Careers

Careers Provision at Chulmleigh College

Our Careers Provision supports pupils from Year 7 through to Year 11 and helps them to develop, review and plan for life at post-16 and beyond. Where some pupils may have very strong notions regarding further study and life choices, others will need support and encouragement to start to explore and develop the possibilities for their futures.

Careers information and opportunities are regularly advertised in our Optime newsletter.

If you have any queries please contact Rachel Woods, Senior Teacher and Careers Lead. rwoods@chulmleigh.devon.sch.uk

Chulmleigh Academy Trust Provider Access Policy Statement

Ownership: Chulmleigh Academy Trust

Policy Date: September 2023

Last Updated: October 2023

Review due: September 2024

Staff Responsible: Rachel Woods (Senior Teacher & Careers Lead)

Development
This policy has been developed and is reviewed annually by the Careers Leader and Headteacher based on current good practice guidelines by the Department for Education.

Links with other policies
It supports and is underpinned by key school policies including those for Careers, Child Protection, Equality and Diversity, and SEND.

Equality and Diversity
Access to other providers is available and promoted to allow all pupils to access information about other providers of further education and apprenticeships. Chulmleigh Academy Trust is committed to encouraging all pupils to make decisions about their future based on impartial information.

Rationale
High quality careers education and guidance in school or college is critical to young people’s futures. It helps to prepare them for the workplace by providing a clear understanding of the world of work including the routes to jobs and careers that they might find engaging and rewarding. It supports them to acquire the self-development and career management skills they need to achieve positive employment destinations. This helps pupils to choose their pathways, improve their life opportunities and contribute to a productive and successful economy.
As the number of apprenticeships rises every year, it becomes increasingly important that all young people have a full understanding of all the options available to them post-16 and post-18 including wider technical education options such as T-Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications.

Commitment
Chulmleigh Academy Trust is committed to ensuring there is an opportunity for a range of education and training providers to access pupils, for the purpose of informing them about approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships. Chulmleigh Academy Trust is fully aware of the responsibility to set pupils on the path that will secure the best outcome which will enable them to progress in education and work and give employers the highly skilled people they need. That means acting impartially, in line with the statutory duty, and not showing bias towards any route, be that academic or technical.
Chulmleigh Academy Trust endeavours to ensure that all pupils are aware of all routes to higher skills and are able to access information on technical options and apprenticeships (The Department of Education, July 2021: “Baker Clause”: supporting pupils to understand the full range of education and training options, and the Provider Access Legislation, January 2023).

Aims
Chulmleigh Academy Trust’s policy for access to other education and training providers has the following aims:

To develop the knowledge and awareness of our students of all career pathways available to them, including technical qualifications and apprenticeships.
To support young people to be able to learn more about opportunities for education and training outside of school before making crucial choices about their future options.
To reduce drop out from courses and avoid the risk of pupils becoming NEET (Young people not in education, employment or training).

Chulmleigh Academy Trust fully supports the statutory requirement for pupils to have direct access to other providers of further education training, technical training and apprenticeships. The school will comply with the new legal requirement to put on at least six encounters with providers of approved technical education qualifications or apprenticeships. This will be done in assemblies in National Apprenticeship Week and National Careers Week, in addition to providers attending careers events at school or at each Trust school.

Opportunities for access:
Below outlines key elements of our careers programme and highlighted in bold are some of the activities that offer providers the best opportunity for external providers to come into school to speak to pupils:
There are designated notice boards around the College containing careers information. A selection of prospectuses for post-16 colleges and universities can be viewed by pupils.

Year Group

Careers and Post-16 Itinerary

Year 11

Assemblies used to showcase post-16 choices. Representatives from main providers (Exeter College, Bicton, Petroc) invited to deliver assemblies (Autumn Term).

Pupils invited to attend lunchtime drop-in sessions. Representatives from main providers (Exeter College, Bicton, Petroc), apprenticeship schemes and different career pathways are invited to lead these sessions (Autumn Term).

Careers South West mentoring for all Y11 pupils. (Autumn Term).

PSHE: specific focus on careers and post-16 choices in the Autumn Term. Pupils are given time to consider their choices, practice interview technique and develop their CVs. (Autumn Term).

Work experience encouraged during school holidays.

Guild Time provided for pupils to explore careers options independently via the Career Pilot platform. (Autumn + Spring Terms).

Count Down To GCSEs Parent and Pupil Evening (Autumn Term).