This policy statement sets out the school’s arrangements for managing the access of providers to students at the school for the purpose of giving them information about the provider’s education or training offer. This complies with the school’s legal obligations under Section 42B of the Education Act 1997. Including The Department of Education, July 2021 update: “Baker Clause” and the Provider Access Legislation, January 2023

Ownership:  West Hill School

Date updated: January 2023

Rationale

High quality careers education and guidance in school or college is critical to young people’s futures. It helps to prepare them for the workplace by providing a clear understanding of the world of work including the routes to jobs and careers that they might find engaging and rewarding. It supports them to acquire the self-development and career management skills they need to achieve positive employment destinations. This helps students to choose their pathways, improve their life opportunities and contribute to a productive and successful economy.

As the number of apprenticeships rises every year, it becomes increasingly important that all young people have a full understanding of all the options available to them post-16 and post-18 including wider technical education options such as T-Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications.

Commitment

West Hill School is committed to ensuring there is an opportunity for a range of education and training providers to access students, for the purpose of informing them about approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships.  West Hill School is fully aware of the responsibility to set students on the path that will secure the best outcome which will enable them to progress in education and work and give employers the highly skilled people they need. That means acting impartially, in line with the statutory duty, and not showing bias towards any route, be that academic or technical.

West Hill School endeavours to ensure that all students are aware of all routes to higher skills and are able to access information on technical options and apprenticeships (The Department of Education, July 2021: “Baker Clause”: supporting students to understand the full range of education and training options, and the Provider Access Legislation, January 2023).

Aims

West Hill School policy for access to other education and training providers has the following aims:

To develop the knowledge and awareness of our students of all career pathways available to them, including technical qualifications and apprenticeships.

To support young people to be able to learn more about opportunities for education and training outside of school before making crucial choices about their future options.

To reduce drop out from courses and avoid the risk of students becoming NEET (Young people not in education, employment or training).

Student Entitlement

West Hill School fully supports the statutory requirement for students to have direct access to other providers of further education training, technical training and apprenticeships.  The school will comply with the new legal requirement to provide at least two encounters for pupils during the first key phase (Year 8 or 9) that are mandatory for all pupils to attend; and least two encounters for pupils during the first second key phase (Year 10 or 11) that are mandatory for all pupils to attend.

A number of events are integrated into the school careers programme which offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to pupils and/or their parents/carers: Post-16 evening for colleges and training providers and our Apprenticeship evening for employers.

National careers week, Apprenticeship week, Science week, Black History month and T-level week are all used as a focus in lessons and/or assemblies and offer opportunity for outside speakers.

Please speak to our Careers Lead to identify the most suitable opportunity for you.

Development

This policy has been developed and is reviewed annually by the Careers Leader and Line Manager (Mrs Appleby / Mr Butterworth) based on current good practice guidelines by the Department for Education.

Links with other policies

It supports and is underpinned by key school policies including those for Careers, Child Protection, Equality and Diversity, and SEND.

Equality and Diversity

Access to other providers is available and promoted to allow all students to access information about other providers of further education and apprenticeships. West Hill School is committed to encouraging all students to make decisions about their future based on impartial information.

Requests for access

Requests for access should be directed to Mrs Appleby, Careers Leader. Mrs Appleby may be contacted by telephone or email. Email: careers@westhillschool.co.uk  Tel: 0161 338 2193.

Grounds for granting requests for access

Access will be given for providers to attend during school assemblies, timetabled IDP lessons, and Careers or Raising Aspirations events that West Hill School is arranging. Students may also travel to visit another provider as part of a trip organised West Hill School.

Details of premises or facilities to be provided to a person who is given access

West Hill School will provide an appropriate room or assembly hall to be agreed. Where possible rooms will have computers, projectors and screens provided. Computer rooms can also be arranged. The Careers Leader or Careers Adviser will organise this, working closely with the provider to ensure the facilities are appropriate to the audience.  Appropriate safeguarding checks will be carried out.  Providers will be met and supervised by a member of the Careers Team who will facilitate.

Live/Virtual encounters

West Hill School actively engages with providers virtually, for example Speakers For Schools virtual program and regularly hosts online live broadcasts. We will consider live online encounters with providers where requested, and these may be broadcast into classrooms or the school assembly hall. Technology checks in advance will be required to ensure compatibility of systems.

Parents and Carers

Parental involvement is encouraged. Parents receive regular updates and where ever possible will be invited to attend the events to meet the providers.

Management

The Careers Leader coordinates all provider requests and is responsible to his/her senior management line manager.

Complaints Procedure

Any complaints about this policy should be raised in the first instance to the school office manager, email:  admin@westhillschool.co.uk

The Office Manager will raise the complaint in line with the school complaints procedure which is published on the school website.

Monitoring review and evaluation

The Policy is monitored and evaluated annually and via independent career assessments (IAG)

Policy Coordinator: Mrs Appleby

Policy Reviewed: January 2023

 

 

Appendix

Providers who have been invited into West Hill School to date include:

Ashton 6^th Form College

Tameside College

Clarendon 6^TH Form College

Oldham College

SETA

Oldham Training Centre

The Army

DWP

Speakers for Schools (virtual)

Destinations of previous pupils from West Hill School include:

Ashton 6^th Form College

Tameside College

Clarendon 6^TH Form College

Oldham College

The Army

Loreto 6^th Form

Oldham 6^th Form College