Employers & FE/HE education providers

Schools are required to ensure that there is an opportunity for a range of education and training providers to access students in years 8 to 13 for the purposes of informing them about FE routes and approved technical education, qualifications or apprenticeships. We enjoy an excellent relationship with local FE providers and Employers to ensure appropriate ‘stage-age’ information and guidance is available to all students.

PAL Access
Recently updated provider access leglislation (PAL and sometimes referred to as the Baker Clause) specifies schools must provide at least six encounters with approved providers of apprenticeships and technical education for all their students:

• Two encounters for pupils during the ‘first key phase’ (year 8 or 9) that are mandatory for all pupils to attend
• Two encounters for pupils during the ‘second key phase’ (year 10 or 11) that are mandatory for all pupils to attend
• Two encounters for pupils during the ‘third key phase’ (year 12 or 13) that are mandatory for the school to put on but optional for pupils to attend

This legislation will become a key mechanism to further help learners understand and take-up, not just apprenticeships, but wider technical education options such as T-Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications.

Calling all employers, colleges, universities, technical, vocational and apprenticeship providers

• We are always seeking out people from the world of work and FE/HE education to come and offer a real-life perspective to the World of Work for our students. You may be interested in getting involved in providing our students with some information, advice and guidance relating to your industry, business, college, or university.
• This could be showcasing your provision in assemblies, National Careers Week (March), National Apprenticeship Week (February) and / or attending our Aspirations Evening Careers Fair (January) to help showcase your business or courses on offer. We have excellent links with a range of Education and Apprenticeship providers and employers but always welcome more!
• If you would like to get involved in some way, please contact the school’s careers coordinator: Jennie.walsh@weaverhamhighscool.com

A stable careers programme

• 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.
• Learning from labour market information
• 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 best use of available information.
• Addressing the needs of each pupil
• Pupils have different career guidance needs at various 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.
• Linking curriculum learning to careers
• 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.
• Encounters with employers and employees
• 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.
• Experiences of workplaces
• 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.
• Encounters with further and higher education
• 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.
• Personal guidance
• Every pupil should have opportunities for guidance interviews with a career’s 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.

Click here to view Provider Access Policy