1. Our Approach to Careers

Meet our CEAIG Team

Please phone 01905-21261 or contact us

Provider Access Statement and Policy

Provider Access Statement

This policy statement sets out the school’s arrangements for managing the access of providers to students at the school for the purpose of giving them information about the provider’s educations or training offer. This complies with the school’s legal obligations under Section 42B of the Education Act 1997.

Riversides School welcomes feedback from parents, staff, pupils and employers on their whole school careers strategy. If you would like to get in touch, please contact us

The Provider Access Policy

1. Aims

This policy statement aims to set out our school’s arrangements for managing the access of education and training providers to pupils for the purpose of giving them information about their offer. It sets out:

• Procedures in relation to requests for access
• The grounds for granting and refusing requests for access
• Details of premises or facilities to be provided to a person who is given access

2. Statutory requirements

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 purpose of informing them about approved technical education, qualifications or apprenticeships.

Schools must provide a minimum of 6 encounters with technical education or training providers to all pupils in years 8 to 13 (see more detail in section 2.1 below).

Schools must also have a policy statement that outlines the circumstances in which education and training providers will be given access to these students. This is outlined in section 42B of the Education Act 1997, the Skills and Post-16 Act 2022 and on page 43 of guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) on careers guidance and access for education and training providers.

This policy shows how our school complies with these requirements.

2.1 The 6 encounters schools must offer to all pupils in years 8 to 11

Schools must offer:

Two encounters for pupils during the ‘first key phase’ (year 8 or 9)

• All pupils must attend
• Encounters can take place any time during year 8, and between 1 September and 28 February during year 9

Two encounters for pupils during the ‘second key phase’ (year 10 or 11)

• All pupils must attend
• Encounters can take place any time during year 10, and between 1 September and 28 February during year 11

These encounters must happen for a reasonable period of time during the standard school day. Schools can continue to provide complementary experiences but encounters outside of school hours won’t count towards these requirements. Schools must ask each provider to provide the following information as a minimum:

• Information about the provider and the approved qualifications or apprenticeships they offer
• Information about what careers those qualifications and apprenticeships can lead to
• What learning or training with the provider is like
• Answers to any questions from pupils

At Riversides School, the Provider Access Legislation is linked to our Preparations for Adulthood and Careers curriculum Each encounter is planned carefully into the overview ensuring that students have access to meaningful information about education provision.

2.2 Meaningful provider encounters

Riversides school is committed to providing meaningful encounters to all pupils.

Encounter is defined as 1 meeting/session between pupils and 1 provider. Meaningful encounters can take place by a visit, visitor or live online engagement is also an option at our school.

3. Student entitlement

All students in years 8 to 11 at Riversides School are entitled to:

• Find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities as part of our 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, e.g. through activities and events such as options events, assemblies and taster events
• Understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses

4. Management of provider access requests

4.1 Procedure

A provider wishing to request access should contact Kerry Downs (Business Manager).

Telephone: 01905 21261 or Contact Us

4.2 Opportunities for access

A number of events, integrated into our careers programme, will offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to students and/or their parents/carers.

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Primary
YR 7	Research jobs that are of interest to pupils.	Transport company visit	Flying to Help
YR 8	Careers fair Hive	Army	Southco Latch building workshop
YR 9	Sanctuary visit	Careers fair Life beyond	Money matters workshop
YR 10	Worcestershire Apprenticeships	Mazak Visit	Work experience
YR 11	Southco	The National School & College Leavers Festival (NEC)	Individual visits to college choices

4.3 Granting and refusing access

Access will be offered depending on the curriculum pathway a pupil follows. Refusal to events may take place when a booking system is in place and capacity is full.

4.4 Safeguarding

Our safeguarding/child protection policy outlines the school’s procedure for checking the identity and suitability of visitors.

Education and training providers will be expected to adhere to this policy.

4.5 Premises and facilities

• Facilities will be available to enable providers to access students, e.g. rooms, specialist equipment such as audio and visual devices
• All events should be organised and accessed by Paula Collins or the careers team at Riversides School.
• Providers are welcome to leave prospectuses or other material for pupils or parent/carers to access.

