Careers Programme

 

Gatsby Benchmark 

Key Stage 3 

Key Stage 4 

Key Stage 5 

  1. A Stable Careers Programme 

  • Clearly defined Careers Policy shared with pupils, parents/carers and stakeholders  

  • Careers programme introduced through tutor programme (Goals & Growth) and PSHCE  

  • Dedicated Careers Leader visible across the school, supporting delivery and engagement  

  • Early exposure through assemblies, Careers Week and Careers Fayre 

  • Careers provision is externally validated through the Quality in Careers Standard, recognising a well-sequenced, inclusive and impactful programme. 

  • Structured and embedded programme delivered through tutor programme (Goals & Growth) and curriculum  

  • Careers policy implemented consistently across all year groups  

  • Careers Leader actively supports curriculum links, employer engagement and guidance  

  • Careers Week and Careers Fayre embedded 

  • Careers provision is externally validated through the Quality in Careers Standard, recognising a well-sequenced, inclusive and impactful programme. 

  • Sixth Form careers programme tailored to post-18 pathways  

  • Delivered through pastoral programme, Careers Leader and external providers  

  • Strong partnerships with employers and universities (e.g. Turner & Townsend)  

  • Careers provision is visible, coherent and personalised 

  • Careers provision is externally validated through the Quality in Careers Standard, recognising a well-sequenced, inclusive and impactful programme. 

  1. Learning from Career and Labour Market Information 

  • Introduction to careers through assemblies, tutor time and Careers Week (including alumni speakers)  

  • Parents/carers access information via communication, website and parents evening events  

  • Early use of Unifrog to explore careers 

  • Pupils use Unifrog to explore pathways and Labour Market Information  

  • Careers adviser input supports understanding of local and national opportunities  

  • Careers Fayre and assemblies (including Careers Week) develop awareness 

  • Extensive use of Unifrog and UCAS to research pathways  

  • Attendance at an external university and careers fayre, introducing a wide range of higher education providers, courses and career routes 

  • Detailed understanding of Labour Market Information  

  • Employer and university engagement supports informed decisions 

  1. Addressing the Needs of Each Pupil 

 

  • Inclusive programme supporting all pupils, including SEND and EAL  

  • Early aspiration developed through enrichment and First Give social action programme  

  • Tutor and pastoral teams identify and respond to individual need  

  • Introduction to careers through Unifrog and early guidance 

  • Personalised guidance through mentoring and Goals & Growth  

  • 1:1 careers guidance used to raise aspiration, improve behaviour and support academic outcomes  

  • Targeted intervention through Access and Inclusion (A&I), including supported Level 1 college placements  

  • A&I provision supports pupils at risk of becoming NEET  

  • Strong EAL Academy provision, including hosting colleges offering ESOL pathways  

  • Adapted work experience and personalised pathways for SEND and EAL pupils 

  • Highly personalised careers guidance and application support  
    Individual pathways supported through 1:1 guidance, UCAS and Unifrog  

  • Targeted support for all pupils to access appropriate post-18 destinations (e.g. The Elephant Group supports high attaining students in accessing competitive university pathways) 

  • Continued support ensuring sustained participation in education, employment or training 

 

  1. Linking Curriculum Learning to Careers 

  • Curriculum subjects introduce links to careers and real-world applications  

  • Tutor programme supports development of key skills and aspirations  

  • Educational visits and experiences (e.g. Shakespeare’s Globe, STEM competitions, History museum trip, cultural visits) link learning to future pathways 

  • Careers Week assemblies (including alumni) link learning to real-life pathways 

  • Strong subject-career links embedded across the curriculum  

  • Goals & Growth develops metacognition and career awareness 

  • Trips, careers events, employer engagement and subject-specific opportunities (e.g. law competitions, STEM activities) support application of learning to real-world contexts 

  • Careers Week and employer input strengthen links between subjects and future pathways 

  • Direct links between subject study and future pathways  

  • Employer partnerships, university engagement and subject-specific visits connect academic learning to professional routes 

  • Attendance at external university and careers fairs supports understanding of progression routes from subject study into higher education and employment 

