Careers

Our vision

Careers and aspirations advice is fundamental to the work we do within our Academy. We believe in every student and their parents/carers having access to a wide range of quality information and support in order to help them to access their next steps.

We are proud of our strong relationships with numerous universities, training providers, colleges and employers who work with our students to help to raise aspirations and understand the pathways available to them.

In order to ratify the quality work we undertake with our students and their parents we are currently working towards gaining The Quality in Careers Standard for the third time.

Ofsted also noted in our last inspection: Of our Y11’s: ‘Pupils reported that careers advice and guidance and support for the next stage of learning were strong’. Within Sixth Form: ‘In the most recent years all students have gone on to education, employment or training as a result of effective careers advice and guidance’ – Ofsted 2018.

Provider Access Policy – November 2024

Who to talk to in school

Careers Leader: Vacancy

SLT Link for Careers: Mr Nicholas Campbell (nicholas.campbell@attrust.org.uk)

What if I don’t know what I want to do yet?

Some students may have a very clear, vague, or no idea at all of the area of further study or work they may wish to pursue. At Pool Hayes Academy we want to support you in this, whatever your context. Students will need to apply as early as possible, and we ask for parental support and encouragement in this. If a student knows the area they wish to pursue further, then our advice is to try and find work experience as soon as possible.

Please see the links below for further guidance and information:

My Choices – Your Guide to Further Education

National Careers Service – Information, advice, and guidance to help make decisions on learning, training and work.

Prospects – Job and career advice.

Learn How to Become – Job and career advice.

Parental Guidance – Careers Information and Advice from the Careers Writers Association.

Step into the NHS – NHS careers.

Gov.uk – Find an Apprenticeship – Apprenticeship information and guidance.

Amazing Apprenticeships – Helpful monthly parent pack and a ‘Parents guide to Apprenticeships’.

Careers events

PHA Careers Event Calendar – 2024-2025

Unifrog

Unifrog helps students to compare university courses, apprenticeships, and Further Education courses, and then apply successfully.

Unifrog supports students to find the next best step for them as an individual. The Unifrog platform helps students with the whole progression process – from exploring their interests, to recording the great things they’ve done, to finding education and training opportunities, to drafting their applications.

Work experience

Coming soon!

How we are assessed

1.	A stable careers programme	Every school 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 advisor to make best use of available information.
3.	Addressing the needs of each student	Students have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each student. A school’s careers programme should embed equality and diversity considerations throughout.
4.	Linking curriculum learning 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 student 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.	Experiences of workplaces	Every student should have first-hand experiences of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience to help their exploration of carerr opportunities and to expand their networks
7.	Encounters with further and higher education	All students 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	Every student should have opportunities for guidance interviews with a Careers Adviser, who could be internal (a member of school staff) or external, provided they are trained to an appropriate level. These should be available whenever significant study or career choices are being made.