Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) Programme

Our Careers Vision

At Ferryhill School, careers education supports all students to make informed choices and raises aspirations. Our careers programme is planned across Years 7–11 to ensure that students progressively develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed for future education, training and employment.

Student Careers Entitlement

All students at Ferryhill School are entitled to a structured programme of careers education, information, advice and guidance from Year 7 to Year 11. This includes access to impartial careers guidance, opportunities to learn about a wide range of career pathways, encounters with employers and education providers, and personalised support at key decision points. The programme is designed to meet the needs of all students, including those with SEND and those who may require additional support. 

Inclusive & Targeted Support

Our programme is designed to meet the needs of all students, including those with SEND/EHCP, those who are disadvantaged, care-experienced young people, and those at risk of becoming NEET.

• Transition planning for students with an EHCP forms part of Preparation for Adulthood

• DurhamWorks and My Big Career provide targeted, individualised support alongside universal entitlement

• Reasonable adjustments are made to ensure full participation in all encounters, work experience and guidance

• No student is excluded from any opportunity — we adapt to ensure everyone can access and benefit

Introduction

Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) is an essential part of our commitment to preparing students for their future. Our programme supports students to understand the wide range of pathways available to them and helps them make informed decisions at key transition points. 

Careers Aims

Our CEIAG programme aims to:

• Support students to make informed and realistic career decisions

• Raise aspirations and challenge stereotypes

• Provide equal access to careers guidance for all students

• Ensure students understand post-16 and post-18 pathways, including apprenticeships and technical education

Careers Leadership

Careers education at Ferryhill School is led by the Careers Leader, who works closely with senior leaders, governors, subject teachers, external providers and employers to deliver a high quality and stable careers programme. The Careers Leader is responsible for coordinating careers provision across the school, monitoring impact and ensuring that careers guidance is accessible, impartial and inclusive for all students and their families. The Careers Leader also works with the school’s senior leadership team, governors and external partners to review the impact of the programme and ensure that careers remains linked to wider school improvement priorities. 

Careers Programme Overview

Our careers programme is structured to provide progressive careers learning from Year 7 to Year 11. Students are supported to:

• Explore their interests, strengths and future aspirations

• Learn about different career pathways and qualification routes

• Understand labour market information and future employment trends

• Develop employability skills needed for the world of work

• Develop the essential skills and confidence needed for future education, training and employment

• Experience employers, workplaces and education/training providers progressively from Year 7 onwards

How the Careers Programme Is Delivered

Careers education and guidance at Ferryhill School is delivered through a combination of:

• Personal Development, including whole school Wednesday P6 sessions

• Careers learning within curriculum subjects

• Access to current labour market information

• At least one meaningful employer encounter each year from Year 7 onwards

• Meaningful experiences of workplaces and work experience

• Encounters with further education, training and apprenticeship providers

• College, university and workplace visits where appropriate

• Careers fairs, assemblies, workshops and employer-led activities

• One-to-one personal guidance with a qualified careers adviser

• Individual support for students who may need additional help with progression.

Access to Further Education, Apprenticeships and Training Providers

Ferryhill School provides students with meaningful opportunities to learn about the full range of post-16 pathways, including academic (A Levels), vocational, T Levels, V Levels, apprenticeships, technical education, and independent training provision. 

In line with Provider Access legislation, students receive the statutory provider encounters that apply during Years 8–11. This includes two mandatory encounters during Year 8 or before the end of February in Year 9, and two further mandatory encounters during Year 10 or before the end of February in Year 11.

These encounters take place during the school day and enable students to learn about technical qualifications, apprenticeships, progression routes and what learning with different providers is like.

Ferryhill School serves Years 7–11. We deliver the first 4 statutory encounters (Y8–11). Post-16 providers continue delivery of the remaining 2 encounters at college/sixth form.

Further information is available in our Provider Access Policy Statement.

Careers Learning by Year Group

• Year 7: Explore Introduction to careers, aspirations, essential skills, careers in the curriculum and employer encounters 

• Year 8: Discover  Exploring interests, strengths and career sectors, labour market information, provider encounters and workplace activities  

• Year 9: Choose Key Stage 4 choices, career pathways, technical and academic routes, provider encounters and work related activities 

• Year 10: Experience Employability skills, employer encounters, labour market information, post-16 exploration and work-experience activity 

• Year 11: Progress Post-16 applications, provider encounters, apprenticeship and college opportunities, personal guidance and transition support 

Work Experience and Experiences of Workplaces

Ferryhill School is developing a progressive approach to work experience in line with the strengthened Gatsby Benchmark 6 and the Department for Education’s June 2026 guidance.

Across Years 7–9, students take part in multiple, varied and meaningful employer-led work experience activities.

Across Years 10–11, students undertake meaningful, in-person work experience placement activity, including our Year 10 work experience placement.

The school is working towards the government’s expectation that pupils receive two weeks’ worth of work experience by the end of Key Stage 4: one week’s worth of activities across Years 7–9 and one week’s worth of placement activity across Years 10–11.

Year 10 Work Experience 2026–27: Monday 5 July – Friday 9 July 2027

This placement forms the core of our Year 10 provision as we work towards the national expectation of two weeks' meaningful workplace experience by the end of Key Stage 4. 

Gatsby Benchmarks

Ferryhill School uses the updated Gatsby Benchmarks as the framework for planning, delivering and evaluating careers provision.

Our programme is continually reviewed and developed to work towards all eight benchmarks, including:

• careers learning in every subject

• at least one meaningful employer encounter every year from age 11

• meaningful workplace experiences

• access to the full range of education and training routes

• personal guidance by age 16.

Further evidence can be found on our How We Work Towards the Gatsby Benchmarks page.

Accessing Careers Support

Students can access careers support through Personal Development, curriculum lessons, careers events, employer and provider encounters, work experience and individual guidance.

Parents and carers can access careers information through this website, school communications, parent events and by contacting the Careers Leader.

Teachers and school staff can access careers resources and guidance to support careers learning across the curriculum.

Employers and education/training providers can work with the school by contacting the Careers Leader and can find further information within the employer and provider sections of this website.

Monitoring and Evaluating Impact

We regularly evaluate the careers programme using Compass+, the Future Skills Questionnaire where used, participation records, student, parent/carer and employer feedback, personal guidance information and intended, actual and sustained destination data.

This information is used to identify strengths, target additional support and continually improve careers provision.

The overview above shows our sequenced programme across Years 7–11, organised around five core themes:

Careers Learning & Skills | Career Exploration & LMI | Employers & Workplaces | Education & Progression Pathways | Personal Guidance & Support

It sets out what every student will do, explore and achieve by the end of each year — with targeted additional support for those who need it.

Review date July 2027