Careers
Policy Statement on Provider Access 2023
Introduction
This policy statement sets out the academies arrangements for managing the access of providers to the school for the purpose of giving them information about the provider’s education or training offer. This complies with the school’s legal obligations under Section 42B of the Education Act 1997.
Student Entitlement
All students in years 8 to 13 are entitled to:
- find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point;
- to hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships – through options events, assemblies and group discussions and taster events;
- to understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses.
For students of compulsory school age these encounters are mandatory and there will be a minimum of two encounters for students during Year 8 & 9 and two encounters for students during Year 10 & 11. For sixth form students, particularly those that have not yet decided on their next steps, there are two more provider encounters available during this period, which are optional for students to attend.
The Academy offers the six provider encounters required by law and a number of additional events, integrated into the school careers programme. We will offer providers an opportunity to come into the Academy to speak to students or their parents or carers.
Definition of a provider
A provider refers to an external organisation that provides approved technical qualifications or apprenticeship opportunities such as training providers, FE colleges and Higher Education institutions.
These provider encounters will be scheduled during the main academy hours and the provider will be given a reasonable amount of time to:
- share information about both the provider and the approved technical education qualification and apprenticeships that the provider offers
- explain what career routes those options could lead to
Meaningful online engagement is also an option, and we are open to providers that are able to provide live online engagement with our pupils.
Management of provider access requests:
A provider wishing to request access should contact Mr A Moore, Careers Lead, via email [email protected] or phone 0191 529 3712
Opportunities for access
Premises and facilities: The academy will make the main hall, classrooms or private meeting rooms available for discussions between the provider and students, as appropriate to the activity. We will also make available AV and other specialist equipment to support provider presentations. This will all be discussed and agreed in advance of the visit with the Careers Leader. Providers are welcome to leave a copy of their prospectus or other relevant course literature which will be made available to students throughout the academy.
A good quality Careers Education Programme aims to raise the aspirations and achievements of all of our young people, in line with our school motto, ‘Excellence For All’. It will seek to increase motivation by linking subjects and activities in school with both post-16 and post-18 pathways. It should inspire students to greater achievements in their academic qualifications and prepare them in the longer term for the world of work.
Our CEIAG Programme is built around the GATSBY benchmarks. These 8 benchmarks are the new government measures of how effective careers advice is in schools and are outlined below:
- Benchmark 1 A Stable Careers Programme
- Benchmark 2 Learning form Careers and Labour Market Information
- Benchmark 3 Addressing the Needs of Each Student
- Benchmark 4 Linking Curriculum Learning to Careers
- Benchmark 5 Encounters with Employers and Employees
- Benchmark 6 Experience of Workplaces
- Benchmark 7 Encounters with Further and Higher Education
- Benchmark 8 Personal Guidance
At Whitburn Church of England Academy we offer a comprehensive CEIAG programme throughout Years 7 – 11 and in Sixth form our students are very well supported in their applications to university, Higher Level Apprenticeships, School Leaver Programmes and other vocational Post-18 pathways.
We measure the impact of our CEIAG programme on pupils and students on an annual basis. We do this in the Autumn term by analysing destinations and in the Summer term by auditing against the Gatsby benchmarks
The next review of this provision will take place in July 2024.
