Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance

​The academy has an up to date careers library that contains information that is accurate, relevant, free from bias and maintained on a regular basis. The content is wide ranging and students are given support in using information correctly.

The Academy works in partnership with an independent level 6 qualified Guidance Practitioner to provide careers guidance to a range of students across the Academy.  Purchasing packages of guidance delivered by a qualified level 6 guidance practitioner ensures students receive independent and impartial careers advice and guidance.

Aspiration Clinics are offered at appropriate points, at least once per year. These opportunities are tutor led and ensure our pastoral team have an accurate overview of the needs of our students. At key transition points throughout the seven year journey, we provide students with the support they need at that time, whether this is from our Careers Director, Deputy Director or our Guidance Practitioner.

Gatsby Benchmarks

At SRPA Academy we believe that high quality careers advice, guidance and support are key in preparing students for their next steps in life and to manage those vital stepping stones from learning, training and into the world of work.

We aim to provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to make informed and aspirational choices. As such, our programme begins with Year 7 students considering the world of work and the range of career sectors available to them; it ends in Year 11 with guidance and support to help students make the next appropriate steps for them, whether that is sixth form, FE college or apprenticeship.

At SRPA Academy our Careers Team ensures that our students are given high quality, impartial information, advice and guidance in line with the Department of Education statutory guidelines and the Gatsby Benchmarks:

1. A stable Careers Programme: SRPA Academy has an embedded programme of careers education and guidance that is known and understood by students, parents, teachers, governors and employers.

2. Learning from Careers and Labour Market Information: Every student and their parents/carers will have access to good quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities.  They will have the support of an informed adviser to make best use of available information.

3. Addressing the needs of each student: Our students do have different career guidance needs at different stages.  Opportunities for advice and support, will  be tailored to the needs of every student.  Our careers programme will embed equality and diversity considerations throughout.

4. Linking curriculum learning to careers: All teachers should link curriculum learning with careers, and 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 the world of work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace.  This will be through a range of enrichment activities including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes.

6. Experiences of workplaces. Every student will develop first-hand experiences of the work place through work visits, work shadowing and work experience, to help their exploration of career opportunities and 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 apprenticeships.

8. Personal Guidance: Every student has the opportunity to see a qualified careers guidance practitioner, who is trained to an appropriate level and is a Registered Practitioner with the Careers Development Institute.  This adviser is available whenever significant study or career choices are being made, and timed to meet students’ individual needs from Year 7 to Year 13. 

Our careers programme will include access to information from a range of FE colleges, universities, employers, STEM ambassadors, and apprenticeship providers.