A Whole School Approach to Careers: Compass+ Inset Day Training at Chipping Sodbury School

Challenges faced

During a Compass Evaluation meeting, it was identified that the Careers team at Chipping Sodbury School did not have oversight of various careers activities unless they were directly involved. For example, they were unaware that an external mentoring program for pupil premium students included additional careers advice until a parent mentioned it. Similarly, the Careers Administrator, who’s additional role is to arrange teaching cover, only found out about certain trips with careers-related elements by chance while arranging cover.

Actions taken

The team aimed to take a more strategic and cohesive whole-school approach to careers provision. To support this, the SLT Careers lead allocated a half-hour slot during the next available Inset day. The Careers Hub Officer invited Cath Young, a Compass+ Consultant Trainer from the CEC, to deliver a focused training session.

The session also served as a relaunch of the Careers Champion roles within each department. Training centred on Activity Reporting through a live Compass+ demonstration, with staff asked to bring pre-prepared details of careers-related activities already delivered or planned for the year. Ahead of the session, all participants were set up with 'Editor' accounts on Compass+ to enable hands-on engagement.

Outcomes

The school has begun to establish a comprehensive overview of careers-related activities across all year groups and subjects. Senior leadership, including the Head Teacher, value recording, reporting and evaluating these activities so they have a clear picture that supports future planning and enables the school to better target disadvantaged students. Wider outcomes include improved succession planning, discussions on destination reporting, a renewed focus on Gatsby Benchmark 4, and discussions around developing school trips into meaningful workplace experiences aligned with the proposed 'work experience guarantee' for all young people.

"We really valued the tailored Compass+ training offered to us at Chipping Sodbury School. The intent behind the training was clear, as was the modelling of how to navigate Compass+. It enabled our department Career Champions, to gain a useful overview of Compass+ and how to record subject-based career activities. It is going to be very useful for us to have a range of subject careers activities recorded in one place. This will ensure we are more strategic with other whole school career opportunities, and we can more effectively target year groups or individuals who have any gaps in their career coverage."

- Rachel Gray, SLT Lead for Careers and Humanities Career Champion

Volunteering opportunities

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