Careers Advice and Guidance

Mark Hall Academy is committed to providing a planned programme of careers education, giving appropriate guidance and supporting all students with their individual needs. Our intention is to inspire and prepare our young people for further education and the world of work, with a focus on developing pupils in line with our school’s core beliefs; confidence, determination and respect.

At Mark Hall Academy, our objective is that all pupils have the right guidance and support when considering their futures, post sixteen, and have a secure knowledge of their needs for further education.  Furthermore, our intention is to ensure pupils can draw on their experiences within school, such as meaningful interactive meetings with employers, sixth forms and colleges to develop their knowledge of careers and education pathways. This knowledge development is implemented through assemblies and designated curriculum time, during morning registration sessions. Every member of the Mark Hall community has an important role to play in careers and further education. Teaching staff deliver, Unifrog approved lessons, to tutor groups weekly, with opportunity for open discussions regarding higher education and future career prospects. Our independent careers advisor, supports our young people with a consultation regarding their next steps and follows up to support those with greater need or should they want to discuss their future plans more.

At Mark Hall Academy, we view careers and further education as a whole school priority. As a school we aim to utilise our tutor group curriculum time, to educate our young people and give them best possible guidance to ensure that they are well informed of their next steps post sixteen and have an idea of a career pathway they would like to take. We do this by following the Unifrog scheme of learning for careers, with a focus on open discussion and allow for pupils to ask significant questions. With our dedicated independent careers advisor, Clare Hurst, we aim to give individual guidance to all pupils, allow for drop in sessions, during break and lunchtimes twice a week, and explain the opportunities available to our young people, so that they are empowered to navigate the post sixteen pathways and make an informed decision, that is right for them.

Mark Hall Academy recognises the importance of the Baker Clause and endeavours to allow colleges and training providers access to every student, from years eight to eleven, to discuss post sixteen opportunities and to promote the full range of technical educational qualifications and apprenticeships.

Mark Hall strives to develop our careers programme in line with the internationally recognised Gatsby Benchmarks. These benchmarks support our school by providing a framework of study to ensure pupils get a varied and effective programme of study that meets the statutory duties of an education provider. Mark Hall Academy utilises Compass + to support with all careers activities and to track our progress towards ensuring we are offering all eight standards of the criteria below.

At Mark Hall Academy we have aligned our programme to follow the Unifrog programme of study. The Unifrog careers programme has students start from year seven and discuss the key concepts of careers, including; dream jobs, working conditions for their futures, well being in the work place, choosing their correct pathways and supporting with their key stage four options.

Whilst following this programme we are able to ensure that pupils meet all areas of the Gatsby benchmarks and have a progressive and diverse curriculum, which is vital in supporting their needs as they move towards post sixteen and their next steps into further education and higher education.

Mark Hall Academy utilises the time of our independent careers advisor by discussing pathways, post sixteen, into further education. The model below is used during guidance meetings and within tutor times to discuss with pupils the specific pathways they may follow and how each one can lead to positive outcomes for each individual pupil. Pupils are given time to consider all options and support with guidance and advice from staff to ensure the young person is able to make an informed decision on their future.

Every young person in year ten, has the opportunity to access a mock interview for a college or sixth form place. Mark Hall Academy are dedicated to giving pupils this opportunity to gain realistic practise that will serve them well going into year eleven, where they will need to conduct real interviews to gain admission to sixth form, college or apprenticeship placements. The interviews are conducted by members of the Governing body and friends from our local community to ensure that pupils get the truest to life experience of meeting somebody with industry or educational involvement.