How we support your child's future

Careers Programme Summary (Academic Year 2025–2026)

At Strathmore College, we are committed to providing a high-quality, inclusive, and progressive careers education, information, advice, and guidance (CEIAG) programme for all students, including those in Year 12 and Year 13. Our programme is designed to support students in making informed decisions about their next steps, whether progressing to higher education, apprenticeships, Supported Internships or volunteering.

In line with statutory guidance and funding requirements, the college publishes information about its careers programme, on the college website, including how careers guidance is delivered to Year 12 and Year 13 students. This information is appropriate to our setting and meets the expectations outlined in our funding and accountability agreements.

The college also publishes a Provider Access Statement, setting out the circumstances under which providers of technical education and apprenticeships are given access to Year 12 and Year 13 students. This ensures that learners are fully informed about the full range of progression pathways available to them.

 

Overview of the Careers Programme

Our careers programme is structured to meet the needs of learners at different stages of their journey and is aligned with national expectations, including the Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Career Guidance.

· For Year 12 students, the focus is on exploring career pathways, developing employability skills, and building awareness of opportunities, including work experience and initial progression planning.

· For Year 13 students, the programme focuses on progression planning and securing positive destinations.

 

Key components of the programme include:

· Employability skills are embedded throughout all sessions for all students and it is offered as a level 1 qualification for all students within the work route during year 2/3

· One-to-one careers guidance interviews with a qualified careers adviser can be arranged on an annual basis.

· Careers sessions are held weekly for all students on the work pathway.

· Higher education application support, including personal statements and interview preparation visits

· Workshops and webinars are available to all, seeking apprenticeships, employment pathways

· Opportunities for providers of technical education and apprenticeships to engage with students through events, talks, and workshops visits IAE,

· Employer engagement activities such as guest speakers, networking events, and industry visits such as JCB, IAE

· Work experience opportunities.

· Access to up-to-date labour market information to support informed decision-making

· Support with CV writing, job applications, and employability skills – OCN Level1 qualification

 

Access to the Programme

Information about the careers programme is widely available and accessible to all stakeholders:

· Students can access information through tutorials, careers noticeboards, and direct communication from tutors and the careers team.

· Parents and carers can find information on the college website, through newsletters, parent/carer progress meetings, and by contacting the careers team directly.

· Teachers and staff are provided with programme information through internal communications, staff briefings, enabling them to embed careers learning within the curriculum.

· Employers and external partners, including providers of technical education and apprenticeships, can engage with the programme and access information via the college website or by contacting the careers team to arrange activities in line with the Provider Access Statement.

 

Measuring and Assessing Impact

Strathmore College evaluates the effectiveness and impact of its careers programme through a range of qualitative and quantitative measures to ensure continuous improvement and positive outcomes for learners. These include:

· Student voice and feedback: Surveys, group sessions and evaluations following careers activities

· Destination data: Tracking progression outcomes for Year 13 learners (e.g. higher education, apprenticeships, employment)

· Gatsby Benchmark assessment: Regular use of the Compass tool to assess alignment

· Careers guidance records: Monitoring uptake and outcomes of one-to-one guidance

· Participation and engagement data: Analysis of involvement across Year 12 and Year 13

· Work experience evaluation (Year 12): Feedback from students and employers

· Stakeholder feedback: Input from parents, carers, employers, and staff

· External review and inspection outcomes: Including Ofsted feedback where applicable

These measures are reviewed regularly by the Careers Leader and senior leadership team to ensure the programme remains effective, inclusive, and responsive to learner needs.

 

Review of Information

All careers programme information published by Strathmore College, including this summary and the Provider Access Statement, is reviewed at least annually to ensure it remains accurate, up to date, and compliant with current statutory guidance, funding requirements, and best practice.

Volunteering options

We organise a variety of community-based volunteering opportunities for young people looking to develop their work-based skills. This can be done in groups or individually as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Our students have previously volunteered at Tittesworth Reservoir, Sherratts Wood Farm and Ford Green Hall, amongst others.

Work experience opportunities

Our students have previously completed work experience placements in a variety of organisations, across a wide range of industries, including:

  • Local health authority, hospital porters and day nurseries
  • Local stables providing riding for the disabled
  • Newsagents, cafes and florists
  • Highstreet stories including Halford, Matalan and Dunelm
  • Pizza Hut, Emma Bridgewater and Premier Inn
  • Trentham Gardens
  • JCB and Synectics

Vocational opportunities

Learners at Strathmore College are able to benefit from a strong vocational element to their learning programme. For those individuals looking to progress into work, we offer a structured and highly-supportive programme to help them achieve this goal. This may involve:

  • Accompanying learners to interviews
  • Supporting learners on placement
  • Access to work coaches
  • Providing assistance with CV writing and job applications
  • Identifying and arranging suitable work placements in line with the learner’s interests
  • Linking with employers in the home area to support progression

Get in touch!

Have a question about careers support or post-16 planning? Our team is here to help!

Careers Lead: Dina Webber

Email address: Dinawebber@aspriscs.co.uk

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