Overview of Careers Programme (subject to change)
Year 7
- PSE and Form Time careers programme
- Higher Horizons Uni Inform Programme: Introduction to Higher Education
- Limitless Literature: Targeted reading fluency to reduce barriers to Higher Education
- Employer Encounters: Visits from the RAF and Royal Navy
- Meaningful Work Experience: Introductory opportunities begin
- Alton Towers Programme: 5-week collaboration with Staffordshire University (includes 2 days of WEX)
- Universal access to Unifrog
- Annual Careers Fair
Year 8
- PSE and Form Time careers programme
- Employer Mock Interviews: Interviews with real professionals to develop communication and “thinking on the spot” skills
- Future Ready Fund: Intensive three-year programme for eligible students (includes 3 days of annual work experience)
- Limitless Literature: Targeted reading fluency to reduce barriers to Higher Education
- Alton Towers Programme: 5-week collaboration with Staffordshire University (includes 2 days of WEX)
- Employer Encounters: Visits from the RAF and Royal Navy
- Meaningful Work Experience: Twycross Zoo
- Future Skills Questionnaire
- Universal access to Unifrog
- Annual Careers Fair
Year 9
- PSE and Form Time careers programme
- Higher Horizons Pathways and Choices Inform Programme: Focused on A-Levels, T-Levels and Apprenticeships
- GCSE Options/Pathway Support: Comprehensive guidance from multiple sources
- University Visit: Planned trip to Staffordshire University
- Future Ready Fund: Intensive three-year programme for eligible students (includes 3 days of annual work experience)
- Pathways Assembly and parents’ evening support from external advisors
- Meaningful Work Experience: 1 day placement, student led
- Future Skills Questionnaire
- Universal access to Unifrog
- Annual Careers Fair
Year 10
- PSE and Form Time careers programme.
- Talk the Talk Workshop: Public speaking and communication intervention
- Employer Mock Interviews: Interviews with real professionals to develop communication and “thinking on the spot” skills
- Meaningful Work Experience: One week (5 days) work placement
- Interview Preparation: Dedicated PSE lessons to read job descriptions and rehearse interview answers
- Future Ready Fund: Intensive three-year programme for eligible students (includes 3 days of annual work experience)
- Personalised Support: Extended one-hour guidance for eligible students
- Leadership Roles: Opportunity to become Reader Leaders, mentoring younger students
- Employer Encounters: Toyota presentation and assembly
- Future Skills Questionnaire
- Universal access to Unifrog
- Annual Careers Fair
Year 11
- PSE and Form Time careers programme
- One-to-One Careers Guidance: A personal careers interview for every student
- Envelope Day: Post-mock results guidance interviews
- Employer Encounters: Toyota presentation and assembly
- Degree Apprenticeship Exposure: Targeted application workshops and information
- Future Skills Questionnaire
- Universal access to Unifrog
- Annual Careers Fair
Year 12 and 13
- Talk the Talk (Future-Focused): Advanced workshops including group interview simulations
- Higher Education Support: UCAS and Personal Statement workshops run by Staffordshire University
- One-to-One University Pathway Interviews where needed and external professional advice
- Degree Apprenticeship: Specific interview simulation days and workshops
- Leadership Roles: Prefect roles and Reader Leader positions
- Universal access to Unifrog
- Annual Careers Fair
Impact on Pupils
| Impact Measure | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Year 7 Higher Horizons | 88% positive evaluation |
| Year 7 University aspirations | +23% after HH programme |
| Year 9 understanding of post-16 pathways | +51% after HH programme |
| Year 11 post mock guidance interviews | 89% found them useful |
| Year 10 Employer Mock Interviews | 87% found them useful |
| Year 12 Talk the Talk | 100% increased interview confidence |
Higher Horizons Inform Programmes: Year 7, Year 9 and Year 12
88% of Year 7 students found their Higher Horizons Uni Inform Programme either ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ with a 23% rise after the programme of students reporting ‘University is a realistic option for me’.
78% of Year 9 students found their Higher Horizons Pathways and Choices Inform Programme either ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ with a 51% rise after the programme of students reporting ‘I know the difference between an A-Level, T-Level and Apprenticeship’.
89% of Year 11 students found their Envelope Day interview either ‘very’ or ‘partly’ useful.
Oracy and Communication Development with Talk the Talk: Year 10 and Year 12
87% of Y10 students agreed or strongly agreed that they knew more about the skills needed to communicate effectively in front of other people after the workshop, whilst 76% of Y10 students agreed or strongly agreed that the skills and experience they gained in the workshop would help them in their future job or career.
100% of Y12 students agreed or strongly agreed that they felt more confident about job interviews after the workshop. 94% of Y12 students agreed or strongly agreed that have better skills for preparation and doing well in a job interview after the workshop.
Employer Mock Interviews: Year 8 and Year 10
94.2% of student respondents reported that they had either maintained or improved their confidence in an interview setting; the majority of the cohort found the experience beneficial, with 87% of all students rating the session as ‘useful,’ ‘very useful,’ or ‘fairly useful.’
Students explicitly identified their most improved skills as being ‘thinking on the spot: 68% students, ‘communication’: 61% students, ‘answering interview questions’: 45% students.
Leadership Roles: Year 10 and Year 12
Pupils are encouraged to develop independence through roles such as Reading Mentors, Student Librarians, Prefects or Science Mentors.
27% of those selected to be Reader Leader mentors in 2025-2026 were disadvantaged/PP.
29% of Student Librarians are SEND; 57% are disadvantaged; 29% are PP.
Limitless Literature: Year 7 and Year 8
There was a 35% improvement in students reporting ‘I could manage the level of study required at University’ and a 28% increase in students reporting ‘I want to go to University now’.
Quality Assurance
Leaders maintain a robust cycle of evaluation and improvement and know that careers is making a difference through:
- Compass+ Gatsby Benchmark review
- Future Skills Questionnaire
- Destination data
- Unifrog engagement analytics
- Provision Map monitoring
- Governor oversight
- Student evaluations following every major careers event
- Participation data by PP, SEND and RONI
- Employer feedback following encounters and mock interviews
- Annual review against statutory careers guidance
This ensures careers provision remains responsive to pupil need and aligned with statutory guidance.