Strategic focus and policies

How your school’s career education plan connects to strategic documents (eg school charter, strategic plan).

Example of linking to strategic focus and policies:

"Within the schools strategic plan, career education is cited in several areas…Within the Vision and Core Beliefs section of the Strategic Plan, career education is mentioned in long-term goals, yearly objectives and proposed outcomes for students…"

Te Kuiti High School - career education plan (extract)

Documents to refer to:

• school charter
• school strategic plan
• career education and guidance policy
• STAR policy
• work-based learning policy
• EOTC policy
• equity policy
• curriculum statements.
  

Vision statement

Develop your school’s vision statement for career education.

Example of a vision statement:

"Our vision for career education is that all students are equipped with the tools (skills and knowledge) to make an effective transition from school to adult life. This implies that the school has systems in place that meet the following: career-related information and advice integrating into existing classroom practice (from Year 9 to 13) in all subject areas."

Te Kuiti High School - career education plan (extract)

Useful background reading:

• Career Services - Understanding career education in years 7 and 8  (2008)
• Career Services - Career Education in Practice – an evolving handbook (2007)
• Ministry of Education website - Final reports on the CaPBL Project (2009) 
• Ministry of Education website - STAR handbook
• NZ Curriculum website - Career Education & Guidance In NZ Schools (2009)
• Tertiary Education Commission website - Gateway
  
• Ka Hikitia website - Māori Education Strategy (2008 - 2012)
  
• Ministry of Education website - Pasifika Education Plan (2008 - 2012)
  

Overview of delivery programmes

Outline and describe the activities and programmes in place in your school including:

• what is happening now (eg by year level)
• what is in the programmes
• how you meet the needs of specific groups (eg risk, talented and gifted students)
• information and teaching resources
• school, family and community involvement
• professional development and support.
  

Example of overview of delivery programmes:

"Programme plan by year-level content: Year 9

• self-awareness/identity units: hauora/PE; social studies
• junior computing: careers website/CareerQuest
• university open day: targeted classes
• junior Māori career workshop (trial) etc."

Ngaruawahia High School - draft career education plan (extract)

Documents to refer to:

• career education and guidance scheme of work and programme overviews (career department plan)
• quality assurance procedures.

Procedures and systems

Describe the processes, networks and systems that support and are supported by career education and guidance.

Example of procedures and systems:     

"Tracking and support at Te Kuiti High School

Recorded notes from twice-yearly interviews with students in Years 11-13."

Te Kuiti High School - career education plan (extract)

Documents to refer to:

• subject selection and academic guidance
• off-site activities and work experience
• student profiling and tracking
• identification of and interventions for students at risk
• referral and follow-up
• student entry and leaving procedures
• family and community liaison and communication.

Development goals

State your plans for the future:

• current priorities for further development of career education and guidance
• operational goals and action plans to achieve these priorities.

Example of a development goal:   

"Junior students will have the opportunities to hear from years 12 and 13 students( What they have learnt so far, how they made subject choices, what they wish they had done differently, what their goals are currently)."

Waitaki Boys' High School - career education plan (extract)

Documents to refer to:

• career education and guidance development priorities
• implementation (or action) plans
• learning areas of the curriculum - annual goals.

Evaluation and review

The evaluation and review section would contain:

• outcomes of career education and guidance programmes
• how and when these goals will be measured and analysed
• how and when the career education plan is reviewed.

Example of evaluation and review:

"Informal formative evaluation - recording of programmes' 'goings on' at once-a-term careers team meeting (minuted discussions)."

Ngaruawahia High School - career education plan (extract)

Documents to refer to:

• planning and review procedures
• evaluation plan
• baseline data and analysis 
• student achievement and destination data and analysis
• STAR and Gateway evaluations
• student, teacher, family and community survey results
• annual school reviews.

Accountability and reporting

Outline the roles and responsibilities of your careers team. This could include reporting requirements, dates and templates.

Example of accountability and reporting:

"Annual STAR report sent to Mr S Thompson, included in Careers Departmental Management document and CEP database."

Southland Boys' High School - career education plan (extract)

Documents to refer to:

• job or person roles and responsibilities
• job descriptions
• performance management/appraisal system
• annual report to the board of trustees
• bi-annual report to the principal
• annual STAR funding report (to Ministry of Education)
• annual Gateway reports (to Tertiary Education Commission)
• Youth Apprenticeships report.

Financial management

Outline your school’s budgeting process and financial planning for careers and transitions, including assets and financial statements.

Example of financial management:

"Funding for the careers department is received annually through the CIG, STAR and Gateway. Both STAR and Gateway are tagged resources and must only be used for their particular purpose…"

Te Kuiti High School's - career education plan (extract)

Documents to refer to:

• budgeting procedures and dates
• entitlement notice
• Gateway funding contract
• Youth Apprenticeship funding contract
• CIAG, STAR and Gateway budgets
• careers department asset register
• monthly statements
• departmental budgets.

Appendices

Use the appendices section to attach or hyperlink to supporting school documents such as contracts, reports, data analysis etc.