The careers programme at St Mary’s aims to deliver the eight Gatsby benchmarks which form the basis of the Government’s strategy to improve careers education nationally and now form part of OFSTED’s school inspection process.

Benchmark 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.

Benchmark 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 the best use of available information

Benchmark 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.

Benchmark 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 careers paths.

Benchmark 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.

Benchmark 6: Experiences of Workplaces

• Every Student should have first-hand experience of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing, and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities, and expand their networks.

Benchmark 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.

Benchmark 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. They should be expected for all Students but should be timed to meet their individual needs.

Gatsby CDI Careers Ed Mapping 2023

• Abby Pattison-Wake – Careers Leader and adviser with overall responsibility for careers programme
• Amanda Tasker – Careers Administrator
• Rob Hunter - Link Governor
• Kate Stephens – ICS Talent Management & Leadership Development Programme Lead, NHS Herefordshire & Worcestershire
• Contact: atasker@st-maryshigh.hereford.sch.uk

Telephone: 01432 850416

Dedicated time for careers education is provided as part of St Marys Learning4Life Programme – a rolling series of lessons with the timetable suspended.

Year 7

• Subject teachers use real-life contexts and examples from the world of work to make their subject relatable and relevant to life. All teachers emphasise the importance of English and maths and science teachers highlight the relevance of STEM subjects.
• Introduction to online Careers resources.
• Pupils use Job Explore Database to identify and explore job sectors and research individual careers in each area.
• Weekly form time careers videos giving information on a specific career regarding job tasks, pay, qualifications, entry, skills etc.
• A drop down careers day involving 5 different employers/providers run interactive & informative sessions for each form group throughout the day.
• Access to independent Careers Adviser by request/referral, Careers Library and online resources.

Year 8

• Further use of JED to explore career paths. Pupils tasked to research careers in a particular sector, e.g. engineering or NHS.
• A drop down careers day involving 5 different employers/providers run interactive & informative sessions for each form group throughout the day.
• Year group attend Three Counties Careers Fair at Malvern.

• Subject teachers use real-life contexts and examples from the world of work to make their subject relatable and relevant to life. All teachers emphasise the importance of English and maths and science teachers highlight the relevance of STEM subjects.
• Weekly form time careers videos giving information on a specific career regarding job tasks, pay, qualifications, entry, skills etc.
• Access to Careers Adviser by request/referral, Careers Library and online resources.

Year 9

• Information on options for KS4, including a booklet with details of available courses and an Options Evening in February.
• Access to Careers Adviser by request/referral, Careers Library and online resources.
• Subject teachers use real-life contexts and examples from the world of work to make their subject relatable and relevant to life. All teachers emphasise the importance of English and maths and science teachers highlight the relevance of STEM subjects.
• Weekly form time videos of careers linked to school subjects from January to April to support options choices time.
• Visiting speakers on using MFL beyond school.
• Targeted interviews for PP, LAC or RONI students.
• Use Job Explorer Database to build an individual profile of each student based on their interests, skills and aspirations. Research job suggestions and explore their potential by considering careers attainable with higher level qualifications.
• Introduce students to the Careers Library and use a range of sources to research careers.
• Use ‘eclips’, ‘icould’ and ‘JED’ to choose and view videos of personal stories of workers from a range of careers.
• Develop career decision-making skills, including the need for accurate and relevant information and the need for contingency plans.
• Explore the relevance of subjects being studied to possible careers and future lives and identify the range of skills they are developing.
• Speed Networking Event – all students take part in a speed networking event with over 20 employers and providers to enable them to gather information on a variety of work areas including day to day tasks, entry requirements, career progression etc.

Year 10

• Preparation for work experience
• Careers lessons on employment, business structures and the world of work to support work experience in Year 11
• Subject teachers use real-life contexts and examples from the world of work to make their subject relatable and relevant to life. All teachers emphasise the importance of English and maths and science teachers highlight the relevance of STEM subjects.
• Weekly form time inspirational speaker videos giving details of how they got to where they are, some through hardship etc.
• Access to Careers Advisor by request/referral, Careers Library and online resources.
• ‘Careers in the Modern World’ – explore the meaning of ‘career’ and what is involved in managing a career throughout life.
• Examine the factors that cause jobs and the demands of the labour market to change and research the local labour market.
• Ensure students understand the meaning and value of networks, identify their own support networks and plan to extend these.
•  ‘Key Skills and Enterprise Day’ – Delivered by a team of professional presenters with experience of business a day of activities to develop communication, team working and problem solving skills with an emphasis on promoting Enterprise.
• Targeted interviews for PP, LAC or RONI students.
• Research opportunities for work experience and make informed choices.
• Careers Convention attended by all local colleges and training providers plus representatives from a wide range of industries to provide information and guidance.
• All students visit a University for a day. They will have a tour of the campus and an introduction to higher education, focusing on personal and academic development. Students will have a choice of venue; typically one of Aston University, Birmingham University or University of Gloucestershire.
• Attend ‘3 Colleges Taster Day’ to experience study at Hereford Sixth Form College, Hereford and Ludlow College or Hereford College of Arts.
• All students attend the Herefordshire Skills Fair

