Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG)

Our Vision

At Charnwood College, we are committed to delivering a high quality, coherent, ambitious and inclusive careers programme that supports every student to make informed decisions about their future. We will inspire students to achieve their maximum potential in order to give them the opportunities they aspire to in relation to their future.

Our provision ensures that all students:

Understand the full range of pathways available
Engage with a large number of employers and organisations
Know the different careers available to them and the associated labour market information
Develop the skills needed for future success
Progress into positive destinations

Our careers education, information, advice and guidance provision and plan are reviewed annually. Our next review will take place in July 2026.

Contact us

For further information or to get involved, please contact:

Careers Leader: Michael Greenwood
mgreenwood@charnwoodcollege.org

01509 554400

Gatsby Benchmark 1 – A stable Careers Programme

Our careers programme is aligned with the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks and is quality assured through Compass+, which is reviewed termly.

We use Compass+ to:

Track every student’s careers journey
Monitor participation in employer encounters, work experience and guidance
Identify and support key groups using OnTrack+
Review and improve provision

Careers leadership and governance

Careers leader: Michael Greenwood

Senior leader with responsibility for personal development: Jodi Farmer

Governor with responsibility for careers: Dr Irina Gheorghe-Common

Support by partnerships including:

Leicester and Leicestershire Business and Skills Partnership
Careers Hub Enterprise Advisor Network (Michelle Fox)
Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership
Loughborough University Pathways Programme (Will Palmer)

Quality Assurance

Charnwood College have formally committed to achieving the Quality in Careers Standard, demonstrating the dedication to excellence in careers provision
Programme evaluated through Compass+, Future Skills Questionnaires, stakeholder feedback and destination data

Staff training

All teaching staff receive careers training annually to support their role of delivering careers education in all aspects of their role
Training includes: post 16/post 18 pathways, apprenticeships, technical routes, latest developments in education such as V levels, labour market information and Unifrog use
New staff receive an induction programme including careers provision and expectations
Training is reviewed annually using staff voice and Compass+ evaluation

Gatsby Benchmark 2 – Learning from Career and Labour Market Information (LMI)

Careers and labour market information is embedded throughout the school.

Delivery includes:

Weekly tutor programme sessions for careers and the wider world
Career of the week and labour market information shared with students
Career of the week and labour market information shared parents/carers
Assemblies focused on careers across subject areas

Digital platforms

All students have access to Unifrog enables students to:

Research career pathways and destinations including colleges, sixth forms, apprenticeships and universities
Explore Oxbridge and international university options
Explore labour market trends
Compare education and apprenticeship routes
Record skills, competencies and careers activities

This ensures students can independently plan and track their future pathways.

Gatsby Benchmark 3 – Addressing the Needs of Each Pupil

Provision is tailored to meet the needs of all learners.

Tracking and support

Compass+ tracks participation and identifies gaps
OnTrack+ identifies students at risk of NEET
Targeted intervention programmes in place such as Generation Charnwood

Targeted groups

Careers guidance for students and parents/carers at SEND coffee mornings
SENCO involvement in transition meetings to destinations for SEND
Additional support for students and families with English as an Additional Language through coffee mornings, support attending open events, applications and applicant events
Specific programmes such as Generation Charnwood for disadvantaged students alongside participation and application tracking
Early intervention

Assessment of Skills

Future Skills Questionnaire assesses:

Careers knowledge and skills
Essential skills for life and work

Gatsby Benchmark 4: Linking Curriculum Learning to Careers

Careers education is embedded across all subjects and year groups.

My future curriculum

Year 7: Introduction to aspirations and careers
Year 8: Pathways, skills and ambitions
Year 9: GCSE options and pathways
Year 10: Post 16 routes and employability
Year 11: Decision making and next steps
Year 12: Post 18 options and transferable skills
Year 13: Independence and employment preparation

Additional curriculum links

Subject specific careers conversations embedded in lessons
Weekly tutor sessions
Whole school careers assemblies

Gatsby Benchmark 5: Encounters with Employers and Employees

Students regularly engage with employers and industry professionals over 9 key areas:

STEM and Innovation
Creative Arts and Media
Health and Life Sciences
Law, Government and Public Service
Business and Finance
Education and Training
Skilled Trades and Technical Work
Environment, Agriculture and Sustainability
Sports and Physical Performance

Events and activities

Whole school careers fair
Careers curriculum day
- Apprenticeships and T Levels sessions
- Enterprise challenges
- Big legal lessons
- Mock trial
- Employer workshops

Work with us

We welcome support from employers and providers. If you are able to support our programme with talks, workshops, work experience placements or events, please contact the email below.

