The Careers Curriculum at St. Hilda’s CE High School
Guiding Students Towards a Fulfilling Future
Our Careers Programme
Our commitment is to ensure all students are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make informed decisions about their future learning and career paths. Our intent is to inspire ambition, expand perspectives, and break down stereotypes, so that students feel empowered take charge of their futures. We are dedicated to empowering students to make confident, informed choices, drawing on a breadth of experiences and impartial guidance. Our aim is to equip them with a diverse set of skills that will support their lifelong success.
Our careers programme ensures students have the key information and guidance to make the right decisions for their next steps, beyond St. Hilda’s. Each phase of the programme will focus on a different element of preparing students the future. This is embedded through our character curriculum and the wider subject specific curriculum.
Our programme seeks to:
- Develop students’ self-awareness, aspirations, and understanding of the world of work.
- Provide accurate, up-to-date, and impartial information about education, training, and employment opportunities.
- Support students in making informed choices at all key transition points
- Promote equality of opportunity and challenge stereotypes, bias, and discrimination.
- Enable students to develop employability skills and resilience needed for a rapidly changing world.
- Facilitate meaningful encounters with employers, employees, and education/training providers.
- Engage parents, carers, and the wider community as partners in preparing students for the future.
To view our careers programme click here
Careers Education Programme
Careers education is integrated across the wider curriculum for students from Year 7 through Year 13.
Key Activities Include:
- Careers lessons: regular timetabled sessions as part of the Personal Development programme to explore career pathways, employability skills, and decision-making.
- Assemblies and Workshops: talks by employers, alumni, and careers professionals.
- Work Experience: opportunities for students to undertake placements with local employers.
- Visits and Trips: vsits to universities, colleges, workplaces, and careers fairs.
- One-to-one guidance: impartial interviews with a qualified careers adviser at key transition points.
- Online Resources: access to up-to-date careers platforms and labour market information.
Provision for Key Transition Points
Year 9 – GCSE Options
Students receive information and guidance on GCSE and vocational subject choices, considering future aspirations, interests, and strengths through assemblies, the Personal Development programme and in lessons. Parents/carers are invited to an information evening to discuss their child’s options.
Years 10–11 – Post-16 Pathways
Students are introduced to a wide range of post-16 options including sixth forms, colleges, apprenticeships, and vocational training. Application support, interview preparation, and taster sessions are provided.
Years 12–13 – Post-18 Choices
Students exploring higher education, employment, gap years, or apprenticeships receive targeted support. UCAS applications, personal statement workshops, and employer engagement sessions are integral components.
Employer and Community Engagement
We believe that employer involvement is crucial in preparing students for the workplace. Our careers programme includes:
- Regular employer talks and careers fairs.
- Workplace visits and virtual experiences.
- Mock interviews and CV workshops
- Opportunities for parents/carers to contribute to the programme.
Information for Parents and Carers
Parents and carers play a crucial role in supporting students’ careers development. We keep parents informed through information evenings, the school website, and by signposting support services. Parents are encouraged to participate in careers events, share their experiences, and support students at home with informed discussions about future options.
Safeguarding and Confidentiality
All careers activities and personal guidance sessions are conducted in accordance with the school’s safeguarding and data protection policies. Students’ information and plans are treated with respect and confidentiality.
Policy Review
This policy is reviewed annually by the Careers Leader. Updates incorporate changes in statutory guidance, labour market trends, and feedback from stakeholders.
The SLT lead and careers lead is Andrea Howard, Assistant Headteacher, Head of St. Hilda’s College. ahoward@st-hildas.co.uk
To view the Careers Policy, click here
To view the Provider Access Statement, click here
To view the careers entitlement statement, click here
The Gatsby Benchmarks
Understanding The Gatsby Benchmarks
In 2013, Gatsby commissioned Sir John Holman to set out what career guidance in England would be like if it were good by international standards. The Gatsby Benchmarks defined in the report provide a framework for excellent careers provision and ensure that students are provided with the information they need to make informed decisions in advance of their key stage transitions, about their future education, training, employment and life as an adult member of society.
From September 2025, schools will follow the updated guidance. You can read the report here
The updates are also explained in this video
The National Careers Service is a government website providing impartial and up-to-date information on a vast selection of jobs. Please click here to access the website