Careers at Simon Balle: Creating Tomorrow’s Citizens Today

At Simon Balle All-through School, our vision is to ensure every student develops the knowledge, skills, and wisdom to flourish in a rapidly changing world. A central pillar of this journey is our comprehensive Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) programme.

To ensure our students are "career ready," we have mapped our entire curriculum - from the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) through to Year 13- against the Career Development Institute (CDI) Framework.

What is the CDI Framework?

The CDI Framework focuses on six core learning areas that are essential for a positive and successful career:

 

  • Grow throughout life: Learning about yourself and your strengths.
  • Explore possibilities: Learning about the full range of work and career options.
  • Manage career: Actively making decisions and managing transitions.
  • Create opportunities: Being proactive and building professional relationships.
  • Balance life and work: Focusing on wellbeing and community involvement.
  • See the big picture: Understanding how the economy, politics, and society impact careers.

Our All-through Approach

By using a common language across the whole school, we ensure that the seeds of aspiration sown in the Primary phase grow into a sophisticated understanding of the world of work by the time a student leaves our Sixth Form.

To see how these skills are developed at each stage of the Simon Balle journey, please view our detailed curriculum maps below:

Download Primary Careers Map (EYFS – KS2)

"Sowing the Seeds of Aspiration" This document outlines how our youngest learners begin to explore 'people who help us,' challenge stereotypes, and develop the essential 'Skills Builder' attributes like teamwork and staying positive.

Download Secondary & Sixth Form Careers Map (KS3 – KS5)

"Navigating the Future" This document details the progression from initial career exploration in Year 7 through to the highly specialised financial planning, labour market interrogation, and professional networking required in the Sixth Form.