Careers

The Career’s Team and Career Programme at Stratton School.

At our school we understand that careers information is critical for students when they come to making the best possible decisions, next steps and future career choices. 

We have a dedicated team of knowledgeable and experienced professionals who can help, support and teach students about the choices available.  Our aim is to make sure that every student achieves their full potential.

Our Career team is supported by a serving Academy Councillor Ian Harvey who can be contacted by e-mailing through the Principal’s PA: JMcCarthy@stratton.school

 Our school is part of Meridian Trust and we work collaboratively with other schools in the Trust to offer a website which has been developed for parents and carers: Meridian Career Pathways 

We know, from research, that students ask their parents first about careers, qualifications, what it is like in the workplace and what they should study. 

The educational and qualification landscape has changed dramatically over recent years.  This website has been designed to help parents with ‘Activities’, ‘Conversation Starters’ and ‘useful websites’ and is designed to offer help and support at every stage of a student’s journey through a Meridian Trust school.

Policies and further information

Please click HERE to see an overview of our careers programme for all year groups.    

The Careers Policy for our school can be found Careers Strategy and Vision

·        You can view the Meridian Trust CEIAG Policy: HERE  

·        You can view our school ‘Provider Access Policy’, which by law we have to put on our website,  Provider Access Statement.

All students have to continue in education or training until the end of the academic year in which they are 18.  This does not mean young people must stay in school.  They will able to choose from:

• full-time education (eg at a school or college)
• an apprenticeship
• part-time education or training combined with one of the following:

·        employment or self-employment for 20 hours or more a week

·        volunteering for 20 hours or more a week.

More information on choices and how parents can help their children can be found on the Meridian Career  Pathways website Years 10 and 11 and Years 12 and 13.

Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) At Stratton School, we believe it is crucial that all students should have access to ‘real world and relevant learning’. We understand that careers information is critical for students when they come to making the best possible decisions, next steps and future career choices. The careers programme is intended to be flexible and adaptable as further opportunities become available.  We have a dedicated team of knowledgeable and experienced professionals who can help, support and teach students about the choices available. Our aim is to make sure that every student achieves their full potential.  

Careers Strategy at Stratton School

Stratton School believes in giving further education, higher education and training providers the opportunity to talk to students at the school. Please find our Provider Access Legislation below.

Please also find below an overview of our careers programme for all year groups and a copy of our CEIAG (Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance) policy.

Our vision

High quality careers education, information and guidance (CEIAG) is of huge importance to students, in all years, as they are prepared for the world outside of the school walls. We recognise the importance of this and it underpins our vision for CEIAG at Stratton School.

This strategy sets out a clear plan on how we intend to work towards meeting our vision in the short and longer term and should be read in conjunction with the Meridian ‘Careers Education, Information and Guidance’ procedures document that can be found at: Meridian-Trust-Careers-Education-Information-Advice-and-Guidance-procedures-2023.pdf

Valuing People

We nurture every student to feel safe, supported, and known, providing personalised careers guidance that empowers them to make confident decisions about their future.

High-Quality Learning Environment

Careers education is embedded into a challenging and inspiring curriculum, ensuring all students can link their learning to real-world opportunities.

Pursuit of Excellence

We foster high aspirations, celebrating achievements and equipping students with the skills and resilience needed to excel in their chosen pathways.

Extending the Boundaries of Learning

Through meaningful encounters with employers, universities, and the wider world, we broaden students’ horizons and provide experiences that shape their ambitions.

Achievement for All

Our careers provision ensures every student, regardless of their starting point, has access to high quality support and opportunities to achieve their full potential

Objectives

• To deliver high quality careers education that exceeds the provision required for the 8 benchmarks for good career guidance as identified by the Gatsby Foundation
• To work towards submitting a successful application for the ‘Quality in Careers Standard’ accreditation, the nationally recognised award for CEIAG in English Secondary School

Our Commitment to Our Students

At Stratton School, we are committed to equipping our students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to navigate an evolving job market and make informed career choices. Through our Careers Education, Information, Advice, and Guidance (CEIAG) programme, we aim to:

• Develop a broad understanding of the world of work, ensuring students can respond to changing job opportunities and industry trends.
• Inspire ambition and motivation, supporting students in reaching their academic and career potential through engaging personal development opportunities.
• Cultivate independent research skills, enabling students to access and utilise high-quality careers information and guidance.
• Encourage self-awareness and informed decision-making, empowering students to reflect on their strengths and values when making key education and career choices.
• Develop essential employability and life skills, including the ability to review achievements, plan future steps, make informed decisions, present themselves confidently, and adapt to change and transition.

