Careers

Our Aim

At Archway School, our aim is to ensure every student understands the full range of future opportunities available to them and feels confident planning their next steps. Through a rich and inclusive careers programme, we help students make informed choices, raise their aspirations, and prepare for life beyond school.

High‑quality Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) is important because it:

prepares students for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life
supports students in achieving their full potential
empowers young people to plan and manage their future with confidence
provides clear, comprehensive and impartial information on all pathways
raises aspirations and broadens horizons
promotes equality, diversity and inclusion, while challenging stereotypes

How We Deliver Careers Education

We deliver careers education through a progressive programme from Years 7–13, following the Gatsby Benchmarks and ensuring students encounter employers, workplaces, training providers and higher education throughout their journey.

Our careers provision includes:

Curriculum-linked careers learning, with teachers highlighting how subjects relate to jobs and pathways
Employer encounters, including our flagship 'Ask the Professional' event with over 40 employers and universities
Workplace experiences, such as work experience for all Year 10 students
Personal guidance, including independent 1:1 careers meetings for all Year 11 students, focusing on SEND and PP for other year groups.
Mock interviews, workshops and provider encounters across all year groups
Life skills development, supporting students with time management, communication, finances and wellbeing
Targeted support, ensuring students at risk of NEET are identified early and supported into positive destinations

Impact and Destinations

We measure the impact of our careers programme through:

Destinations data — available here 16-18 Destination Measures and 16-18 Student Destinations - Archway School
Tracking at-risk students and providing targeted interventions
Following up recent leavers to monitor sustained engagement in education, employment or training
Regular student and parent surveys to improve our provision

Recent survey outcomes include:

78% of students reported that Ask the Professional helped them think more clearly about their future options.

Parent feedback at our events includes: “There was a great range of employers.”

Lesley Ryall is Archway’s internal careers lead. She organises programmes, including work experience, mock interviews, Archway based careers fairs and she manages the diary of the external careers adviser. Lesley can be contacted on LesleyRyall@archwayschool.net or phone 01453 769542.

Ask The Professional