Careers Guidance
Ormiston Denes Academy values the importance of careers education and guidance that prepares students for challenges in the future. An effective Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) programme helps prepare young people for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life. It can contribute to achievement and inclusion by raising aspirations, increasing motivation, challenging stereotypes and enabling young people to make realistic and informed choices about their futures.
Careers Education helps young people develop the knowledge, confidence and skills that they need to make well informed choices and plans that enable them to progress smoothly into further learning and work.
Mixing traditional, friendly and robust guidance with employer engagement expertise across education and employment spaces, the careers team brings Ormiston Denes Academy and employers together to create an enriched matrix of careers education both in and outside of school.
Ormiston Denes Academy supports the development and facilitation of CEIAG across all year groups, including information on traineeships and apprenticeships for young people.
Whilst the role of the careers leader, advisor and supporting team are critical in shaping and enabling the careers programme in the academy, as a collective all staff work towards getting the very best next steps for all of our students. Staff build relationships with students, their own experiences can help support students, and in a classroom setting teachers can also link their subjects to the world of work, showing students possible future pathways and why their curriculum learning, cross curricular themes, and skills, are important.
All of the information contained within the careers guidance section of our website is also available for teachers support.
Careers Lead: Mr Ollie Cooper
Careers Co-ordinate: Mrs Julie Richings
Independent Careers Advisor: Mrs Marion Gibbons
Mrs Richings is available to students during social times, for general advice, to talk about applications, or to book an appointment with our guidance professional. Parents are also welcome to contact Mrs Richings for careers information or to make an appointment as required.
Mrs Julie Richings, jrichingsormistondenes.co.uk, call 01502 574474 or contact us here.
Students are entitled to careers education, information, advice and guidance that is impartial and confidential. It will be integrated into their experience of the whole curriculum, based on a partnership with students and their parents or carers. The programme will promote equality of opportunity, diversity and inclusion, in the best interests of the students to whom it is given.
CEIAG at Ormiston Denes Academy includes a programme of careers education supported by personalised information, advice and guidance. Together we will equip young people with the knowledge and skills that they need to make well-informed and realistic choices about their own progression through learning and work.
Information, Advice and Guidance covers a range of personalised activities and interventions that help young people to become more self-reliant and better able to manage their progression through learning and work.
Specifically, students at Ormiston Denes Academy are entitled to receive:
- Clear information, advice and guidance about all options available.
- Help to decide what to do when they finish their course/education, including further learning, training or employment.
- A programme of CEIAG which helps them to develop skills and knowledge to make choices and the transition to work and learning.
- The opportunity to be involved in making decisions about things that affect their learning.
- An opportunity to learn about the world of work.
Our impartial Careers Guidance is being provided by Marion Gibbons from Beacon East. Beacon East is an education business partnership and careers guidance provider working across the eastern region. Their mission is to develop ‘meaningful relationships between education and business and industry,’ and they also provide high quality careers guidance services to meet the latest statutory requirements and most importantly, help guide students correctly to the next stage of their ‘life path.’ Marion Gibbons, who holds the required Level 6 qualification in Careers Guidance and enhanced DBS check, will be working part time in the academy to offer support to students. If you feel that your son/daughter would benefit from a careers guidance appointment, please contact Mrs Richings at [email protected]. Further information on the services provided by Beacon East can be found here.
The Gatsby Benchmarks are a framework of 8 guidelines that define the best careers provision in secondary schools, and form the foundation of government statutory guidance in schools and colleges. These are:
1: A Stable Careers Programme
We have a programme of careers education and guidance through assemblies, enrichment days, bespoke form time sessions for all years, as well as in curriculum lessons.
Information about future study options and the labour market is available to students at College Open Evenings, our own parents evenings, Unifrog, the National Careers Services and other certified websites, and through the Independent Careers Adviser, Marion Gibbons from Beacon East, who is in the academy each week to give impartial advice on careers and future opportunities.
