Careers Vision

Our vision is to deliver an INSPIRE careers programme that enables all learners to make informed, ambitious, and realistic decisions about their future pathways. Every student will leave education with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in further education, training, or employment.

Rationale

High-quality CEIAG ensures equitable access to guidance, supports key transition points, and prepares learners for an evolving labour market. Targeted support is provided for SEND, disadvantaged learners, and those at risk of NEET. The programme is structured, progressive, and aligned with statutory guidance and the Gatsby Benchmarks.

INSPIRE Career Framework

I – Inclusive (Gatsby Benchmark 3)

N – Next Steps focused (Gatsby Benchmarks 4 & 7)

S – Supported Transitions (Gatsby Benchmarks 3 & 8)

P – Personalised and Progressive (Gatsby Benchmarks 1 & 3)

I – Integrated into the Curriculum (Gatsby Benchmark 4)

R – Responsive to the Labour Market (Gatsby Benchmark 2)

E – Employer Engagement (Gatsby Benchmarks 5 & 6)

Learning Outcomes

Year 7 – Self-awareness and introduction to careers

Students will be able to:

• Identify their strengths, interests and skills and recognise how these may change over time.
• Understand what a career is and how learning links to future work.
• Describe a range of job roles and begin to challenge stereotypes.
• Use Unifrog to explore careers and record reflections in their Personal Development Record.
• Demonstrate positive attitudes to learning, teamwork and aspiration.

Year 8 – Exploring careers and pathways

Students will be able to:

• Explain how subjects link to careers and progression routes.
• Explore a wider range of job sectors, apprenticeships and education pathways.
• Use careers information to make informed questions about jobs and industries.
• Reflect on employer encounters, careers talks and events.
• Recognise the importance of employability skills such as communication and resilience.

Year 9 – Decision-making and option choices

Students will be able to:

• Evaluate how GCSE option choices link to future pathways and careers.
• Use careers information to compare post-16 routes, including FE, apprenticeships and sixth form.
• Identify personal strengths and areas for development using tools such as the Future Skills Questionnaire.
• Record and reflect on careers learning in their Personal Development Record.
• Begin to set short- and medium-term goals linked to aspirations.

Year 10 – Understanding the world of work

Students will be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of workplace expectations, behaviours and rights.
• Engage confidently with employers and workplace encounters.
• Identify skills developed through school and extracurricular activities.
• Use Unifrog to explore career pathways linked to GCSE subjects.
• Access and act on impartial careers guidance to inform next steps.

Year 11 – Preparing for post-16 transition

Students will be able to:

• Make informed post-16 choices based on interests, attainment and career goals.
• Produce a basic CV or application and demonstrate interview awareness.
• Understand pathways including apprenticeships, FE, sixth form and training.
• Reflect on careers guidance interviews and identify clear next steps.
• Demonstrate readiness for transition through organisation and resilience.

Year 12 – Career planning and employability

Students will be able to:

• Research and evaluate post-18 options, including HE, apprenticeships and employment.
• Demonstrate employability skills through work experience and employer encounters.
• Produce a CV and high-quality applications tailored to intended pathways.
• Reflect critically on experiences to refine career ideas.
• Access and apply guidance to support well-planned progression.

Year 13 – Transition to higher education or employment

Students will be able to:

• Make and manage successful applications (UCAS, apprenticeships, employment).
• Articulate skills, experiences and aspirations confidently in interviews and personal statements.
• Demonstrate readiness for independent learning, work or training.
• Understand financial, well-being and lifestyle implications of future choices.
• Leave education with a clear, realistic and aspirational career plan.