Careers Guidance

Our whole-school Careers Programme is thoughtfully designed to raise students’ aspirations and expand their understanding of the opportunities available to them.

All students will have access to:

• National Apprenticeship Week
• National Career Week
• Career Week/Apprenticeship Week Assemblies
• Career Fair
• Updates on Labour Market Information & Opportunities via Tutors and ClassCharts
• UCAS Exhibition and Apprenticeship Fair
• UCAS/Apprenticeship Application Support
• Career Guidance
• Unifrog Account
• Career Pilot Account

To help students make informed choices about their future, it is essential they receive timely, accurate information and guidance about their options after Year 11. During their 1:1 Career Guidance Meeting, students will have the opportunity to explore:

• Post-16 pathways available to them
• Upcoming Open Day events
• Apprenticeship opportunities
• Local colleges and sixth forms
• Tailored advice for students with an EHCP or additional support needs

Each local college and sixth form host its own Open Day events, and we strongly encourage both students and parents to attend. These events provide a valuable opportunity to speak directly with teachers and current students, ask questions, and get a feel for the learning environment.

In addition to open days, students will meet a range of post-16 providers through school assemblies, enrichment days, and our annual Careers Fair. Tutors will regularly remind students of upcoming events, and parents will be kept informed via ClassCharts and our termly newsletter.

Understanding Labour Market Information (LMI)

Labour Market Information (LMI) plays a crucial role in helping students understand the world of work. It includes:

• Descriptions of different careers
• Entry routes and progression opportunities
• Salary expectations
• Skills and qualifications required
• Current and future job market trends

By understanding LMI—such as which sectors are growing, what skills are in demand, and typical earnings—students are better equipped to make informed decisions about their education, training, and career paths.

Useful websites for exploring LMI include:

• LMI for All – https://www.lmiforall.org.uk/explore_lmi/
• Career Pilot – Careerpilot : Jobs
• National Career Service – https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/explore-careers/job-sector
• Prospects – https://www.prospects.ac.uk/
• Amazing Apprenticeships – Student – Amazing Apprenticeships

At Teign School, we are committed to continuously evaluating and improving our Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) programme to ensure it meets the needs of all our students.

Throughout the year, we use the Compass evaluation tool to assess how well our careers provision aligns with the Gatsby Benchmarks. This ongoing review helps us identify strengths and areas for development in our careers programme.

Students also complete the Future Skills Questionnaire (FSQ), a valuable tool that measures their career readiness. The insights gained from FSQ data allow us to evaluate the impact of our career’s education and tailor our provision to better support student development.

Personal career guidance is a key part of our offer. All students receive one-to-one guidance meetings in Year 11 and Year 13, where they can explore different pathways, ask questions, and discuss any concerns about their future. Students with additional needs receive enhanced support through extra sessions with Careers Southwest, ensuring they are fully supported in making informed decisions.

We also use Compass+, a digital platform that helps us maintain accurate, up-to-date records of each student’s career aspirations and the activities they participate in throughout the year. This system supports personalised guidance and helps us track progress over time.

Finally, we collect destination data for all students in Year 11 and Year 13 during their guidance meetings. This information helps us understand where our students go after leaving school and informs future planning to ensure we continue to meet their evolving needs.

At Teign School, we are committed to helping students make meaningful connections between their learning and future career opportunities. Across a range of subjects, students take part in workshops and employer talks that link curriculum content to real-world careers. These experiences help students understand the relevance of their studies, encouraging them to become more aspirational and better informed about their future options.

To further support this, many subjects organise educational trips that provide students with first-hand insight into industry settings and career pathways. These visits enrich classroom learning and offer valuable exposure to the working world.

Each department displays subject-specific career information in classrooms or around their faculty areas. Teachers also make regular verbal references to relevant careers during lessons, helping students see how their learning connects to specific job roles.

Career pathways are highlighted during key events such as the Year 9 Options Evening and the Year 11 Post-16 Evening, where departments showcase how their subjects can lead to a wide range of future opportunities.

All students are registered with Career Pilot, an online platform that supports career exploration at ages 14, 16, and 18. Through interactive quizzes and subject-linked career suggestions, students can explore options aligned with their interests and strengths.

In addition, students have access to personal career guidance from our qualified careers advisor. These one-to-one sessions provide tailored support, helping students explore their interests, understand their options, and make informed decisions about their next steps. For those who are unsure of their future direction, teachers and advisors work together to recommend pathways that align with the student’s strengths and aspirations.

Employer engagement is a vital component of Teign School’s Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) programme. We believe it is essential for students to engage with employers from an early stage, helping them to understand the wide range of career opportunities available after Year 11 or Year 13. These interactions not only inform students but also build their confidence and develop key employability skills.

One of the highlights of our CEIAG calendar is the Careers Enrichment Day, held early in the Spring term. On this day, each year group participates in a carousel of career-focused workshops and activities. We welcome a variety of local employers and education providers who deliver tailored sessions across the school. Over the course of their time at Teign, students benefit from repeated exposure to a diverse range of professionals, gaining insights into further education, apprenticeships, employment pathways, and practical skills such as CV writing and job applications.

