Our Offer at Archway Learning Trust
Our careers education programme is delivered during tutor time. For Years 7-10 between September and June and Years 11 September – February half term when they commence revision strategies.
· We are currently developing links to careers in all curriculum subjects, raising students’ awareness of FE and HE routes, jobs, labour market information and skills they are developing within each subject.
· Stakeholders including FE & HE providers, employers and employees deliver meaningful encounters through assemblies, presentations, workshops and work-based projects to ensure students gain insight into the world of work and are equipped to make informed choices about their best next steps.
· As part of the governments ambitious ‘Modern Work Experience’ from September 2026 every young person will be expected to complete:
· At least one week of work experience activities in years 7-9
· At least one week of placements in Years 10-11
· We offer all students 1:1 personal guidance meetings and tailored group guidance with qualified careers advisers
· The continued support of our alumni sharing their inspiring careers journeys supports the raising of aspirations and awareness of opportunities aimed at widening participation.
We have developed an ambitious taught education programme using the Career Development Institute (CDI) Framework framework endorsed by the government, businesses and key stakeholders. The framework incorporates six learning areas and their associated learning aims for KS3 (Yrs. 7-9) and KS4 (Yrs. 10-11).
Please find the link: https://www.thecdi.net/resources/cdi-framework
At Bluecoat Trent Academy, we understand the journey from Year 7 into post-pathways can be confusing, for both you and your child. There are numerous decisions to be made; Key Stage 4 subject choices, post 16 choices, and finally supporting your child’s choices into University or the world of work. Many websites offer advice, guidance and information on further education and careers.
Our students use an online tool called UniFrog to help them explore and organise their career plans. All students receive an account in Year 7, and begin to navigate this during careers lessons in Tutor time. If you would like to find out what UniFrog has to offer, you can watch this short video to tell you more:
Below are links to documents and websites, which give further useful information and guidance.
The Parents Guide to Post 16 options
Are you an employer looking to work with a school? Then we are looking for you!
We are keen to work with employers who can pass on the benefit of their skills, experience and expertise. Many of our careers events require volunteers who are willing to get involved in a variety of activities such as:
- Providing experiences of work places – this could be one off experiences or you may wish to offer placements to students during dedicated work experience weeks.
- Providing virtual experience of work place – by taking part in our virtual work experience.
- Offering tailored sessions for students in school (e.g. talks or workshops or mentoring, this could be virtual).
- Participating in mock interview days or careers fairs (virtually via video or email).
- Asking employers, employees and apprentices to share their first-hand experiences.
- Delivering assemblies.
- Attending or running after school clubs.
- Contributing to the design of school curriculum
The Careers & Enterprise Company
The Careers and Enterprise Company is running a national campaign to encourage employers to “Give an Hour…. Make a difference.” Click here to find out more details.
If you would like to find out more, or would like to volunteer for an event please contact:
Neal Osgood – Lead Teacher for Careers – Bluecoat Trent Academy
“Young adults who recall four or more encounters with employers while at school are five times less likely to be NEET and earn on average, 18% more than peers who recall no such activities”
Dr Anthony Mann, Director of Research and Policy, Education and Employers Task Force
CARE – Citizenship, Aspiration, Respect and Excellence are our core values here at BTA and careers education is embedded in the core of these values. We want our students to be active Citizens, who are clear about their place in the world and aspire to bring about positive change. A high quality experience of careers throughout our curriculum is crucial to this end.
Our careers curriculum is based around the Gatsby benchmarks and the CDI framework to ensure all young learners leave our school with the best possible chance to achieve in their chosen career path.
The Gatsby benchmarks are:
| 1. | A stable Careers Programme | Every school and college should have an embedded programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by students, parents, teachers, governors and employers. |
|---|---|---|
| 2. | Learning from career and labour market information | Every student, and their parents, should have access to good quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities. They will need the support of an informed adviser to make best use of available information. |
| 3. | Addressing the needs of each pupil | Students have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each pupil. A school’s careers programme should embed equality and diversity considerations throughout. |
| 4. | Linking curriculum to careers | All teachers should link curriculum learning with careers. STEM subject teachers should highlight the relevance of STEM subjects for a wide range of future career paths. |
| 5. | Encounters with employers and employees | Every pupil should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment activities including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes. |
| 6. | Experience of work places | Every pupil should have first-hand experiences of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities, and expand their networks. |
| 7. | Encounters of further and higher education | All pupils should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them. This includes both academic and vocational routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace. |
| 8. | Personal guidance | All pupils should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them. This includes both academic and vocational routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace. |
All staff in school are committed to helping students understand where their learning links to supporting their career choices and pathways. Staff regularly use lesson based learning to support learners understanding of how subjects link towards careers and jobs. This is highlighted in Schemes of Learning by the BTA careers flag.