Our CEIAG Strategy

We follow a structured, student-focused careers strategy built around the following key principles:

• Provide diverse and engaging career-related experiences that inspire young people and expand their horizons.
• Establish and maintain strong employer partnerships, giving students access to industry professionals, workplace insights, and real-world learning opportunities.
• Offer a broad range of experiences—including work placements, employer talks, and workplace visits—to prepare students for the world of work.
• Deliver high-quality guidance on KS4 and post-16 pathways, ensuring students make informed choices about their future.
• Provide face-to-face careers advice and guidance, tailored to individual needs.
• Support vulnerable students, including those with special educational needs (SEND) and those at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), by collaborating with the local authority and external support services.
• Ensure students are aware of financial support options available to help them continue their education post-16.
• Promote out-of-school opportunities that enrich students’ career aspirations and enhance their employability
• Emphasise the crucial importance of strong GCSE results, particularly in Maths and English, which are key to unlocking future education and career opportunities.

Our Careers provision aims to ensure that all students leave Stratton School as:

1. Community-Minded Individuals Responsible, thoughtful, and independent members of society who take ownership of their actions and decisions. Embedding the values of collaboration, respect, and inclusion across all careers-related activities.
2. Driven Achievers Confident individuals who aim high and persist through challenges to reach their full potential. Providing access to high-quality, impartial careers advice, tailored to individual needs.
3. Aspirational Learners Equipped with the skills and experiences needed to excel in an ever-changing global economy. Connecting classroom learning to real-world opportunities and future career pathways.

Stratton School has a statutory responsibility for securing access to CEIAG for all pupils in years 8-11 and post 16. We feel strongly that this should be extended to year 7. The purpose of the CEIAG is intended to assist pupils to make and implement education, training and occupation choices and to learn how to prepare for the workplace and their careers. Careers guidance must include information on all 16-18 education or training options, including Apprenticeships and T-Levels. Most people spend many years of their life in a working environment and it is important to equip our students with the necessary skills for them to career plan and know how and where to access impartial and unbiased information.

Stratton School has strong links with outside agencies and is working to foster further links with universities and colleges and local businesses which contribute to:

• Raising aspirations and increasing motivation – helping young people to identify educational and occupational goals
• Demonstrating the relevance of the knowledge and the skills learnt in subjects to future opportunities in learning and working
• Developing the skills for effective learning – reviewing achievements, setting targets, planning and taking action
• Demonstrating the links between living, learning and earning • Improving literacy – developing information and communication skills • Improving progression
• Reducing NEET (not in Education, Employment or Training)

Careers work also supports strategies for student’s personal and social development by:

• Building self-confidence and self-reliance
• Promoting positive and informed attitudes to learning
• Promoting leadership, organisation, resilience and initiative
• Developing good communication skills

We have a well-developed and effective work experience program for year 10 and year 12 students

Our strengths

At Stratton School, we are proud of our growing, dedicated careers team, who are passionate about delivering an outstanding Careers Education, Information, Advice, and Guidance (CEIAG) programme. Our PLEDGES programme is well established and reinforces many of the transferable workplace skills essential for students' future careers.

Through our academic mentoring programme, every student receives personalised 1:1 guidance, ensuring they are well-supported in their career journey. Each tutor plays a crucial role in helping their tutees explore and navigate future pathways.

We have several key strengths that underpin our careers provision, that we are proud of.

Our work experience programme

Work Experience Programme Our work experience programme is a cornerstone of our careers provision, ensuring all students gain meaningful exposure to the world of work.

