The Careers Vision for The Reach Free School

We must ensure that our pupils are equipped and informed about their future education and employment choices, and seek to offer a wide range of opportunities to all pupils in this regard. Alongside a curriculum and Electives programme which develops the knowledge and skills that will enable our pupils to achieve in their future education and careers, our Careers programme will ensure that pupils are informed about the choices and opportunities available to them.

As a school, our Careers strategy ensures that we meet the requirements of government guidance in this area. You can read our full Careers, Information, Advice and Guidance policy here. A handy summary of what is covered in each year can be downloaded here.

If you have any queries regarding careers or if you have any expertise or can offer any careers content to our pupils please contact Mrs Oliver, Assistant Headteacher, either by email or phone on 01923 711715.

We encourage our pupils to also explore careers opportunities through Unifrog and the Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal.

Gatsby Benchmarks

The Gatsby Benchmarks were developed on behalf of the Gatsby Foundation by Sir John Holman. They define what world class careers provision in education looks like and provide a clear framework for organising the careers provision at our school.

The benchmarks are enshrined in statutory guidance; it is our responsibility to oversee the implementation of the benchmarks in school.

The 8 Gatsby Benchmarks are:

  1. A stable careers programme

  2. Learning from careers and labour market information

  3. Addressing the needs of each student

  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


Employer Engagement 

We recognise the importance of working with local employers in order to support our Careers Education and IAG provision. We are very keen to establish links with employers who will be able to open our students’ eyes to the world of work. We invite and encourage employers to connect with our school and actively engage in the education and development of our pupils. Your expertise, insights, and mentorship can profoundly impact our pupils’ understanding of the real world and career opportunities. By offering seminars, workshops, and work placements, you contribute to the holistic growth of our future workforce, helping them gain valuable skills, insights, and inspiration. Working together, we can foster a dynamic learning environment that prepares our pupils for success and empowers them to make informed career choices. Your involvement is not only a benefit to our pupils but also an investment in the future of our community.

We welcome further support from employers within a range of industries. If you would like to support at any of our career events or feel you may wish to offer support in a different way then please contact Mrs Oliver.


3. What can a pupil at The Reach Free School expect from their careers education?

3.1 Careers education at The Reach Free School happens throughout a pupils’ time at school, through REACH Time sessions, drop-down days, and educational visits.

3.2 All pupils at The Reach Free School in years 8 to 13 have the right to:

  • Find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities, as part of our 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

  • Understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses

  • An opportunity to record their careers interactions so they can track and review their own career progress.

3.3 By the end of Year 7, pupils will have:

  • Learnt key terms related to jobs and careers

  • Understood the link between education level and average income

  • Understood the link between achievement and effort

  • Experienced an extended group activity exploring the links between education and income

3.4 By the end of Year 8, pupils will have:

  • Learnt the key terms related to public services, taxes and government

  • Understood the way in which taxes fund public services run by government

  • Experienced an extended group activity exploring the requirements for success in employment, especially related to products

3.5 By the end of Year 9, pupils will have:

  • Learnt the types of choices available to them at 16 and 18

  • Considered their priorities in life

  • Contributed to the planning and organisation of the Year 9 Careers Fair

  • Attended the Careers Fair and associated workshops, and held purposeful conversations

  • with a variety of employers

3.6 By the end of Year 10, pupils will have:

  • Learnt the requirements of where to apply for jobs

  • Drafted their first CV

  • Held a one-to-one meeting with an independent careers adviser

  • Taken part in a mock job application and interview within school

  • Completed one week of work experience organised through school

  • Evaluated and reflected on the benefits of their week of work experience

  • Personal Post-16 guidance meeting with Services for Young People

  • Have an opportunity to attend the Careers Fair and have purposeful conversations with a

  • variety of employers

3.7 By the end of Year 11, pupils will have:

  • Visited a university and learnt about life as a university student

  • Heard from an expert about apprenticeships about life as an apprentice

  • Heard from a range of expert speakers about jobs in a variety of industries

  • Identified their next steps in education, and made relevant applications

  • Involvement in a mentoring programme to discuss exam worries, concerns and life beyond KS4 - ‘next steps’

  • Have an opportunity to attend the Careers Fair and have purposeful conversations with a variety of employers

3.8 By the end of Year 12, pupils will have:

  • Visited local businesses to learn about business start-ups

  • Taken part in an external employability skills workshop

  • Visited a university to learn about university life and to further their understanding of the applications process and student finance

  • Learnt about apprenticeship opportunities and degree apprenticeship opportunities from external providers

  • Worked with an external personal statement specialist

  • All students undertake future planning and destination planning during Reach Out every week

  • Visited the UCAS fair Have an opportunity to attend the Careers Fair and have purposeful conversations with a variety of employers

  • Individual meetings with Services for Young People to explore their next steps beyond school life

  • Be presented with weekly opportunities to engage with higher education providers and businesses.

3.9 By the end of Year 13, pupils will have:

  • Engaged in a Reach Out programme which develops interview skills, personal statements and CVs

  • Visited a high tariff university and encountered a sample lecture

  • Had one-to-one support with UCAS applications and apprenticeship applications

  • Be presented with weekly opportunities for engagement with businesses including work experience opportunities

  • All students undertake future planning and destination planning during Reach Out every week

  • Full support for any university tests and interviews from a teacher mentor

  • Have an opportunity to attend the Careers Fair and have purposeful conversations with a variety of employers

Choosing Apprenticeships and work-based learning programme

University not for you? Below are some useful link to website that may help you find an apprenticeship programme suiting your needs:

Labour Market Information

Labour market information (LMI) is a valuable resource for all pupils as they explore their future career paths. LMI provides essential insights into the job market, offering details about the demand for specific jobs, expected salaries, required qualifications, and projected employment trends. By understanding LMI, students can make informed decisions about their educational choices, training options, and career goals, ultimately empowering them to pursue rewarding and successful careers that align with their interests and skills. This link will take you to the Labour Market for All website. This portal provides high quality, reliable labour market information to inform careers decisions.