PersonalDevelopment@CharnwoodCollege.org

Gatsby Benchmark 6: Experience of Workplaces

Students gain first hand workplace experience.

Work experience programme

KS3 – 5 days of ‘Careers in …’ virtual workplace experiences
KS4 – one week in person workplace experience
KS5 – one week in person placement
Participation tracked and evaluated through Compass+

Placements include:

Natwest Bank Plc
David Ross Education Trust
Lauda Fabrications
The Falcon Inn
Doggy & Gabbona
Local primary schools and nurseries
Kindeva Drug Delivery Ltd
Leicestershire County Council
Volvo Truck & Bus Centre
Jarrom Agricultural Services
Hays Travel
Olivia’s
The Loughborough Climbing Station
Oakwood Pharmacy
DHL Aviation
Pets at Home
The Access Group
Idverde
Huntingdon Court
British Heart Foundation
Chaplins Hair
John Storer Charnwood

Gatsby Benchmark 7: Encounters with Further and Higher Education

Students have meaningful encounters with a wide range of providers.

University and provider engagement

Universities include:

Oxford University
Loughborough University
University of Leicester
University of Birmingham
Coventry University
De Montfort University
Sheffield University
Arden University

Providers

Loughborough College
Ignite
Brooksby College
Stephensons College
Apprenticeship providers
Generation Charnwood

Key Experiences

Year 8 and 10 University visits
Identified students are invited to work with Generation Charnwood in KS3
Year 12
- Loughborough University visit
- Oxbridge visit
- Annual UCAS fair

Gatsby Benchmark 8: Personal Guidance

All students receive structured, impartial careers guidance.

Careers interviews

Year 9: LEBC Options guidance
Year 10: Pathways interview
Year 11: LEBC interview and meeting with a meeting with SLT link
Year 12: LEBC interview
Year 13: Pathways interview and meeting with a member of the Sixth Form leadership team

Additional support

We also provide targeted careers support to ensure equity and inclusion:

Students identified as having SEND have access to personalised guidance with SENCO involvement along with opportunities for guidance at SEND coffee mornings
Students and families with EAL are supported individually by our EAL lead, Ana Simandi, and via coffee mornings and guidance sessions
Students at risk of NEET are identified through OnTrack+ and are eligible for further interviews where necessary
Referral system for interviews for students in years 7 – 8 and targeted students by the pastoral team
Appointment opportunities for all students and parents/carers at parents’ evenings

Measuring Impact

We evaluate success through:

Compass+ data
Student voice
Staff voice
Parent voice
Stakeholder feedback
Participation data
Destination tracking

To provide feedback on our careers programme, please complete the following Microsoft form: Personal Development Feedback – Fill in form

Gatsby Benchmark Self Evaluation

compass compassevaluation results report 08062026 1 .pdf

Destinations 2024 – 2025

Alumni

We are proud of our former students and the diverse paths they have taken since leaving our school. Our alumni network showcases a wide range of achievements, from higher education and apprenticeships to successful careers across many industries. By sharing their journeys, experiences, and advice, our alumni provide valuable inspiration and real-world insight for current students as they explore their own futures. We are always delighted to hear from former students who would like to share their stories and support our careers programme; whether through talks, mentoring, or work-related opportunities. If you are an alumnus looking to reconnect and contribute, please get in touch with the school at PersonalDevelopment@CharnwoodCollege.org to help inspire the next generation.