• Expanding employer network – Following our successful summer-term work experience for Year 10 and Year 12 students, we have developed a growing database of employer partners.
• Flexible and adaptive opportunities – Recognising the evolution of working practices post pandemic, we have introduced virtual work experience options, ensuring all students can engage with relevant career experiences.
• SEND-focused work experience – We are developing a bespoke work experience programme tailored to the needs of our SEND students, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility.

Comprehensive whole-cohort approach – We are one of the few schools in the area that arranges work experience for the entire Year 10 and Year 12 cohorts, dedicating a full week in the summer term to immersive workplace experiences.

The Value of Work Experience

We firmly believe that meaningful workplace experiences are paramount in raising aspirations and equipping students with essential skills. Work experience enables students to:

• Adapt to unfamiliar settings and gain real-world exposure.
• Develop key employability skills, such as teamwork, independence, initiative, and communication.
• Clarify their post-16 and post-18 choices, making more informed decisions about their future careers and education.

Student Encounters with Employers & Education Providers

At Stratton School, we recognise that strong external partnerships are essential in providing students with invaluable career insights.

We collaborate with a diverse network of employers, universities, colleges, and apprenticeship providers, including:

• Further & Higher Education Institutions – North Hertfordshire College, The Bedford College Group, University of Bedfordshire (Aspire Higher), University of Hertfordshire, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge University, and Cambridge Regional College.
• Armed Forces & Public Sector – Army Careers, Navy Careers, RAF Careers and Job Centre Plus.
• Apprenticeship & Career Organisations – Amazing Apprenticeships, WorkPays (The ASK Programme), Form the Future, Speakers for Schools, and the South Midlands Careers Hub.
• Career Platforms & Support – Unifrog.

Our careers strategy prioritises ongoing collaboration with external providers, ensuring students benefit from a wide range of encounters with employers, industry experts, and higher education institutions, directly supporting our commitment to meeting the Gatsby Benchmarks.

Gatsby Foundation 8 Benchmarks

The Gatsby Foundation was set up to work in areas that the trustees of the foundation are passionate about. One of these is Education and as part of that good careers guidance in schools.

In 2013 the foundation commissioned Sir John Holman, a Professor of Chemistry at the University of York, senior education adviser and former headteacher, with setting out what career guidance in England would be like were it good by international standards. His report identified 8 benchmarks that schools should work towards to improve and deliver high quality CEIAG provision.

The eight Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Career Guidance are:

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

Current analysis against the Gatsby Foundation benchmarks The Gatsby Foundation provide a tool that allows us to see how the provision of CEIAG at Stratton compares against these benchmarks. Over the last few years our progress against meeting the benchmarks has been rapid.

Stratton Schools Analysis against the Gatsby Benchmarks

The Gatsby Foundation, in collaboration with the Careers and Enterprise Company, provides a specialist evaluation tool that enables schools and colleges to assess their CEIAG provision against the Gatsby Benchmarks. At Stratton School, our focus is on enhancing our careers provision to not only meet but exceed these benchmarks.

We continuously monitor, evaluate, and refine our programme to ensure high-quality careers education. Each year, the CEIAG Lead, along with a designated Academy Council member, is responsible for reviewing outcomes in line with the CEIAG Strategy and Procedures. An annual report is presented to the Academy Council, outlining progress, impact, and proposed improvements for the forthcoming year.

Roles & Responsibilities

Academy Council

link Governor for CEIAG: Ian Harvey

The AC ensures that independent careers guidance is provided to all students throughout their secondary education and that it is:

• Impartial, with no bias toward specific institutions, education, or work options.
• Comprehensive, covering a full range of education and training pathways, including apprenticeships and technical education routes.
• Student-centered, ensuring that all guidance promotes the best interests of learners.

Additionally, the governing body must:

• Ensure students in Years 8 to 13 have access to education and training providers to explore technical education and apprenticeships.
• Oversee and publish a Provider Access Statement, detailing how external providers can engage with students.