  • Participation in programmes such as The Elephant Group (TEG) links subject study to progression into competitive higher education routes 

  • Students are encouraged to attend summer schools at leading universities, extending subject knowledge and raising academic aspiration 

  • Guest speakers and industry professionals enhance subject understanding  

  • Learning is explicitly linked to higher education and career opportunities 

  1. Encounters with Employers and Employees 

  • Employer encounters through assemblies and workshops  

  • Careers Fayre (all pupils) provides access to a range of employers  

  • Careers Week including alumni speakers sharing real-life experiences  

  • Year 9 careers networking event (speed networking with professionals) developing questioning and communication skills  

  • First Give connects pupils with local organisations 

  • Wide range of employer encounters including mock interviews, assemblies and workshops  

  • Careers Fayre provides direct interaction with employers and providers  

  • Careers Week strengthens awareness of different sectors and pathways  

  • External workshops and talks provide additional employer engagement 

  • Careers Fayre provides direct interaction with employers and providers  

  • High-quality employer engagement including Turner & Townsend partnership (assembly, employability workshops, office visit)  

  • Alumni and employer speakers provide insight into professional pathways  

  • Students engage in virtual work experience opportunities across Years 12 and 13, broadening understanding of a range of sectors 

  • Opportunities for networking and meaningful employer interaction 

  1. Experiences of Workplaces 

  • Awareness of workplaces developed through educational visits, trips, careers events and external workshops  

  • Exposure to a range of industries through visits and visitors 

  • Work Experience in Year 10  

  • Trips, employer-led events and visits develop understanding of workplace expectations  

  • Reflection on employability skills and behaviours 

  • Work Experience in Year 12  

  • Workplace visits and employer-led experiences  

  • Students participate in virtual work experience programmes across Years 12 and 13, gaining insight into a range of industries and workplace expectations 

  • Direct exposure to professional environments and expectations 

  1. Encounters with Further and Higher Education 

  • Introduction to pathways through assemblies, PSHCE, Careers Fayre and Careers Week  
    Early awareness of education and career options 

  • College visits, apprenticeship assemblies and careers events  

  • Engagement with FE providers and local colleges  

  • Careers Week alumni speakers share FE/HE routes 

  • Attendance at an external university and careers fayre, providing direct interaction with universities, apprenticeship providers and employers  

  • University visits, open days and guest speakers support understanding of higher education pathways  

  • Participation in The Elephant Group (TEG) programme, providing targeted support for high-attaining students, including university visits (e.g. Exeter), conferences and application guidance to top universities 

  • Students are encouraged to attend summer schools at leading universities, broadening academic experience and raising aspirations 

  • Engagement with apprenticeship providers and external organisations broadens awareness of alternative routes  

  • UCAS and Unifrog are used to explore courses, compare options and support informed decision-making 

  1. Personal Guidance 

  • Tutor and pastoral support provide early careers guidance  
    Introduction to careers through tutor programme and Unifrog  

  • Parent/carer engagement through communication and information evenings supports early awareness of pathways 

  • Structured careers guidance including Careers Adviser interviews and mentoring  

  • Goals & Growth provides ongoing personalised support and reflection  

  • 1:1 careers guidance used to support decision-making, raise aspiration and improve engagement  

  • Strong parent engagement supports post-16 choices 

  • 1:1 careers guidance for all pupils, supporting university, apprenticeship and employment pathways  

  • Ongoing support through tutors, Careers Leader and external advisers  

  • UCAS and Unifrog used to guide applications and decisions  

  • Personalised support ensures successful transition to education, employment or training 

 

CP 4

How Caterham High School evaluates the effectiveness of its Careers Programme? 

  • Destinations data is used as an indicator of the long term impact of the careers provision at Caterham High School. We ensure that the vast majority of students achieve a place on the route most suited for them. 

  • Each careers event is evaluated, with students ranking the usefulness of the event on their future career decisions with verbal and written feedback.

  • We use best practice in completing regular self-evaluation of our provision on the Compass+ tool. At present, Caterham High School is well above national average in its progress across all eight Gatsby Benchmarks.

  • Our careers programme is reviewed yearly and a new team progress plan and timetable is produced at the start of each academic year.