Provider Access Policy Statement

Under Section 42B of the Education Act 1997 we have a duty to provide pupils in Years 8-13 with access to providers of post-14, post-16 and post-18 education and training. This policy statement sets out how we manage access requests from these providers.

What are pupils entitled to?

Pupils must be allowed to:

  • Learn more about technical education qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities, as part of a careers programme which informs pupils of the full range of education and training options available to them at each transition point.
  • Hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities on offer, for example, technical education and apprenticeships – this can be achieved through options evenings, assemblies, group discussions, and taster events.
  • Understand how to apply to the full range of academic and technical courses available to them.

Who handles our access requests?

Any provider wishing to request access should contact school on 01772 421909 or via email on careers@lsmchs.com

What opportunities are provided to allow access to pupils?

Via our school careers programme, we offer providers numerous opportunities throughout the school year to speak to pupils and/or their parents. Our annual schedule of events is as follows:

 

Year 8 Programme

Within the PSHCEE Curriculum pupils are introduced to the Careers Coordinator and begin work on the careers platform, Unifrog where they look at the following:

Introduction to Unifrog

  • What's your dream job?
  • What are skills?
  • Information Treasure Hunt
  • Identifying interests
  • Skills For Careers
  • Your skills, your team, your future
  • Careers terminology
  • University vs apprenticeships

 

Year 9 Programme

Event

Date

Time

Location

Lunch Time Q&A Sessions with Colleges & Providers
obtain information and help with applications

Wed 18th October
Mon 27th November

1:20pm – 2pm

LRC

Careers Fair – Years 9-11

Wed 22nd November

4pm – 6pm

All Hallows Catholic High School

Options Evening & Subject Fair

Wed 28th February

3:30pm – 6.30pm

 

End of KS3 Enrichment Morning

Wed 28th February

Period 1 - Period 4

Timetabled

 

Within the PSHCEE Curriculum pupils have access to the school Careers Coordinator and continue work on the careers platform, Unifrog where they look at the following:

  • Options Choices
  • Different Qualifications
  • Subject Library - videos
  • BTECS/T-Levels
  • Post-16 intentions
  • LMI

 

Careers assemblies will be delivered throughout the academic year and additional events, activities and visits will be added to the Careers Programme as they are identified throughout the year. One to One Career Guidance meetings will be available with pupils where necessary.

Year 10 Programme

Event

Date

Time

Location

Lunch Time Q&A Sessions with Colleges & Providers to
obtain information and help with applications

Wed 18th October
Mon 27th November

1:20pm – 2pm

LRC

Careers Fair – Years 9-11

Wed 22nd November

4pm – 6pm

All Hallows Catholic High School

Year 10 Mock Interviews

Tues 6th February

9am – 1:15pm

Timetabled

Year 10 Work Experience

Mon 18th - Fri 22nd March

All Day Offsite

Runshaw College & Preston College Taster Day Assembly

Tues 23rd April

8:45am– 10.00am

Drama Theatre

Cardinal Newman Taster Day Assembly

Mon 13th May

8:45am– 9:15am

Drama Theatre

Runshaw College & Preston College Taster Day

Wed 26th June

9am – 3pm

Timetabled

Cardinal Newman Taster Day

Tues 2nd July

9am – 3pm

Timetabled

 

Careers assemblies will be delivered throughout the academic year and additional events, activities and visits will be added to the Careers Programme as they are identified throughout the year. One to One Career Guidance meetings will be available with pupils where necessary.
 

Year 11 Programme

Event

Date

Time

Location

Post-16 Options Assembly Mon 11th September  8.45am - 9am Drama Theatre

Runshaw College Assembly

Mon 18th September

8:45am – 9am

Drama Theatre

Cardinal Newman College Assembly

Mon 25th September

8:45am – 9am

Drama Theatre

Preston College Assembly

Mon 2nd October

8:45am – 9am

Drama Theatre

Ask Project – Apprenticeships Assembly Mon 9th October 8:45am – 9am Drama Theatre
Myerscough College Assembly Mon 16th October 8:45am – 9am Drama Theatre

Preston College Apprenticeship Workshop

Tues 17th October 3pm - 4pm Room 7i

Lunchtime Q&A Sessions with Colleges & Providers to
obtain information and help with applications

Wed 18th  October

Mon 27th  November

1:20pm – 2pm

LRC

Careers Fair - Years 9 – 11

Wed 22nd November

4pm – 6pm

All Hallows Catholic High School

Year 11 Impartial CI & G Speed Meet (Identified pupils only)

Wed 6th December

2pm – 3pm

LRC

Year 11 school deadline for all post 16 applications

Mon 11th December

N/A

N/A

Year 11 Preston College Interviews

Mon 4th March

9am – 1:15pm

LRC

Year 11 Runshaw College Interviews

Tues 5th March

9am – 3:00pm

LRC


Careers assemblies will be delivered throughout the academic year and additional events, activities and visits will be added to the Careers Programme as they are identified throughout the year. One to One Career Guidance meetings will be available with pupils where necessary.