Strategic Careers Lead & Careers Advisor Angela Manley

AManley@stratton.school

The Strategic Careers Lead is responsible for the planning, delivery, and evaluation of the CEIAG programme, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and best practice. Key responsibilities include:

• Careers Programme Development & Management
• Overseeing and embedding CEIAG across the curriculum.
• Liaising with subject leaders to ensure careers education is effectively integrated.
• Collaborating with House teams and the SENDCo to identify students needing additional guidance.
• Ensuring Unifrog and Compass+ are fully utilised for careers tracking and self-evaluation. Student Guidance & Employer Engagement
• Conducting 1:1 career interviews, providing students with a written record of their discussion (logged on Unifrog & Bromcom).
• Supporting learners with post-16 and post-18 applications, including college, apprenticeships, and university pathways.
• Expanding employer links and coordinating FE college, university, and apprenticeship provider engagements.
• Leading on work experience placements and managing employer relationships. Evaluation, Compliance & Administration
• Monitoring teaching & learning in careers education and evaluating access to careers guidance.
• Advising the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) on careers policy, strategy, and resource allocation.
• Managing the careers budget and securing external funding/support where possible.
• Liaising with external agencies, including the Careers & Enterprise Company.
• Publishing and maintaining the school’s careers programme and Provider Access Policy. Workshops, Events & Student Opportunities
• Organising careers events, employer visits, and industry workshops.
• Developing lunchtime employer talks to provide flexible career engagement opportunities.
• Ensuring students receive high-quality career information on emerging post-16 pathways, including T-Levels and apprenticeships.

Careers Administrator Kath Emsley

• Logging careers activities on Unifrog.
• Coordinating work experience administration including employer and parent/carer communication.

Careers Consultant Lucy Mugoya (South Midlands Careers Hub - Careers & Enterprise Company)

• Termly meetings with the Strategic Careers Lead to review Compass+ evaluation.
• Providing updates on LMI trends, careers events, and staff training opportunities.

Teaching & Support Staff

All teaching and support staff play a role in embedding careers education and fostering a careers-focused learning environment.

Responsibilities include:

• Integrating careers education into subject curricula.
• Engaging in CPD/training to stay informed about careers provision.
• Using classroom visual aids to highlight career pathways.
• Encouraging students to develop real-world skills, manage risks, and engage with career opportunities.

CEIAG Team Members The following colleagues have key roles in the school's careers programme: If you would like any information, or have any questions on our careers provision, please contact us via the below.

Angela Manley - Careers Leader and Advisor
Tel: 01767 220000
Email: AManley@stratton.school

Rob Clarke - Assistant Principal and CEIAG Responsibility post 16
Tel: 01767 220000
Email:

Joe York - Senior Tutor and Year 10 Work Experience Coordinator
Tel: 01767 220000
Email: JYork@stratton.school

Kath Emsley - Administrator and Year 12 Work Experience Coordinator
Tel: 01767 220000
Email: KEmsley@stratton.school

Angela Fisher - Head of Business, Finance & Economics and Enterprise Lead
Tel: 01767 220000
Email: AFisher@stratton.school

All students have to continue in education or training until the end of the academic year in which they are 18. This does not mean young people must stay in school. They will be able to choose from: 

• Full-time education (e.g. at a school or college) 
• An apprenticeship 
• Part-time education or training combined with one of the following: 
• Employment or self-employment for 20 hours or more a week 
• Volunteering for 20 hours or more a week. 

More information on choices and how parents can help their children can be found on the Meridian Career Pathways website.

Measuring Impact 

The careers programme at our school is monitored annually and this evaluation includes: 

• A review of destination data as an outcome of the careers programme. 
• A review of the programme against the Gatsby Benchmarks to ensure best practice.
• A review of data from Unifrog that feeds into the Gatsby Benchmarks.
• A review of the Future Skills Questionnaire which students complete each year.

Labour Market Information 

A key component of our careers provision is providing information to students on how to look at Labour Market Information (LMI), interpret the data and recognise professions, industries and jobs which are both in demand or in decline. We teach, within our Career’s programme, LMI, and analyse entry routes, salaries, skills and qualifications needed for a variety of roles, jobs and careers.

• Labour Market Information for Central Bedfordshire can be found HERE
• For national LMI trends click on Meridian Career Pathways website HERE