Careers Guidance
The careers programme at SBUA is underpinned by four key principles.
- Universal.
Every student is able to access the careers programme. The careers programme is delivered in weekly classroom sessions, using a range of resources that encourage students to engage in their futures. The curriculum is timed to respond to the needs of students at the appropriate stages of their school journey. All students receive independent careers guidance, with one-to-one careers guidance interviews, which are formally scheduled ahead of key decision-making points in Years 11 and 13. Many additional opportunities take place in the form of talks, workshops, events, trips, and workplace experiences.
- Progressive.
The careers programme covers every year of secondary education, and encourages students to think about their enjoyments, strengths and skills well in advance of key decision points. Activities are designed to build on those in previous years so students have a thorough appreciation of the range of opportunities available. In addition, principles of equality and diversity are embedded throughout the programme. Challenging stereotypes and raising aspirations are core principles of the school’s careers offering.
- Student centred.
Students are at the heart of our careers programme. Every activity is thoughtfully planned and tailored to students’ needs in order to maximise their learning and exposure to the world of work. Our goal is to equip students with the tools and confidence to pursue enjoyable and meaningful further study and work. All students are entitled to find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities and to understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and vocational courses. Thanks to our fantastic location close to the heart of London, the Careers Department takes full advantage of the many links available. (See Partnershps information below.)
- Outcome focused.
Results and feedback are central to the ongoing development of the careers programme. Students, staff and parents/guardians are regularly encouraged to give feedback. In addition, the Gatsby Benchmarks provide a meaningful framework against which success in meeting our aims is measured. South Bank University Academy works closely with the Southwark Post-16 and Post-18 Service to record and track the range of destinations our leavers pursue.
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Partnerships
In addition, the school has built and maintained a number of excellent partnerships with educational institutions, employers, and charities, which we are very proud of.
Educational partnerships:
We are fortunate to be part of the LSBU Group, and as such, we have excellent links to London South Bank University and South Bank Colleges. Students also receive unique Group benefits, such as guaranteed offers of university study and bursaries, among others. Students regularly attend taster lectures and campus tours, and receive application support for further and higher education applications, which we run with other prestigious universities such as City University of London, King’s College London, Roehampton University, University for the Creative Arts, South Bank Colleges, and Multiverse.
Employer partnerships
Opportunities for experiences of the workplace take both through formal work experience and insight days. Students are exposed to the workplace early on to demystify what the world of work looks like. Through our employer partnerships, we also host skills-based workshops to prepare our students for job and apprenticeship applications in an ever-competitive world. The school hosts an annual careers fair, where students have the opportunity to network with a range of employers. Some of our employer partnerships include IBM, JP Morgan, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust, Hays Recruitment, Morgan Stanley, Harper Collins, HM Treasury, HM Courts and Tribunal Service, Accenture, Royal Observatory, Absolute Taste, and Southwark Education Business Alliance.
Charity partnerships
The school works with a number of educational and employability charitable organisations, which enrich our students’ learning opportunities. Charities we work with include Barclays Life Skills, The Careers and Enterprise Company, Construction Youth Trust, Making the Leap, My Big Career, Speakers for Schools, The Talent Foundry, and Social Mobility Foundation.
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Helpful resources
If you are a student, the following resources are helpful:
If you are a parent/guardian, some resources to support your child include:
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Contact Us
If you are a parent, teacher, educator or employer and would like to hear more about what we do or work with us, please get in touch with our Careers Leader, Sophie Cunningham, on 0207277300 or email at
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