Our aim is to help prepare you for life after school . There will be many opportunities to participate in a range of activities and meet a wide variety of people who have followed very different career paths. Enrichment sessions will help develop the skills and attributes to select the right paths after GCSEs and for further education or training. Access to impartial information, advice and guidance is always available from our dedicated Careers Guidance Officer, Mrs. Laney. Careers work related education is embedded across the curriculum and delivered through Personal Development lessons and assemblies to help inform important decisions at key transition points in Y9 and Y11.

What can you expect in Year 7?

• Access to a qualified impartial Careers Guidance Adviser

• 'Brilliant Ideas' Enterprise Day 

• Access to careers software through Morrisby,  to help with career exploration and to address stereotypes or misconceptions and provide a personal log of each individuals careers interests and engagements.

• Appropriate subject specific advice in preparation for making option choices in Y9

• A progressive Careers Education programme delivered by Form Tutors and in Personal Development lessons.

What can you expect in Year 8?

• Access to a qualified impartial Careers Guidance Adviser

• Access to careers software through Morrisby,  to help with career exploration and to address stereotypes or misconceptions and provide a personal log of each individuals careers interests and engagements.

• Appropriate subject specific advice in preparation for making option choices in Y9

• A progressive Careers Education programme delivered by Form Tutors and in Personal Development lessons.

What can you expect in Year 9?

• Access to a qualified impartial Careers Guidance Adviser

• Access to careers software through Morrisby,  to help with career exploration and to address stereotypes or misconceptions and provide a personal log of each individuals careers interests and engagements.

• Appropriate subject specific advice in preparation for making option choices in Y9

• A progressive Careers Education programme delivered by Form Tutors and in Personal Development lessons.

• Information sessions provided by FE colleges, apprenticeship providers, and specialists in different areas of employment - Navigating Success Evening. 

• Business Enterprise Project enabling the development of business related skills

• Stanway Careers Fair which is supported by local businesses and further education providers

• Transition support is offer for students and parents/carers before making choices about Options for GCSE including information evenings and access to an Options interview with a qualified impartial Careers Guidance Adviser.

• Options Taster Session and Options Fair.

• Take your child to work day - employer engagement day

What can you expect in Year 10 and Year 11?

• A one to one interview with a qualified, impartial Careers Guidance Adviser, work related learning in small group sessions, including talks from specific employers with current and future labour market information.

• A progressive Careers Education programme delivered by Form Tutors and specialists in work related learning. This includes Employment Laws, Health and Safety and preparation for working life.

• Visits to and from universities and colleges and access to student finance talks and managing personal budgets

• 'Careers Days' - Support from local businesses and employers on completing a CV and letter of application, interview skills. "First Impressions Count Skills for Success"

• Mock interviews with real local employers provided by local businesses

• Post 16 - Taster Day- Sessions from Apprenticeships, University and College subjects to sample Post 16 learning

• Support in completing application forms for employment and colleges. 

• Stanway Careers Fair

• Business mentoring for targeted students

• Subject specific careers engagements. 

YEAR 7

• Morrisby- Careers Lessons, Aspirations and Goal setting. 

• In form time, the programme aims to help students understand more about themselves. (Self Development through careers and work related learning.

• Increase knowledge of where to find out information linking to careers.

• Build the foundation for understanding the world of work.

• Looks at Transition from Primary into Secondary education. Introduces the idea of skills and qualities needed in life..

• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) careers are introduced to the students 

• STEM Club is available to all students

• Robotics Club is available to all students

• Personal finance and money management are part of the Citizenship program.

• National Careers Week, National Apprenticeship week activities cross curricular

YEAR 8

• Morrisby- Careers Lessons, Aspirations and Goal setting. 

• In form time, the programme aims to help students understand more about themselves. (Self Development through careers and work related learning.

• Increase knowledge of where to find out information linking to careers.

Focussing on researching a variety of Careers and preparing for Options.

Students are supported to recognise the skills and qualities they need in life to be successful through an emphasis on transferable skills.