Next Steps – Life after Bluecoat Trent Academy
As learners approach the end of their journey at Bluecoat Trent Academy, it is important to consider the next steps that they have available to them. Most students will find themselves moving into one of the following three pathways:
- Sixth Form or College
- Apprenticeships
- Employment
Sixth Form and Colleges
After completing GCSEs or vocational qualifications at the end of year 11, students may wish to continue to study towards A Levels, Level 3 Vocational Qualifications such as BTEC Level 3, Cambridge Technical or T Levels.
Students who wish support in making these decisions, can also speak to:
- Form tutors
- Subject Teachers
- Year Leaders
- SENDCo
- Senior Leadership Team
In addition to in-school support, there are a wide variety of online resources available to use, such as:
- The results and profile information in your UniFrog Software
- Which University Guide explains how important GCSE choices are when it comes to university
- National Careers Service have Careers Advisers available 8am to 10pm, 7 days a week (free)
- UCAS – further education helps you understand post 16 options
- Russell Group helps you to understand which subjects open up different degrees, particularly at Russell Group universities.
- A wide range of online prospectuses for local Sixth Form and Colleges including:
If a schools and college wish to access any of the careers and employability events at Bluecoat Trent Academy, further information can be found in our Access for Education and Training Providers Policy.
What is an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is a real job with training which would allow you to ‘earn while you learn’ and gain a nationally-recognised qualification. Apprenticeships take up to six years to complete and are available in 1,500 occupations across 170 industries varying from construction to manufacturing through to IT and the creative and digital sectors.
Benefits of doing an apprenticeship
- You will earn a competitive salary depending on your age
- Relevant training focusing on the skills employers want
- Opportunities for progression
- Learning at a pace suited to the individual with the support of a mentor
- Paid holiday
Entry requirements
Apprenticeships are available to anyone over the age of 16 living in England. There are different entry requirements depending on the sector and job.
Salaries
What you earn will depend on the industry, location and type of apprenticeship you choose. If you’re aged 16 to 18 or in the first year of your apprenticeship, you’re entitled to the apprentice rate. If you’re 19 or over and have completed the first year of your apprenticeship, you’re entitled to the National Minimum Wage.
This is the minimum you’ll earn – many employers pay a lot more and offer their apprentices a competitive salary.
Post-16 Open Events 2025/26
This policy statement sets out the school’s arrangements for managing the access of providers to pupils at the school for the purposes 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
Students in Years 8-11 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 curriculum evenings, assemblies, group discussions and taster events.
- To understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses.
Management of provider access requests
Opportunities for access
Our provision includes various opportunities for students to access a range of careers and employability events. These are mainly integrated into the schools careers programme and curriculum. These events are therefore delivered internally, with contribution from external providers where appropriate.
Procedure
A provider wishing to request access should contact Mr Ed Dickinson (Careers Lead for Bluecoat Trent Academy) via the school contact details. This will support the school and provider to identify the most suitable opportunity within the careers programme.
Resources
Once visits have been agreed, the school will provide appropriate rooming to facilitate the visit, along with any equipment requested by the provider, where it is available.
Providers are welcome to leave a copy of their prospectus or other relevant course literature to be displayed in the Library.
Reviewing our work and measuring our success
Our Principal and Careers Leader work closely with colleagues to ensure their careers strategic plan links to the whole school improvement plan. Using data, analysing need, understanding the interests and future progressions of students ensures we plan and deliver meaningful careers encounters, which are evaluated, and impact measured.
We use the following methods to gather robust data and measure performance:
Model/Framework Data Gathering Timeline
- Leadership Review System (CIS) CEC Compass + Self-Assessment Tool Evaluations completed annually at the end of each academic year
- Gatsby Benchmarks CEC Compass + Self-Assessment Tool Completed at the end of each term
- Future Skills Questionnaire Compass
- A minimum Requirement for all students in all schools to complete: Yr 7 Autumn Term 1 Year 9 Spring Term 1 Year 10 & Year 12 Summer Term 1
- Provider Access Legislation (PAL) Recorded in Compass + Completed at the end of each term
- Schools Intent Statement reviewed annually September with Yr 11 Leaver data updated Spring term one.
- Converged Careers Delivery & QA Learning Walks Student and staff evaluation P2P Assessment Completed termly
Stakeholder Evaluation
- Students, Staff, Parents, Employers, Providers Schools to complete, analyse and store securely
- Minimum of 12 different activities across the school and sixth form annually