5. Previous providers

In previous years, the following providers from the local area were invited to Riversides School to speak to pupils:

• Wildgoose
• Pershore College
• HOW College
• Kidderminster College
• Worcestershire apprenticeships
• Dying to Drive
• Harlow’s Timber Yard

6. Pupil destinations

Year 11 pupils moved to a range of providers:

• Worcester Sixth Form College
• Hereford College
• HOW college Worcester
• Kidderminster College
• Pershore College
• Bank Side
• Hoople-Hereford
• The Bridge School – Malvern

7. Complaints

Any complaints related to provider access can be raised following the school complaints procedure or directly with The Careers & Enterprise Company via provideraccess@careersandenterprise.co.uk

8. Links to other policies

• Safeguarding/child protection policy
• Careers strategy policy
• Curriculum policy
• Complaints policy

9. Monitoring arrangements

This policy will be reviewed and approved by the school Governing Body annually

Download Provider Access Policy

Careers Programme

Riverside School CEIAG programme will help pupils to:

EVERY STUDENT MATTERS

All young people need a planned programme of activities both to help them choose appropriate pathways at 14 and 16 to enable them to manage their careers, career progression and sustain employability throughout their lives. At Riverside’s we aim to provide impartial Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) to support students’ transition, not only to further or higher education, vocational training or employment. We want students to ENGAGE in all activities and encounters, ENJOY their time partaking in activities and ACHIEVE their careers goals.

Our CEIAG Programme has been developed to engage parents and local employers, both in school and externally, to support our students in becoming employable and aspirational young people in accordance with the recommended Gatsby Benchmarks. Curriculum subjects include planning to allow students to understand the relevance of the subjects they are studying in the real world and the opportunities that could await them.

Primary (KS2) – ‘Explore’ – We believe discussing careers at an early stage allows pupils to develop ambition and future goals. By encouraging our KS2 pupils to explore various career pathways, we can introduce them to various worlds of work. This also encourages students to develop respect for other professions and feel inspired by their roles. Our KS2 pupils are fully involved in school career events and experience our World of Work week annually.

Years 7 & 8 – ‘Discover’ – In Lower KS3, we aim to develop their knowledge and understanding on working roles and rights including gender stereotypes in careers and minority groups within the working world. We broaden their horizons into looking towards the future and continue to encourage ambition and self-confidence. We discuss and provide opportunities for career skills development such as communication, teamwork, listening and problem-solving skills. We aim to increase awareness of the variety of future job roles including pathways on attaining them such as university, college or apprenticeships. We also facilitate a growing awareness of self-esteem, self-care and physical/mental well-being in preparation for the workplace.

Year 9 – ‘Engage’ – In Year 9, We aim to empower our students to make informed decisions about options and future post 16 choices. We broaden their horizons into looking towards the future and continue to encourage ambition and self-confidence. Learners will continue to develop their own key skills needed for future employment or study. Learners will be offered several opportunities including engagement with employers and Post 16 Providers to help inform future choices. We will support Learners in developing their knowledge of both Academic, Vocational & Technical Pathways, whilst preparing Learners to make appropriate choices for their next steps in choosing their vocational and/or GCSE pathways.

Year 10 – ‘Developing Potential’ – At KS4, we ensure careers are embedded throughout the curriculum plans and daily teaching of both vocational areas and core subjects. We provide opportunities to engage and have meaningful encounters with employers. We facilitate students’ opportunities to experience both Foundational Education (college/apprenticeships) and Higher Education (University and beyond). We offer this by arranging enrichment visits to universities, colleges and workplaces. We also encourage growing links with local employers and are working towards developing further links where key employers come into school and discuss their roles and career pathway. Work Experience is offered to all Year 10 & 11 learners to help them experience their future Careers choices and help them make an informed decision on their next steps as they transition towards Year 11.

Year 11 – ‘Achieve’ – In Year 11, we ensure students can make informed decisions to transition to their chosen post 16 options whether this is further education, employment or further training such as apprenticeships. We provide opportunities for Social Action for students to contribute to society by completing charity work and work placements with local employers. We encourage and nurture skills such as CV writing, personal statement writing and how to search and apply for their next steps. We arrange assemblies with Foundational Educational and Higher Educational providers and arrange careers events both internally and externally. We complete an individualised plan for progression for each student including additional support for students with diverse learning and social needs. We provide support during interview processes for apprenticeships, colleges or employment. This also includes assisting students needing further inspiration into their future by attending career events, colleges and universities.

Policies

SEND Overview

Careers Displays

Primary and Secondary