Accountable leader: Lloyd, Centre Manager
Purpose
To ensure every student receives impartial careers education, information, advice and guidance that raises aspirations and supports positive destinations, with regard to the Gatsby Benchmarks and Independent School Standards expectations on preparation for adult life.
Scope
All KS3 and KS4 students, with intensified guidance at transition points.
Definitions
- Gatsby Benchmarks: the national framework for good careers guidance.
- Destination: the student's next education, employment or training pathway.
- Provider access: reasonable opportunity for education and training providers (including technical education, further education and apprenticeship providers) to talk to students about the courses and opportunities they offer.
Responsibilities
- The careers lead (Quality of Education) coordinates the programme day to day.
- The Headteacher is accountable for programme quality and provider access.
- Tutors and mentors support careers conversations within support-plan reviews.
- Leaders evaluate destinations and programme quality.
Procedures
Programme
Students explore pathways, meet employers where possible, build employability skills, prepare CVs and applications, and plan transitions to school, college, apprenticeships or employment.
Impartiality
Guidance is impartial and in the student's interests. Encounters with employers and further education are encouraged. No single provider is promoted as the only option.
SEND and disadvantage
Students with SEND or disrupted education receive tailored transition support.
Provider access statement
Evolution Education is committed to ensuring that all students in Years 8 to 11 have opportunities to learn about technical qualifications, further education and apprenticeships, so they can make informed choices about their next steps.
Who may request access
Registered education and training providers, including further education and sixth form colleges, university technical colleges and other technical education providers, apprenticeship and traineeship providers, and independent training organisations offering approved programmes. Employers and local skills partners may also request careers encounters under this framework where they offer accredited routes or substantive information about work, training or higher education.
How to request a visit or talk
Email admin@evolution-sportsgroup.com with the subject line "Provider access request". Include organisation name and a named contact, overview of the offer for students, preferred year groups (Years 8 to 11), preferred dates or half-terms, and a safeguarding statement (all visiting adults must be willing to complete school visitor processes; identity checks and, where required, DBS confirmation).
We will respond within ten working days. Visits are scheduled at mutually convenient times that do not compromise safeguarding, curriculum priorities or exam programmes.
When opportunities are offered
Across Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 we aim to provide encounters at points that support transition planning, including induction and early support-plan review for new placements, annual destinations and pathways events, pre-options and post-16 planning windows for Key Stage 4, and arranged small-group or one-to-one talks where a student's pathway requires it.
A summary of planned provider and employer encounters for the academic year is held by the careers lead and can be shared with providers, parents and commissioners on request. Confirmed public calendar detail is published on the Careers page when fixed.
Safeguarding and equality
All provider access takes place under school safeguarding, visitor and behaviour expectations. Content must be accurate, non-discriminatory and age-appropriate. Evolution Education reserves the right to decline or stop a session that does not meet those standards.
Premises and facilities
Where a request is accepted, we provide a suitable space (classroom, sports hall meeting space or online session) and a named member of staff to host. Providers bring their own materials unless otherwise agreed.
Monitoring
The Leadership Team monitors implementation through learning walks, safeguarding reviews, incident analysis, staff feedback, student voice and commissioner feedback. Findings inform training and school improvement planning.
Review Cycle
This policy is reviewed at least annually, or sooner following changes in legislation, statutory guidance, or significant incidents. Next formal review: January 2027. Approved by the Proprietor / Leadership Team.