Careers

Students and Parents

The information on this page provides an overview of the careers and education information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) provision and supports the development of careers and education aspirations. The website links and resources should be used to research opportunities and support with informed decisions about careers and education pathways.

Further and Higher Education Institutions, Training Providers and Employers

The information on this page provides an overview of CEIAG provision and opportunities to access the programme to inform students of education and career opportunities. The Careers Guidance Provider Access Policy specifically outlines these opportunities, and the Programme Overview and Activities Guide gives further detail on events and activities.

If you have any questions about CEIAG or would like further information on the school’s provision and access opportunities, please contact Mr Paterson, Faculty Leader for IAG and Careers (Careers Leader) at andrew.paterson@cantell.co.uk or telephone 02380 323111.

Careers Programme 2023-24

Cantell School is committed to providing a programme of CEIAG for all our students. This programme makes a major contribution in preparing young people for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life.

A planned, progressive programme of activities supports students in choosing 14-19 pathways that suit their interests and abilities and help them to follow career paths which provide sustained employability throughout their working lives.

Our careers programme has been developed using the Gatsby Benchmarks which provide a framework for provision.

1. A stable careers programme
2. Learning from career and labour market information
3. Addressing the needs of each pupil
4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
5. Encounters with employers and employees
6. Experiences of workplaces
7. Encounters with further and higher education
8. Personal guidance

More information about these Benchmarks can be found through the link below.

https://www.gatsby.org.uk/education/focus-areas/good-career-guidance

The impact of the careers programme is measured and assessed through destination data, Gatsby Benchmarks and feedback from students, parents, employers, further and higher education establishments, training providers and our Enterprise Adviser.

Aim: Through a stable CEIAG programme students make well informed decisions about their current and future educational choices. They are well prepared for later life and are fully aware of the different employment opportunities that exist. Students choose educational and employment opportunities that are right for them and are empowered, through prior learning and available tools, to research education and employment and continue to make well informed decisions relevant to their current situation and future aspirations.

All students in years 7-11 are provided with the opportunity to:

• Find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point;
• Hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships through options and careers events, assemblies, group discussions and taster events;
• Understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses, employment with training and apprenticeships.

We work closely with The Careers and Enterprise Company, Solent Local Enterprise Partnership, EBP South, local further education colleges, Southern Universities Network, University of Southampton and Solent University and have an Enterprise Adviser to support with CEIAG provision.

Please click the following link to our Careers Guidance Provider Access Policy and Statement which sets out access arrangements.

The Baker Clause

The Baker Clause was introduced to the Technical and Further Education Act to ensure schools allow colleges and training providers access to every student in years 8-13 with the purpose of informing them about approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships.
Schools should:
• act impartially and not show bias to any route
• promote the full range of technical options
• provide a range of opportunities for other education and training providers to talk to all year 8-13 pupil
• ensure pupils are aware of the benefits of apprenticeships, T-levels and other approved technical education qualifications
• use the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks to improve performance
• review provider access arrangements and publish a policy statement on the school website

This has been updated for 2023 and specifies schools must provide at least six encounters with approved providers of apprenticeships and technical education for all their students:

• Two encounters for pupils during the ‘first key phase’ (year 8 or 9) that are mandatory for all pupils to attend
• Two encounters for pupils during the ‘second key phase’ (year 10 or 11) that are mandatory for all pupils to attend
• Two encounters for pupils during the ‘third key phase’ (year 12 or 13) that are mandatory for the school to put on but optional for pupils to attend (Not applicable as our intake is 11-16 years)

These encounters must take place before 28th February in year 9 and year 11. We provide these encounters, in line with the new legislation, as part of our comprehensive careers programme. More details can be found in our Careers Guidance Provider Access Policy located above.

• Apprenticeships: Become an apprentice (apprenticeships.gov.uk)
• Vocational Technical Qualifications: Vocational technical qualifications (VTQs) | National Careers Service
• T Levels: T Levels for students | T Levels

Work Experience

Work experience is a great opportunity for our students to develop their Empower Skills, gain experience of the workplace, network with potential future employers and develop personal and social skills which helps them transition successfully to positive destinations post 16.

The documents below will also support with the process and there is an own placement form that can be downloaded and used to submit an own placement application. 

If you have any questions about work experience, please contact Mr Paterson at andrew.paterson@cantell.co.uk 

For advice and information regarding Key Stage 4 options and post-16 opportunities, including colleges, apprenticeships, employment with training, volunteering, internships, universities and local vacancies, please visit the Access Southampton website by clicking here, The National Careers Service website by clicking here, Careermap by clicking here CareermapLive – Careermap, Careerpilot by clicking here https://careerpilot.org.uk/ , icould by clicking here https://icould.com/explore and the Parents’ Guide to Careers for National Careers Week PDF below.

The website is reviewed annually and our Careers Guidance Policy Statement review date is January 2024.

If you have any questions about Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG), or would like to provide us with feedback on our programme, please contact Mr Paterson, Faculty Leader for IAG and Careers at 02380323111 andrew.paterson@cantell.co.uk.

Please use the websites below to support with decisions about education and career path choices and to speak to an adviser. Where available a link has been provided to the ofsted report for education institutions and training providers.

Please click here for Further Education links.

Please click here for Training Provider links.

Please click here for Higher Education links.