Careers Leader – Amy Duffy
Contact email –a.duffy@bedford.wigan.sch.uk
Contact number – 01942 909009

Gatsby Benchmarks

Sir John Holman, a former Principal and founder of the National STEM Learning Centre, was asked by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation to undertake an independent, international review of career guidance. He visited six countries, analysed good practice in English schools and did a comprehensive review of current literature. From all of this, Sir John wrote the Good Career Guidance Report. In the report, he identifies what ‘good’ looks like and outlines a framework of eight benchmarks that schools can use to improve their career guidance system. These now form part of the government’s careers strategy, launched December 2017.

We have earned the highest possible mark in the Quality in Careers Accreditation process, which is the national standard for careers education, information advice and guidance. We have achieved 100 per cent across eight Gatsby benchmarks – which define what world-class careers education and support should look like. Only 28% of schools in Greater Manchester have achieved the full Gatsby Benchmarks.

The Gatsby Benchmarks are as follows;

1. Every school and college should have an embedded programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by pupils, parents, teachers and employers.
2. Every pupil, and their parents, should have access to good‐quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities. They will need the support of an informed adviser to make the best use of available information.
3. Pupils have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each pupil. A school’s careers programme should embed equality and diversity considerations throughout.
4. All teachers should link curriculum learning with careers. For example, STEM subject teachers should highlight the relevance of STEM subjects for a wide range of future career paths.
5. Every pupil should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment activities including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes.
6. Every pupil should have first‐hand experiences of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities, and expand their networks.
7. All pupils should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them. This includes both academic and vocational routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace.
8. Every pupil should have opportunities for guidance interviews with a careers adviser, who could be internal (a member of school staff) or external, provided they are trained to an appropriate level. These should be available whenever significant study or career choices are being made. They should be expected for all pupils but should be timed to meet their individual needs.

Baker Clause Statement

This policy statement sets out Bedford’s arrangements for managing the access of providers to students at school for the purposes of giving them information about the provider’s education or training offer.

This complies with the legal obligations under Section 42B of the Education act 1997 (the ‘Baker Clause’).

Student entitlement

Students in Years 7 – 13 are entitled to:

• find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeships opportunities, as part of a 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 – through options evening’s, assemblies and group discussions and taster events;
• understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses.

Management of Provider Access requests

Any provider wishing to request access to Bedford High School should contact Mrs Birchall at p.birchall@bedford.wigan.sch.uk

Parents/Guardians: there is a dedicated Careers Page on FROG parent/student portal which is updated on a weekly basis with links to:

Careers Bulletins
Apprenticeship Vacancies for Year 11 Leavers
College and Training Provider Websites
Employer Events and information

Careers Policy

Provider Access
College Open Events 2023-24 CLICK HERE

Year 11 Careers Letter

Parents Guide “What’s Next”
Inspiring IAG Award
Extra-curricular Clubs 22-23 Term 2

Y10 Careers Letter
Careers Bulletin Latest
Y9 Careers Letter

Bedford Alumni

We are looking for former students to inspire our current students, can you help by sharing your career journey at an assembly?

If you can help, please email Mrs Birchall, p.birchall@bedford.wigan.sch.uk or complete our electronic Alumni form.

Additional Support and Guidance

Aspiring Futures

Aspiring Futures is the employment and skills service for young people in Wigan borough. They provide careers information and advice for young people. Bedford High School currently have a service level agreement with Aspiring Futures to which provides our students with access to independent and impartial careers guidance that both inspires them and raises their aspirations.

Aspiring futures also support our school with CEIAG events and work experience, helping us to deliver the objectives in the Careers Strategy (2018).

In addition to scheduled 1:1 support for students, parents and students can also self-refer. To do this, parents and/or students should speak to Mrs Birchall, who will help facilitate this.

POST-16 DESTINATION DATA

Post-16 destinations are captured by Aspiring Futures and presented in the annual activity report, which is shared with schools in the spring term. This shows student engagement in post-16 college and training providers, apprenticeships and those who, at the time of the data capture, are NEET.

LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION

Accounting, Finance, and Law Sector
Construction
Digital
Education
Emergency Services
FinTech
Green Economy
Health & Social Care
Hospitality
Life Science
Logistics
Manufacturing
Rail Sector
Retail Sector

CAREERS WEBSITES

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/

The National Careers Service is a free careers advice service for adults and young people aged 13 years and over. Access support by the website link above, telephone: 0800 100 900 or book a free call back through the website if you do not have access to a landline and you have a pay-as-you-go mobile.

https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/

The National Apprenticeship Service has the latest news, information and advice to help you find and apply for an apprenticeship vacancy.

https://amazingapprenticeships.com/

Amazing Apprenticeships have lots of information for students and parents.

https://pathwayctm.com/video-library/all-videos/

https://pathwayctm.com/

PATHWAY have lots of careers videos.

https://gmacs.co.uk/

Greater Manchester Apprenticeship and Careers Service