The Academy aims to equip students with both the practical and soft skills required for a career in the creative media industry. The creative industry is the UK’s fastest-growing economy, making up one in every eleven jobs. The creative industries are worth £115 billion a year to the UK economy, larger than the automotive, aerospace, life sciences, oil and gas industries combined. And they are growing faster than the rest of the UK economy. 

The Global Academy careers programme sets out how the Academy intends to provide a fit-for-purpose careers programme with the available resources which will provide our students with the knowledge, inspiration and ability to take ownership of their own career action plans which will enable them to succeed in their chosen career paths. 

We measure the success of our careers programme by the destinations students reach after leaving the Global Academy in Year 13 who land roles in top media companies like Global, the BBC, Google, TikTok, Bloomberg and more – as well as leading advertising agencies like Dentsu, Ogilvy and Mediacom. 

 Careers and Industry is embedded in everything we do at Global Academy – having industry guests, creative sector partnerships or career-related activity across the school is almost a daily occurrence. Our most recent Ofsted report praised our unique approach to careers and industry: 

Excellent careers advice and guidance from a range of personnel, including from the creative media industry, colleges and universities, contribute to an impressive number of pupils making the transition to further education, employment or training. Almost all Year 11 pupils and Year 13 students, including disadvantaged pupils, secured employment, education or training that met their needs and interests. 

Students benefit from strong preparation for their future careers. For example, they receive individual mentoring from specialists from the creative media industry, as well as bespoke support and guidance from a range of colleges, universities and apprenticeship providers. 

All students have access to the following: 

• Ad-hoc opportunities with industry partners and extra-curricular sessions (Eg. Youths Choice) to support students in developing their understanding of a range of different creative industry roles. A list of extra-curricular clubs is available on the school website. 
• G:Talks occur on a range of creative careers that inspire and motivate the students. These are offered at various points during the Academic Year. 
• All students can book careers appointments with the Careers Advisor 
• All students have access to the regular careers newsletters, careers section on the schools website. 
• External opportunities are advertised to students. 

As well as the importance to the UK economy – we place a value on CEAIG (Careers Education, Advice, Information & Guidance) to help deliver social mobility and to open doors for all young people. The government has recently endorsed the fact that “great careers guidance provides the first rung on the ladder of opportunity, helping everyone to achieve their full potential”. (DfE, 2017, p.3).

Alongside our careers education, information, advice and guidance; our industry focused media curriculum means students are more creative, more intellectually curious and (critically) more likely to demonstrate the skill set required to impress universities and top creative industry employers. Regular reflection across the course of study allows students to quantify their experience, learning and understanding to help prepare them for the industry.

We work closely with our industry partners, Global and the wider media community to ensure our practical and vocational education reflects both the practical and soft skills required for long lasting employment. This is delivered through the practical media curriculum across all levels of the school within Digital, Audio, Visual and Enterprise Pathways. Alongside the media curriculum, further preparation for a career in the media industry is installed within our learners through a varied and customised programme of workshops, electives, guest speakers, enrichment and work experience.

We want to ensure that all students are well prepared for whatever they decide to do after their time at the Academy whether this be further education, employment or further training. Our policy ensures that learners are exposed to experiences to help shape their journey after the Academy. In short, during their Global Academy journey, we can ensure our students are given the insight, skills and resources to get them to the top of their game within a media and creative industry career.

Click here to read our Career Access Policy and Global Academy’s Careers Plan