 

Who should providers contact to discuss events and options?

Providers can speak to our careers coordinator, Mrs E. McVey, on 01772 421909 or via email on careers@lsmchs.com to discuss possible attendance at relevant events.

Our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy sets out the school’s approach to allowing providers into school to speak to our pupils.

What can providers expect once a request has been accepted?

Once we have approved a provider, we will work with them to identify the best method for providing access to our pupils.

We will make the school Drama Theatre, the Learning Resource Centre, classrooms or meeting rooms available to host discussions between providers and pupils. We will also make presentation equipment, such as projectors and televisions, available to providers.

Arrangements will be discussed in advance between our careers leader and a nominated member of the provider’s team.

Can providers leave prospectuses for pupils to read?

Providers are welcome to leave a copy of their prospectus and other relevant course literature with the school careers coordinator via the school office.

Apprenticeships:

https://www.gov.uk/topic/further-education-skills/apprenticeships

https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

https://apprenticeshipguide.co.uk/

ICould:

https://icould.com/

Carreers Advice for Parents:

http://www.careersadviceforparents.org

National Careers Service:

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/home

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/explore-your-education-and-training-choices

Start Better Choices:

https://www.startprofile.com/

Get My First Job Apprenticeships 

https://www.getmyfirstjob.co.uk/

 

Labour Market Information by Region

Updated: 08/11/2023 858 KB

 

 

Statutory Obligations for Careers in School

In line with the Statutory guidance for governing bodies, school leaders and school staff, Careers guidance and access for education and training providers.
St Mary’s Catholic High Schools Careers policy ensures that all registered pupils at the school are provided with a careers programme from year 8 to year 11.

Careers inspiration and guidance at St Mary’s is a progressive journey from Year 8-11. The aims of the Careers programme at St Mary’s are:

To develop positive attitudes in the pupils towards study and work.

  • To develop employability and enterprise skills, such as teamwork, resilience and communication.
  • To help Pupils to plan and take control of their future making informed choices at key points in their education.
  • To provide Pupils with the relevant careers inspiration and guidance that is suitable to their personal needs including age, ability, attitudes and aptitudes.
  • To provide Pupils with a comprehensive understanding of opportunities post 16 and post 18 including traineeships, apprenticeships, school leaver programmes, HE, FE, employment and training opportunities.
  • To help Pupils to reflect on themselves – their abilities, skills, aptitudes and attitudes – so that they can use this knowledge to consider their development.
  • To provide Pupils with impartial advice about options that are available to them.
  • To provide equal opportunity of access to careers inspiration and guidance.

Implementation of Careers Education

These aims are achieved through the Careers curriculum which is outlined below. All strategies are in line with the Gatsby Benchmarks. Careers Compass is completed twice per year and action points inform improvements. The compass assessment tool has helped St Mary’s work towards, and in most cases meet, each of the benchmarks.

The AHT responsible for Careers, with the Enterprise Advisor network, an Independent Careers Advisor, Curriculum Leaders, external providers, Lancashire County Council and local employers, strive for continuous improvement and build on each benchmark further.

The school is strong and committed to achieving all 8 Benchmarks:

  1. A stable Careers programme
  2. Learning from Career and labour market information
  3. Addressing the needs of each pupil
  4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
  5. Encounters with employers and employees
  6. Experience of workplaces
  7. Encounters with further and higher education
  8. Personal Guidance

