colleagues and parents. We are committed to getting better, all the time.

ISP was founded by an experienced team of committed educationalists and commercial operators who have worked together over many years. Our growing group of private schools located in the UK, the USA, Spain, Costa Rica, Chile, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia, and Mexico educate children and pupils from 2-18 years of age. We have now expanded to 51 schools delivering multiple curricula and building on local brands and reputations with over 30,000 pupils and 5,000 staff located across the globe.

We believe that successful schools are the ones that put learning at the heart of everything they do, always aiming to create rounded individuals that are able to forge successful careers and lives in a rapidly changing world. Our goal is to enable our schools as the leading school of choice in their local area. We are a truly international group working in different cultures and speaking different languages. We work across countries and cultures, too, by working with each other and with other schools and communities. At ISP we continue to engage with schools around the world who are interested in becoming part of our global group of schools and look forward to welcoming more pupils and staff to the group.

All our schools:

• Help children and pupils learn to levels that amaze
• Inspire children and pupils to be successful now and equip them to be successful
• Are truly international, working in partnerships within and across regions, cultures and languages.
• Aim to be the schools of choice for children, pupils and their families, wherever we are