Plymouth
Employability
Passport
One way of addressing the lack
of “soft skills” in our young people
Lynn Harris Careers co-ordinator
Eggbuckland Community College
Sue Moreton IAG co-ordinator
Devonport High School for Boys
CEIAG Conference 2-12-14
“We have seen clear evidence that what
are often misleadingly called “soft skills”
actually lead to hard results”
Baroness Claire Tyler
“A degree alone is not enough”
Digby-Jones, ex director of CBI
“You may have a first from Oxford, but if
you haven’t developed as a person you
aren’t going to get the job”
Carl Gillard, Chief Executive of the
Association of Graduate Recruiters
extra
curricular
activities
Plymouth
Employability
Passport
REALISING
RECOGNISING
REWARDING
Plymouth
Employability
Passport
The award will :
• Encourage students to develop and evidence
a range of activities and experiences
• Reflect the whole student, beyond exams
• Recognise and reward qualities that are
valued by PLT schools, together with
Plymouth City Council, Plymouth Chamber
of Commerce and local employers.
Plymouth
Employability
Passport
Nine areas of challenge identified:
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Organisation, planning & time management
Customer service & business awareness
Literacy, numeracy & money management
Career choice, job identification & job seeking
CV, job application & interview preparation
Confidence, communication & presentation skills
Team working
Problem solving & innovation
Leadership
& also demonstrate STEM expertise
through any of the challenges
CV, Job Application
and Interview
Preparation
This area of achievement enables learners to understand themselves
and their capabilities, develop interview skills and identify career and
employment opportunities.
Some ideas are:
BRONZE challenges
Complete mock application forms
Write a CV
Participate in a careers discussion and complete an action plan
Participate in a school careers development programme
Host guest speakers from local employers / companies that
advise on opportunities and employment
SILVER challenges
Complete a mock interview
Develop a group activity that you can present to a target group
with regard to a career of interest to you
Identify an appropriate area of employment and investigate it,
then present your findings
Prepare letters of application
GOLD challenges
Understand the culture of work, the needs of employers and
work ethics, and prepare a presentation on this subject
showing your knowledge, i.e. presenting self and performance
expectations
Undertake a work experience placement
Participate in voluntary work / part time work
Team Working
This area of development demonstrates skills in working and
contributing toward achieving collective goals, showing adaptability
and working with others from different disciplines,
backgrounds and expertise to accomplish a task or goal.
Some ideas are:
BRONZE challenges
Be a Student Representative
Engage in sports leadership programmes or provide evidence of
participating as a member of a club outside school
Create a visual display relating to a subject that informs young
people for display in the school/college
Provide evidence of involvement in a voluntary activity outside
school
SILVER challenges
Organise exam revision classes
Coach others in performing arts classes or for school
production
Assist in running activity clubs after school
Develop a small enterprise activity that benefits a specific need
in the school /college
GOLD challenges
Complete a community project, involving the wider community
outside the school/college
Be a Peer Mentor, participating fully in school peer mediation
procedures and activities
Following on from your work as a Subject Ambassador, make a
presentation to staff of your evaluation of a particular subject
STEM – Science,
Technology, Engineering &
Mathematics
This area of expertise enables the learner to demonstrate any
additional evidence of specific activities that enhance the STEM
curriculum. It demonstrates a learner's understanding of the practical
applications of technology related subjects.
Some ideas are:
Design and create an app
Develop a communication blog that contributes to learners
with an interest in STEM subjects
Develop an interesting activity that contributes to National
Science Week and present it to Key Stage 3
Design a mathematics challenge that can be utilized in a revision
club for Key Stage 3
Create a colour coded timetable that can be enhanced for
students with specific educational needs
Design a product that can be produced for a fundraising
purpose at e.g. Christmas fair / Summer fete
Create a business plan using software that forms part of an 1T
systems presentation
Create a fitness programme that is demonstrated using digital
software / media
Plymouth
Employability
Passport
• Pilot project during 2014-15 school year
• Initially aimed at Y9/10/11/12
• Bronze requires one challenge from
each challenge area, silver two and gold
three
• Gold applicants also present to a panel
of staff, governors and local employers
• Awards/certificates at school prize
giving evening
Plymouth
Employability
Passport
Next steps:
• Build & strengthen links with
employers
• Discuss ways that employers might
assist schools in the delivery of the
award (e.g. CV or business plan
critique; mock interviews; WEx)
• Recognise – in school – what we are
already doing that fulfils Passport
criteria
Plymouth
Employability
Passport
We feel that this award has the potential
to take students to the next level of
employability and university suitability; in
ever more competitive markets we want
them to not only be the best they can be,
but to actively recognise, demonstrate
and evidence their skills.
To register an interest in future Passport
developments; please take one of our cards,
and/or leave your details on the sheet
provided