Careers Information

Head of Department: Mr C Boutland-Smith

Contact: boutlandsmithc@st-gregorys.org.uk

Tel: 01225 832873


A high-quality careers provision is essential in today’s complex and changing employment market. Careers education and guidance play a vital role at Saint Gregory’s to ensure that all students make the smooth transition through the stages of school to further and higher education, training and employment.

Mr Boutland-Smith is our Head of Careers.  He is assisted by an external independent Careers Adviser, providing advice and up to date information to help students make informed decisions about the career that best suits them.

The overall aim of the Careers Department is to provide an effective careers education and guidance programme to enable our students to manage their own career development successfully by helping them acquire the skills, attitudes and abilities they will need to chart their path through life with confidence.


Strategic Objectives

In support of this overall aim, there are five strategic objectives for our careers education and guidance programme, helping students to develop:

  • Knowledge and understanding of themselves as individuals – their strengths, skills, personal qualities, interests, attainments and capabilities;
  • Awareness and understanding of the world of work and of the career and learning opportunities available to them in terms of further/higher education, training and employment;
  • Career planning and decision-making skills in order to manage transition from school to university/workplace;
  • The skills and personal qualities necessary to gain admission onto further and higher education courses, apprenticeships and employment;
  • The confidence to take more control of the decision-making processes that affect their lives.

How we measure success

Impact is measured yearly through study of the destination data compiled by the Local Authority. The key measurement is NEET, which traditionally is extremely low for schools in the area. From time to time student surveys are conducted by the team and careers education is monitored through the guidance programme.

The Careers provision is reviewed through the teacher appraisal structure and regular presentations to Governors by request.

Careers Experience Years 7-13

All students benefit from bespoke careers guidance, delivered as part of a tutor-led programme and supported by careers advisors and external specialist consultants. Students also take part in a range of full or part day workshops to enable whole-year participation in key events. In the past, this has included:

Year 7 Equality and Diversity Day
Year 7 are challenged to question stereotypes in the workplace and consider rights of equal access and fairness in employment.

Year 8 Dragon’s Den
Year 8 engage in a competition to compete for investment in their product from a team of expert judges.

Year 9 STEM Day
Year 9 take part in a series of workshops with representatives from the world of science, technology, engineering and maths.

Year 10 Careers Insight Day
Year 10 meet with different representatives from a range of industries in small groups where they can discuss individual questions and enquiries.

Year 11 Mock Interviews
Year 11 don their best interview clothes for a full-on job interview experience including creating their own CV and letter of application. Over 30 representatives from local and national industries interview over 160 students in one day.

Years 12-13
Students in the sixth form benefit from an attentive and personalised sixth form careers education programme, which enables them to gain self-knowledge and an awareness of the great number of opportunities available beyond sixth form. Throughout the academic year, regular opportunities are created for open dialogue on progress and pathway choices to support our young people and their families as they take the first step towards their future adventures after sixth form including:

  • Apprenticeship Workshops
  • Oxbridge and Russell Group Preparation
  • University days with partner universities
  • UCAS Preparation
  • WEX (Work Experience) Placements
  • Unifrog Careers Platform
  • Enterprise opportunities with whole school
  • Lunchtime drop-in sessions with careers advisor
  • Stress management workshops
  • Governor mentoring and career events

This list is not exhaustive and is subject to amendment to meet the ever-changing dynamics of the employment market.


The Baker Clause

The Baker Clause came into force for schools and colleges in England on 2 January 2018, and ensures that schools must act impartially and not show any bias towards any route, be that academic or technical. It also stipulates that every student should be allowed access to colleges and training providers, and be informed about apprenticeships and technical education qualifications, which now include the recent addition of T-Levels.

To that aim, a variety of experiences and activities take place across the school to enable the students to make informed decisions about their future choices, and the Gatsby Benchmarks are used to review and improve performance within these areas.

A Provider Access Policy has also been written and is included on the website for any companies or establishments who might wish to approach the school regarding Careers Education.

At Saint Gregory’s we welcome approaches from industry, and the contact details are at the top of the page.


Helpful websites:

For students, parents and carers:

Career Pilot
iCloud.com
Speakers for Schools
Not Going to Uni
UCAS Careers Advice
Unifrog
Amazing Apprenticeships

Logins for Students:

Career Pilot Login
Unifrog Login


Further information on the school’s careers provision can be accessed in the following documents:

Provider Access Policy
Careers Education Policy