Year 11

• Prepare for work experience by contacting placement and making necessary arrangements.
• Undertake one week of work experience. Keep a daily diary of activities and tasks and use logbook to reflect upon the experience and analyse what skills have been developed.
• Develop an understanding of how a CV is used, the different styles of CV depending on their purpose and produce a high quality CV which can be updated as required.
• Subject teachers use real-life contexts and examples from the world of work to make their subject relatable and relevant to life. All teachers emphasise the importance of English and maths, and science teachers highlight the relevance of STEM subjects.
• Access to Careers Library and online resources.
• Post 16 Options booklet for pupils and parents giving details of all the local options with explanations of each one and the qualifications available.
• Students and parents are informed of Open Events at local colleges.
• Prospectuses from all local colleges are made available in school with a selection of prospectuses from colleges in a wider area.
• Talks from range of post16 providers, including apprenticeship trainers, during assemblies, lunchtimes, etc.
• Students complete questionnaire to ascertain their initial ideas for post 16 education or training and intended destinations.
• All students have a 45 minute interview with experienced and Level 7 qualified independent careers adviser. A written Action Plan is produced and given to student and is made available to staff who are mentoring individuals. Follow up interviews are offered where appropriate.
• Targeted interviews for PP, LAC or RONI students.
• Careers Convention attended by all local colleges and training providers plus representatives from a wide range of industries to provide information and guidance.
• Prepare students for college or job interviews by guiding them through the different stages from the research and preparation before the interview to performing well on the day and reviewing performance afterwards.
• Mock interview with an experienced professional from a wide variety of industries. Students complete a sample job application form and are matched carefully to their preferred career ideas. Both verbal and written feedback is given.
• Careers Adviser is available to answer queries from parents.
• Support of Careers Adviser following GCSE results day.

This programme will be reviewed in July 2025

St Mary’s has strong partnerships with a wide range of educational institutions, training providers and employers who contribute to our programme. Parents are also very keen to bring their particular skills and experience into school to support students.

Through the Local Enterprise Partnership St Mary’s has secured the support of Kate Stephens as Enterprise Adviser.

The careers team are kept fully informed of the latest developments in careers provision both locally and nationally through involvement with The Marches Careers Hub and the Careers Advisers Forum.

The school welcomes approaches from companies and organisations willing to work with our pupils to ensure they are aware of local opportunities and changing employer needs and practices. Please contact APattisonWake@st-maryshigh.hereford.sch.uk in the first instance to discuss further.

Throughout St Mary’s careers programme the opportunities available to young people through apprenticeships and technical education are made clear. All local training providers and colleges are welcome to talk to pupils from years 8 to 11. This most often occurs during assemblies or Learning4Life time. Local FE colleges and training providers contribute to our Y9 Industry Day, Y11 mock interviews and the Y10 and 11 Careers Evening.

St Mary’s has invited speakers from the Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge for Schools project (ASK) to talk to years 10 and 11 to increase their awareness of apprenticeships. Recently Hereford Group Training Association gave a presentation to Y11 which included a contribution from a former pupil who has successfully embarked on a career in engineering via apprenticeship.

Students who are considering applying for an apprenticeship are supported by the Careers Adviser who will assist in the search for an employer and a dedicated session is held at an appropriate time during year 11 when assistance with applications is available.

The careers team work closely with the school SENCO, LAC Coordinator, Heads of Year and form tutors to provide targeted support for vulnerable and disadvantaged students. The Careers Adviser interviews selected students upon request in years 7-10 and offers additional support in year 11.

St Mary’s is working with the Aim Higher to raise expectations and increase participation in Higher Education from youngsters from under-represented groups. Funding has been made available to support workshops and external visits.

Students without a family history of participation in HE are encouraged to attend Summer Schools at West Midlands Universities through the Aim Higher Unifest programme.

St Mary’s progress towards achieving the Gatsby Benchmarks is evaluated using the online Compass tool provided by the Careers and Enterprise Company. We are pleased that our recent end of year Compass+ evaluation showed that we have achieved 100% scores in all 8 Gatsby Benchmarks. The effectiveness of our careers programme will be reflected in the numbers of students progressing to positive destinations such as sixth form, further education, apprenticeships or employment. Destination data is used to assess how successfully students make the transition into the next stage of education or training and to inform future provision.

Evaluation of the careers programme, including individual activities within the careers programme, will be evaluated by pupils, staff, parents & employers throughout the year.

St Mary's Progress Report Sept 23-July 24

As a school we welcome visitors to the school to ensure all our pupils have information and access to all opportunities available to them beyond St Mary's. Please see the attached Provider Access Statement for further details.

Provider Access