In Year 11, all students take part in Mock Interviews. They are given The Little Book of Jobs, a booklet featuring a wide selection of job adverts. Students choose a role, complete an application, and are then interviewed by local employers. They are encouraged to dress professionally and are supported in preparing for the experience. Constructive feedback from employers helps students reflect and grow.

Work Experience Week is a key feature for students in Years 10 and 12. With staff support, students are guided to find and secure meaningful placements that allow them to explore career interests and develop workplace skills in real-world settings.

Our Annual Careers Fair is another exciting opportunity for all students. Attendees meet a wide range of employers and providers from across the country. In preparation, students are encouraged to research the delegates they wish to engage with, ensuring purposeful and informed conversations.

Throughout their time at Teign, students are supported in making informed decisions at key transition points—whether choosing GCSE options in Year 9, planning post-16 pathways in Year 11, or preparing for university or employment in Year 12. We invite employers and providers to key events such as the Post-16 Open Evening, Year 9 Options Evening, and Life Skills lessons in Years 12 and 13, including regular drop-in sessions to support post-18 planning.

All Year 10 students are encouraged and supported to secure a meaningful, face-to-face work experience placement during the final week of the academic year. For those continuing into our Sixth Form, a second opportunity for work experience is available in Year 12, typically also at the end of the academic year. However, we offer flexibility to accommodate placements at alternative times – for example, through specialist programmes such as those offered by the NHS.

In addition to in-person placements, virtual work experience has become an increasingly popular and valuable option. These programmes allow students to explore workplaces remotely, offering safe, flexible, and insightful experiences – particularly useful in industries where face-to-face placements may be limited or unavailable.

Parents and students will receive full details about the work experience programme and local opportunities during its official launch in the Autumn term, with ongoing updates shared via ClassCharts, form tutors, and school assemblies throughout the year.

Here are just a few platforms offering high-quality virtual work experience opportunities:

• Springpod – What is Virtual Work Experience with Springpod? | Springpod
• Barclays Life Skills – https://barclayslifeskills.com/i-want-virtual-work-experience/school/virtual-work-experience
• Reed Digital Work Experience – Free Online Digital Work Experience Course | Reed.co.uk
• Unifrog – Unifrog’s virtual work experience week (30th June – 4th July 2025) FAQs : Unifrog Blog

Students at Teign have the chance to experience university life first-hand through a variety of opportunities. These include visits to university campuses, as well as on-site workshops and talks delivered by university ambassadors and outreach teams during our three annual enrichment days. These experiences give students a valuable insight into what higher education is really like.

We also invite universities from across the country to attend our annual Careers Fair, and many take part in targeted workshops with our post-16 students during their Life Skills and Enrichment sessions.

These encounters are designed to help students begin thinking about whether university is the right path for them. They are not only informative but also highly motivational, often raising aspirations and positively impacting academic performance.

Examples of University workshops/events our students will attend include:

• Y9 Careers Carousel Enrichment Day
• Y10 University Programme visit to Plymouth Marjon and Plymouth University
• Y12 trip to the UCAS Exhibition
• Y12 trip to Plymouth or Exeter University for an Application Writing Day
• Y12/13 trip to the National Career & Apprenticeship Fair
• All year groups attend annual Career Fair

Personalised Careers Guidance for Year 11 and Sixth Form Students

At Teign, we are committed to ensuring that every student receives high-quality, impartial careers guidance. All Year 11 and Sixth Form students are offered a one-to-one guidance interview with a Level 6 qualified careers practitioner.

We believe that every student deserves access to careers support that is inclusive, promotes equality, and reflects the diverse opportunities available to them. These personalised sessions are delivered by Miss L Gaston, our internal careers advisor. Year 11 students will receive their interviews between September and December of their final school year.

During the session, students will explore labour market information, learn about post-16 and post-18 pathways, and be supported in making informed decisions about their future. The aim is to empower students to take ownership of their career planning with confidence.

Additional support is available for vulnerable students, who are identified and supported in collaboration with the local authority’s support service.

To make the most of their guidance session, students are encouraged to carry out their own research and discuss their options with family and friends.

During the Autumn term of Year 11, students will have the opportunity to attend open evenings and events hosted by local colleges and post-16 providers. These events are a valuable chance to explore different options and gather information before making decisions. Students are encouraged to complete their applications by the end of the Autumn term. Dates for open evenings will be shared in school and communicated directly to students.

All Year 11 students will have received their careers guidance interview before this point. However, it is the student’s responsibility to attend their scheduled session -please note that rescheduling during this busy period may not be possible.

Meanwhile, Year 13 students who are planning to progress to university will be finalising their UCAS applications, following the initial launch of the process in the summer term. All students will have had a careers interview prior to this stage. Those considering alternative pathways, such as apprenticeships or employment, may receive their guidance interviews in the Spring term, if not earlier.