Key Documents

DRET Careers Education and Guidance Policy

Charnwood College Provider Access Statement

Certificate of Commitment to Quality in Careers Mark

Information for Staff

National Careers Service: https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/

Careers in the Curriculum: What works well: https://www.careersandenterprise.co.uk/sites/cweb/files/oq0bqhmp/careers_in_the_curriculum_report_what_works.pdf

The Career & Enterprise Company: https://resources.careersandenterprise.co.uk/explore/all-resources-all-one-place

BBC Bitesize: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/careers

Information for Students

Planning your future is an exciting step, and there are a wide range of pathways available to you after Year 11 and Sixth Form. At post 16, students can choose from several options depending on their interests, strengths, and career goals. Many students progress to Sixth Form to study A Levels, which are academic qualifications that can lead to university. Others may choose vocational courses (such as BTECs or T Levels), which combine classroom learning with practical, career-related skills. Apprenticeships are another valuable route, allowing you to earn a salary while gaining qualifications and hands-on experience in a real workplace.

After post‑18, there are equally diverse opportunities. University remains a popular choice, offering degree level study across a wide range of subjects. Alternatively, higher and degree apprenticeships provide a chance to continue studying while working at a more advanced level. Some students choose to enter employment directly, often building experience and progressing within a company. There are also gap year opportunities, which can involve travel, work, or volunteering, helping you develop independence and new skills.

Whatever your interests or ambitions, our careers programme is here to support you in exploring your options, developing key employability skills, and making informed decisions about your next steps.

Making Choices

Do not panic if you cannot decide which direction to go in or which courses would best suit your needs.

Talk to your parents, teachers and Careers Adviser about the best option for YOU.

Do your research - use the websites and other sources of information to help make YOUR decision.

This is the first time in your lives where you are making a huge decision, it is YOUR decision, stand strong with YOUR choices.

Aim high, we have every confidence in YOU. Challenge YOURSELF and go for it!

This year is important, do not lose sight of your GCSE exams, the grades matter when it comes to your next step.

Things to Consider

Focus - what are your expectations, aspirations, do you have an idea of career choice?

Information - have you done your research, looked at labour market information, thought about training and qualifications, universities?

Realistic - are your thoughts realistic? If you do not want to leave home what options are there locally for you or is the sky the limit?

Scope - how far can you go in your chosen career, are you aiming at the right pitch, have you thought about how far you can go in this field?

Tactics - moving forward, what next, what does the development of this idea look like?

National Careers Service: https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/

Unifrog: https://www.unifrog.org/sign-in

My path: https://www.mypathcareersuk.com/

UCAS: https://www.ucas.com/

What Uni: https://www.whatuni.com/

Prospects: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/

Information for Parents and Carers

National Careers Service: https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/

This website offers free, impartial advice and information for anyone aged 13 or over. Key tools allow you to explore careers, take skills assessments, find courses and get advice

Talking Futures - https://www.talkingfutures.org.uk/

This website is designed to help parents and carers have constructive, informed conversations with their children about their post 16 and post 18 education and career options. Helpful resources include pathways information, conversation frameworks and tailored action plans.

Future Goals - https://www.futuregoals.co.uk/parents-and-carers/

This website offers career resources for parents and carers. It explains qualifications, explores jobs of the future and explores key skills that are in demand by employers. It offers a range of different interactive activities to understand the wealth of skills needed for future aspirations.

Careermag for Parents & Guardians - https://careermap.co.uk/career-advice/careermag/for-parents-guardians/

This is a publication with information for parents of school-aged children offering support and information on careers and qualifications. It also includes information on how to help support young people with mental health concerns, managing the UCAS system, apprenticeships and in-depth features on various sectors and opportunities in them.

DfE Skills for Careers - https://www.skillsforcareers.education.gov.uk/pages/parent-advice-and-resources

This website offers support and information for helping your child with their career and education decisions. This website is great for exploring career ideas, as well as advice for parents from UCAS.

Information for Employers

We welcome partnerships with employers who are keen to support and inspire our students as they prepare for their future careers. By working collaboratively, employers can play a vital role in shaping young people’s understanding of the workplace through activities such as workshops, career talks, mentoring, work experience placements, and industry insights. These opportunities help students develop essential skills, raise aspirations, and make informed decisions about their next steps. If you are interested in supporting our careers programme, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact PersonalDevelopment@CharnwoodCollege.org to discuss how you can get involved and make a meaningful impact on our students’ futures.

Charnwood College