The Provision

  1. Careers inspiration and support begins discreetly in Year 7 through year group assemblies, allowing the Pupils to reflect on where they are now and on what they want to do in the future. Pupils are introduced to the online careers information available to them. They are also introduced to the National Careers Service Website focusing on job profiles and job sectors. Employers, for example Eric Wright, provide an employer encounter within the Maths curriculum and this practice is embedded throughout all departments in school, providing pupils exposure to a range of professionals and careers while raising aspirations and providing a context for education and achieving ones potential.
  2. Year 8 have a timetabled Careers topic within the PSHCEE programme. This topic has pupils investigating possible career routes and matching skills and qualities to suitable occupations. Pupils are introduced to possible opportunities and pathways post 16. Stereotyping is addressed to ensure all Pupils are aware and fully embrace the importance of equal opportunities. The AHT responsible for Careers delivers a whole assembly to the year 8 cohort about the different post 16 routes available giving in depth discussion of the different courses available including apprenticeships. Employer encounters also feature within curriculum learning across all departments in school.
  3. The work in Year 9 is designed to help the Pupils prepare for their options. There is a well-planned options process, including an Options Fair with a talk from the Deputy Head Teacher, to help Pupils make informed choices. Local training providers also attend this event to provide information about progression routes. The AHT for Careers provides an assembly on post 16 opportunities, including- academic, vocational and apprenticeship routes. Year 9 Pupils are invited to attend the school's annual Careers Fair, and they also fully engage with the "My Future’ Super Learning Day in which they meet the professionals and undertake workshops which focus on post 16 choices, employability skills and labour market information. Year 9 also receive an employability skills workshop with the schools Enterprise Link. Finally, identified groups of Year 9 Pupils also visit the Lancashire Apprenticeship and Careers Expo and various Horizons careers events at Runshaw College.
  4. Year 10, receive employer encounters in a number subjects, to enhance curriculum learning and all pupils experience a day at one of two local training providers as well as the ‘Experience of Workplaces Day’. The aim of this day is to give pupils first-hand experience of the world of work. All placements are found by the school based on pupils specific interests and future aspirations, following the completion of the Mock Interview process. Pupils are fully prepared for their experience through planned careers activities delivered in form time. All Year 10 Pupils have access to our Careers convention which gives advice and guidance on post 16 & post 18 opportunities in the autumn. . Year10 Pupils are also invited to attend the school's annual Careers Fair, and they also fully engage with their "My Future’ Super Learning Day in which they meet the professionals and undertake workshops which focus on post 16 choices, employability skills and labour market information. Identified groups of Year 10 Pupils also visit the Lancashire Apprenticeship and Careers Expo, various Aim Higher careers events and the Oxbridge Bound event at Runshaw College.
  5. Year 11 have a well-planned Careers Inspiration and Guidance Management Programme that is completed throughout the year. It involves a variety of impartial experiences and workshops with employers and providers giving inspiration and guidance in a range of industry sectors. The programme begins in September with the "My Future’ Super Learning Day in which they meet the professionals and undertake workshops which focus on post 16 choices, employability skills and labour market information and the application process. Year 11 also take part in the Careers Fair. This gives Pupils the opportunity to seek impartial guidance and advice from over 30 professionals and organisations, in order to help with their post 16 options and decisions. Our in house Year 11 support programme includes workshops to support letters of application, CV's, application forms and interview techniques, all delivered by local employers and training providers. Pupils are regularly given open day information during assembly and form time and via all means of social media. Pupils receive a number of careers assemblies throughout the year giving information, including how to utilise the careers opportunities organised within school. An identified group of pupil have access to an Impartial Careers Advisor to support this process.

Entitlement to Careers Education and Guidance

There is a calendar of events on the school website which gives Pupils and parents advanced notices of up and coming events, presentations, initiatives and workshops. A letter is also sent out at the beginning of each academic year as well as information being shared at the Parent Information Evenings held each September. We make use of all social media avenues to advertise our events.

All Year Groups have the opportunity to develop their employability and enterprise skills through taking part in various activities on the Super Learning Days they receive throughout their time at school, and on the various enrichment activities. Examples include teamwork, resilience, leadership, responsibility, presentation, finance, listening skills and creativity.

Wherever possible, Alumni are used to inspire Pupils and act as role models covering a range of subjects and year groups.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Quality Assurance

The school is committed to CPD for Careers; all staff receive update briefings twice a year, in addition to further CPD opportunities.

Regular meetings with the School Enterprise Coordinator and the School Enterprise Advisor ensure a robust programme which meets, or is working towards, all the criteria of the Gatsby Benchmarks and Government Statutory Guidance.

This combined with extensive staff, pupil, parent/carer and employer/training provider engagement and feedback, ensures that there is a robust Careers programme which is annually updated to ensure it is catering for all.

Destinations

All pupils destinations are collected in house and changes are made to the Careers programme accordingly. Findings are communicated to the governing body.

 

 

National Careers Week and Helpful Careers Resources Page

We have a specific careers page with information from the recent National Careers Week, up-to-date resources and upcoming careers events.