High-quality careers education and guidance is essential in preparing young people for adulthood, independence and meaningful participation in their communities. At Barrs Court School, careers education is not an add-on, but an integral part of our curriculum and personal development offer.

We recognise that our pupils require individualised, aspirational and realistic pathways, built around their strengths, interests, needs and long-term outcomes. Our careers programme is therefore designed to increase both the possibility and probability of successful paid employment, further education or appropriate supported pathways, while also developing the skills needed to sustain those outcomes.

This approach reflects our mission statement:

“Together we empower and believe to thrive and achieve.

Our Careers Intent (KS3–KS4)

Our careers programme for Key Stages 3 and 4 aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Develop a growing understanding of the world of work, community roles and future pathways

• Build self-advocacy, communication and decision-making skills to express preferences, choices and aspirations

• Experience learning within a functional, real-life context, linking curriculum subjects to future opportunities

• Are supported to make informed, ambitious and appropriate choices for post-16 education, training or employment

• Are prepared effectively for transition beyond school, with careers planning embedded within EHCP reviews and personalised development planning

Careers education at Accordia Academies is fully inclusive and reflects our commitment to equality of opportunity, high expectations and personalised pathways for all learners.

Careers Implementation: What This Looks Like in Practice

Across KS3 and KS4, careers education is delivered through a progressive, planned and coherent programme, aligned to the Gatsby Benchmarks and embedded across the curriculum.

This includes:

• Careers learning within lessons, explicitly linking subjects to skills, employment and real-world application

• Enterprise and business activities to develop teamwork, communication, problem-solving and independence

• Community-based learning and employer encounters, appropriate to pupils’ needs and pathways

• Work-related learning and workplace experiences where appropriate, particularly at KS4

• Personal Development Plans, reviewed annually and aligned with EHCP outcomes

• Careers guidance and aspiration-building activities, including supported discussions about future options

• Preparation for post-16 pathways, including visits, transition events and engagement with further education providers

Parents and carers are active partners in this process, with clear communication, workshops and involvement in planning and review.

Inclusion, Personalisation and SEND

In line with Ofsted’s focus on inclusion and personal development, our careers programme is:

• Highly personalised, reflecting individual starting points, communication needs and aspirations

• Embedded within a graduated approach, using assessment, planning, review and adjustment

• Closely aligned with EHCP outcomes, particularly those related to independence, employability and adulthood

• Designed to remove barriers and raise aspirations, rather than limit options

Careers education contributes directly to pupils’ confidence, engagement, attendance and sense of purpose, supporting wider wellbeing and positive behaviour.

Leadership, Quality Assurance and Impact

Careers education at Accordia Academies is strategically led and regularly reviewed to ensure:

• A stable, well-sequenced careers programme from KS3 to KS4

• Clear leadership oversight and accountability

• Use of pupil voice, destination data and stakeholder feedback to evaluate impact

• Continuous improvement aligned with statutory guidance and inspection expectations

Our Careers Development and Improvement Plan sets out how we monitor, evaluate and strengthen provision over time, ensuring that careers education remains ambitious, relevant and responsive to pupils’ needs

Preparing for the Next Stage

Although Accordia Academies does not offer post-16 provision, we place strong emphasis on preparing pupils thoroughly for transition. Our careers programme ensures that pupils and families are well-informed, supported and confident as they move on to further education, training, employment or supported pathways.

This reflects our commitment to:

• Life-long learning

• Positive destinations

• Active community participation

Key Contacts: 

If you would like to find out more about our Careers Education please contact Bev Jones, Careers Lead on Bjones@barrscourt.hereford.sch.uk 01432 265035

If you would like to contact our Careers and Employability HLTA about the possibility of becoming a work experience provider, please contact Carrie Pitt on cpitt@barrscourt.hereford.sch.uk