National Careers Week, National Apprenticeship week activities cross curricula

YEAR 9

• Morrisby- Careers Lessons, Aspirations and Goal setting.

• In form time, the programme aims to help students understand more about themselves. (Self Development through careers and work related learning.

• Increase knowledge of where to find out information linking to careers.

• Looks at the variety of careers and develops more knowledge of different workplaces and on the transferable skills for employment.

• Enrichment Day for yr 9 is Enterprise project – Students work in teams to tender for a Catering Contract for a prom. The day focuses on business and presentation skills.

• Parents and students attend Options evening, FE colleges also attend the evening.

• Careers Interviews offered for all year students.

• Take Your Child to Work Day - Visit work with parents or another family member or family friend

• Students attend aspiration visits to universities and workplaces

• National Careers Week, National Apprenticeship week activities cross curricular

• 1:1 interview with Careers Adviser for identified, targeted students (SEN, Pupil Premium, EAL) and the LA SEN Careers Adviser meeting with EHCP students.

• Careers Fair – All year 9, up to 50 stands sharing information about careers and study opportunities.

YEAR 10

• Morrisby- Careers Lessons, Aspirations and Goal setting.

• In form-time, the programme aims to help students understand more about themselves. (Self Development through careers and work related learning.

• Increase knowledge of where to find out information linking to careers.

• Looks at the variety of careers and develops more knowledge of different workplaces and on the transferable skills for employment. Identifying their own distinct skills and qualities.

• Construction workshop in school, catering workshop in school.

• Work Related Assembly – To explain C.V’s supported by Business mentor

• Careers Day ‘First Impressions Count’ – Skills for success. Full day facilitated by business mentors from a variety of company career backgrounds, delivering skills of C.V writing, letters of application, interview skills, employability skills and qualities and information relating to LMI and future careers choices.

• Mock Interviews – provided by employers for all students

• Familiarisation Day at Colchester Institute  - for 45 students 

• Taster day at 6th Form College - for 10 students

• Students attend Employer visits related to subject areas

• POST 16 Taster Day – All students in school facilitated by employers and FE staff.

• Careers Fair – All year 10, up to 50 stands sharing information about careers and study opportunities.

• Careers Adviser available for interviews.

YEAR 11

• Morrisby- Careers Lessons, Aspirations and Goal setting.

• In form time, the programme aims to help students understand more about themselves. (Self Development through careers and work related learning.

• Focus on FE and the different types of courses available, and HE also.

• Assemblies from Sixth Form Colleges/Schools, Colchester Institute, Apprenticeships.

• Navigating Success Evening for parents, supporting study and post 16 decision making.

• Careers Fair – All year 11 invited to attend afterschool session, up to 50+stands sharing information about careers and study opportunities.

• Students revisit recognising skills and qualities they need in life to be successful

• Career Adviser Meeting for every student to provide support and guidance is given in applying for Post 16 opportunities.

• University Enrichment activities – Budgeting and finance.

Mrs Laney is available 4 days a week ( Monday – Thursday) She is Level 6 qualified and will see all year 11 students before the college deadline for applications.

 Year 9 students are offered the opportunity to book an appointment prior to choosing their options.

 Mrs Laney is available on Parent Evenings for years 9 -11.

 Any Student can request an interview either by calling in at the Careers Office or asking their form tutor to email a request. 

12th February 2026 - Stanway School Careers Fair - This will be available to year 9, 10 and 11.

 We invite local business people and Stem Ambassadors into school for 3 days to interview our year 10 students to prepare them for the next stage of their journey. Students are requested to complete a CV and letter of application to provide the interviewer with some background information about the student. We try to match students to an interviewer who might best suit their intended career path. Students are always nervous before the experience as this is usually their first interview experience, however they always come away smiling. We always receive positive feedback from our interviewers. 

We work closely with our local colleges and businesses and have excursions to various local industries to give students an insight into the world of work. We have developed close links with Penguin, Random House Distribution in Frating, The Royal Navy and British Airways

We welcome colleges / Apprenticeship providers into school to have relaxed meetings with students and often have lunch time drop-ins.

This will be updated as they become available -