At Hurworth School, we are committed to providing high-quality Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) that inspires ambition, broadens horizons and supports students to make informed decisions about their future.
Our careers programme helps students develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to navigate their future pathways successfully. We aim to ensure every young person is well prepared for their next steps, whether that be further education, higher education, apprenticeships, training or employment.
The Careers Lead at Hurworth School is Natalie Douglas who is responsible for the strategic development, coordination and evaluation of the school’s careers programme.
Our Careers Vision
We support students to:
- develop their aspirations and plan for their future;
- understand the world of work and the opportunities available to them;
- explore a wide range of careers and progression pathways;
- develop employability and career management skills;
- understand the full range of education, training and apprenticeship opportunities available;
- make informed and ambitious decisions about their future; and
- successfully transition to their chosen post-16 pathway.
Our careers provision is embedded throughout school life and delivered through PSHE, tutor time, assemblies, curriculum lessons and a wide range of enrichment opportunities.
Our Careers Programme
Throughout their time at Hurworth School, students have access to a progressive careers programme that includes opportunities to:
- explore careers and future pathways;
- learn from employers and industry professionals;
- take part in workplace experiences and employer encounters;
- attend careers fairs and events;
- learn about colleges, sixth forms, universities, apprenticeships and technical education;
- access up-to-date labour market information;
- develop employability skills including communication, teamwork and problem-solving;
- participate in mock interviews and workplace preparation activities; and
- receive independent careers advice and guidance.
We work closely with employers, colleges, universities, apprenticeship providers and training organisations to ensure students gain meaningful experiences that help them understand the opportunities available to them.
Independent Careers Advice and Guidance
Hurworth School works in partnership with Career Wave, providing independent careers advice and guidance to our students.
Careers advisers support students through one-to-one guidance interviews and personalised discussions, helping them to identify suitable pathways based on their interests, strengths and aspirations.
This impartial support ensures students receive professional advice when making important decisions about their future education and career plans.
Gatsby Benchmarks
Our careers programme is structured around the Gatsby Benchmarks, the nationally recognised framework for achieving excellence in careers guidance.
The eight Gatsby Benchmarks ensure students benefit from:
- A stable careers programme
- Learning from career and labour market information
- Addressing the needs of each student
- Linking curriculum learning to careers
- Encounters with employers and employees
- Experiences of workplaces
- Encounters with further and higher education
- Personal guidance
These benchmarks provide the foundation of our careers strategy and help ensure all students receive high-quality careers education and guidance.
Working with Tees Valley Careers Hub
Hurworth School is a member of the Tees Valley Careers Hub, which supports schools and colleges in developing and delivering outstanding careers provision.
Through this partnership, we continually review and enhance our careers programme to ensure it meets the needs of our students and reflects local, regional and national employment opportunities.
Evaluating Our Careers Programme
We use Compass+, provided by The Careers & Enterprise Company, to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of our careers programme.
This enables us to:
- assess our provision against the Gatsby Benchmarks;
- identify strengths and areas for development;
- monitor student engagement;
- track careers-related activities and experiences; and
- ensure continuous improvement.
Students also have opportunities to reflect on their own development through the Future Skills Questionnaire, helping us measure the impact of careers education on their confidence, career readiness and future aspirations.
Information for Parents and Carers
Parents and carers play an important role in supporting young people as they make decisions about their future.
At Hurworth School, we work closely with families to ensure students receive the information, guidance and support they need when considering post-16 education, training and employment options.
Through our careers programme, students have opportunities to:
- learn about further and higher education;
- explore apprenticeship opportunities;
- understand local and national labour market information;
- meet employers and industry professionals;
- gain workplace experience;
- develop employability skills; and
- access independent careers guidance.
We encourage parents and carers to engage with careers events, information evenings and post-16 guidance opportunities throughout their child’s time at school.
Working with Employers
We are always keen to develop partnerships with local employers and organisations to help bring careers learning to life for our students.
Employer engagement helps students understand:
- the realities of the workplace;
- different career pathways;
- the skills employers value;
- opportunities available within local industries; and
- how subjects studied in school connect to future careers.
We welcome employer support through:
- workplace experiences and visits;
- careers talks and assemblies;
- careers fairs;
- mock interviews;
- mentoring opportunities;
- curriculum-based projects; and
- industry insight sessions.
If you or your organisation would like to support our careers programme, please contact the school.
Post-16 Pathways
At the end of Year 11, students can choose from a range of progression routes depending on their interests, strengths and career aspirations.
A Levels
A Levels are Level 3 qualifications studied over two years, allowing students to specialise in individual subjects and develop advanced knowledge and understanding.
Entry requirements vary between providers and individual subjects.
Technical and Vocational Qualifications
Technical and vocational courses focus on developing practical knowledge and skills linked to specific industries and occupations.
These qualifications can provide progression to employment, apprenticeships, further study or higher education.
T Levels
T Levels are two-year Level 3 qualifications developed in partnership with employers.
They combine classroom learning with a substantial industry placement, helping students develop industry-specific skills and experience.
T Levels can lead to employment, apprenticeships or higher education.
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships offer the opportunity to earn while learning, combining paid employment with training and qualifications.
They are available across a wide range of sectors and provide a valuable route into skilled employment.
English and Mathematics
Students who do not achieve a Grade 4 or above in GCSE English and/or Mathematics are normally required to continue studying these subjects as part of their post-16 programme.
Supporting Successful Transitions
Our aim is to ensure every student leaves Hurworth School fully prepared for the next stage of their education, training or employment journey.
Through high-quality careers education, meaningful employer engagement and personalised guidance, we help students develop the confidence, aspirations and skills needed to achieve their goals and realise their potential.
For further information about our careers programme, careers policies and provider access arrangements, please contact the school or visit the Policies section of our website.
