External Providers

Ferryhill School: Provider Access Statement

Introduction

This statement sets out Ferryhill School’s arrangements for managing the access of providers to students for the purpose of giving them information about the provider’s education or training offer.

It complies with the school’s legal obligations under Section 42B of the Education Act 1997 (the ‘Baker Clause’) and the updated Provider Access Legislation (PAL) from January 2023, which requires all schools to provide at least six meaningful encounters with providers of approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships across Years 8–13 (minimum four for Years 7–11 schools).

Student entitlement

All students in Years 7–11 are entitled to:

• Learn about technical education qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities as part of a broad careers programme that

provides information on the full range of education and training options at each transition point.

• Hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships,

through events such as assemblies, careers fairs, workshops, and taster sessions.

• Understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses.

In line with the statutory requirements, Ferryhill School ensures that:

• All pupils will receive a minimum of two provider encounters in Years 8–9 and two in Years 10–11 (four encounters in total).

• These encounters are integrated into the wider Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) programme.

• These encounters are scheduled to take place between 1 September and 28 February for Year 9 and Year 11 students and are mandatory for all pupils to attend, ensuring equitable access.

External Providers - 

Baker Clause Policy Statement

Ferryhill School is committed to providing students with high‑quality access to information and experiences relating to the full range of post‑16 and post‑18 education and training opportunities.

We welcome visits from a variety of external providers, including:

• Local and national colleges

• Universities and higher education institutions

• Training providers and apprenticeship organisations

• Employers and industry professionals

• Representatives from relevant projects and outreach programmes

Ferryhill School is committed to promoting all post-16 and post-18 pathways with equal emphasis, ensuring students receive balanced information about academic, technical, and vocational routes.

As part of our Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) programme, we proactively build partnerships with these organisations to ensure students and their parents have multiple opportunities to engage with providers across Years 7–11.

Opportunities for Engagement

External providers are invited to participate in a range of activities, including but not limited to:

• Assemblies and year group presentations

• Employer and provider engagement events (e.g., careers fairs and pathways evenings)

• Workshops and interactive sessions

• One‑to‑one or small‑group guidance sessions supporting GCSE and post‑16 choices

All encounters are designed to be meaningful, offering students the opportunity to ask questions, engage in discussion, and gain insight into the provider’s offer and career pathways. 

Quality and Monitoring

Our CEIAG programme is monitored for quality and impact by the Careers Lead and the Senior Leadership Team. Part of this process includes reviewing and improving access to encounters with technical, vocational, and training providers in line with statutory guidance and the Gatsby Benchmarks.

Ferryhill School conducts due diligence on all external providers to ensure they meet quality standards and deliver meaningful, impartial information aligned with students’ needs and statutory guidance. 

Tracking and Evaluation

All provider encounters are logged and evaluated using the Compass+ tool to ensure compliance with statutory requirements and to inform future planning. Feedback from students, staff, and providers is used to improve the quality and relevance of future engagements. 

Provider Access Legislation compliance is monitored as part of our Gatsby Benchmark 7 evaluation using the Compass+ tool.

Compliance with Provider Access Legislation is monitored internally and contributes to the school’s overall careers provision, which is subject to Ofsted inspection under the Education Inspection Framework. 

Requesting Access

In the first instance, requests by providers should be directed to:

Miss C. Hanson – Careers Leader
Email: cha@ferryhill.school

All requests will be considered based on:

• Staffing availability to support the activity

• Clashes with pre‑planned activities (e.g., trips or other visitors)

• Impact on examination preparation

• Room and facilities availability

Providers are requested to book visits well in advance to allow for appropriate planning and timetabling. In the event of a cancellation or change, we ask that providers notify the school as early as possible to minimise disruption to students.

Providers will be asked to complete the school’s "Agreement between Ferryhill School and External Contributors" form, which will be finalised in conjunction with the Careers Leader or another appropriate staff member.

Management of provider access requests

A provider wishing to request access should contact:

Miss C. Hanson – Careers Leader
Telephone: 01740 651554
Email: cha@ferryhill.school

Providers will be asked to complete the school’s "Agreement between Ferryhill School and External Contributors" form, which will be finalised in conjunction with the Careers Leader or another appropriate staff member.

Opportunities for access

A range of activities are built into the school’s CEIAG programme, which provide opportunities for providers to speak directly with students and/or parents. 

These may include:

• Careers fairs and marketplace events

• Assemblies and year group talks

• Workshops, small group sessions, and mentoring

• Lunchtime or after‑school drop‑in sessions

• Parents’ evenings and information events

Providers should contact the Careers Leader to identify the most suitable opportunity based on their target audience.

Digital Access

Where in-person visits are not possible, Ferryhill School welcomes virtual presentations, webinars, and digital resources from providers. These can be shared with students via the school’s digital platforms and careers website, ensuring continued access to high-quality information and guidance. 

Premises and facilities

• The school can make the main hall, classrooms, or private meeting rooms available for provider sessions, as appropriate.

• ICT equipment can be arranged to support presentations (by prior agreement).

• Providers are welcome to leave copies of their prospectuses, leaflets, or other course literature for the Careers Library, which is accessible to students after school and by appointment.

Safeguarding

All external visitors must comply with Ferryhill School’s safeguarding policies and procedures. Visitors will be briefed on safeguarding expectations prior to any engagement with students, and appropriate supervision will be provided throughout their visit. 

Approval and review

The date of the next review will be July 2026.

This Provider Access Statement is published on the school website and reviewed annually to ensure continued compliance with statutory guidance and evolving best practice. 

Download the agreement between the school and external providers at the link at the bottom of this page or contact the schools Careers lead (Miss Hanson) to arrange a paper copy or electronic copy to be sent to you. 

External providers are requested to book in advance to minimise disruption, they are also politely requested to give as much notice as possible to changes/cancellation of activities being delivered to Ferryhill School students.

Employer engagement is an important part of preparing students for the future.

By working with local employers students are able to gain a better understanding of the skills and knowledge required in the modern workplace.