To identify students’ guidance needs, we ask them to complete information sheets each Academic Year, with their current knowledge, interests and future career path ideas. This information is then collated onto a spreadsheet – this means that we can target particular students for specific events that may be of interest to them and their future career paths.
We provide students with opportunities within the Academy to have direct contact with employers . We have invited in parents and local companies and training providers to speak with students about their experiences or their careers.
During their time at the academy, students also have the opportunity to attend a careers fair, whether this is off site or at school. These events allow our students to meet employers as well as people from colleges and universities.
In addition, we have a partnership agreement with the University of East Anglia and University of Suffolk outreach teams, in which we seek to plan a programme of events which are linked with the University.
2. Learning from career and labour market information
Local labour market information is detailed on notice boards and posters and included in assemblies and curriculum lessons.
3. Addressing the needs of each student
To address the needs of our students, we arrange for students to complete a careers tracker. From the information on the tracker, we aim to organise trips and working lunches based on the data that has been returned. The information that we receive includes their intended job role, the top three industry sectors they are interested in, the subjects that they are interested in, the skills that they believe they hold or would like to develop, whether they would like to go to university and if they have been seen by the Independent Careers Adviser. These events will be organised and then advertised to those who may be interested in the event.
If individual students speak with staff regarding their future aspirations, staff members can use these conversations to identify any further guidance and support the Academy can give to the student.
To remain impartial, we ensure that our independent careers’ adviser is able to arrange appointments with any student who are unsure of their future path and would like support. All year 11 students are seen, with this service also available to students in other year groups, through referral or self-referral.
4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
To ensure that careers are incorporated into the curriculum learning of students, we can follow the career development plan once curriculum information has been input by Curriculum Leaders. The information displays the links of the students’ learning to any careers possibilities or opportunities. Students will have the opportunity to attend workshops and trips linked to various curriculum subjects.
5. Encounters with employers and employees
Our students can potentially have a number of encounters with employers and employees. We will record all the encounters that the students have, so that we can target students who may not have engaged in any activities and events. This can happen through working lunches that students can attend, trips we run and careers fairs that we attend or organise in school. The student careers tracker helps identify areas of interest to be able to invite appropriately interested students.
All Year 10 students will participate in a week’s work experience towards the end of the year – this will provide them with a variety of encounters with employers, employees, and other members of society.
6. Experiences of workplaces
To ensure that our students experience the workplace whilst they are still school age, all Year 10 students will participate in work experience during the Academic year. This provides them with experiences of the workplace and insights into the career path that they may have an interest in, as well as highlighting and enhancing employability skills.
7. Encounters with Further and Higher Education
The Academy invites apprenticeship providers, local colleges and local universities into the Academy to talk to students careers education, further and higher education, apprenticeships and training.
Our partnership links with the local colleges, University of East Anglia and University of Suffolk provides assemblies, workshops and parent evening support for various year groups, including a number of trips and visits to colleges and university. This is as part of our Provider Access Legislation. We are also able to support students with information about other colleges and universities as required.
8. Personal Guidance
Our level 6 Careers Adviser, Marion Gibbons, works in school one day each week. To remain impartial, we ensure that our independent careers’ adviser is able to arrange appointments with any student who are unsure of their future path and would like support. All year 11 students are seen, with this service also available to students in other year groups, through self-referral or referral by staff, parents or carers.
If individual students speak with staff regarding their future aspirations, staff members can use these conversations to identify any further guidance and support the Academy can also give to the student.
Year 11 is a massively important time – not only are students working towards their GCSEs, they have some decisions to make about their post 16 education, and it’s important that they are able to make an informed choice.
Students could choose to study a full-time programme at a Further Education College, or find employment as an apprentice and continue their training on a part-time basis. Or some students attend college and transfer to an apprenticeship at some point during their studies.
Open Events
Many of our local colleges and training establishments hold open events. Here are just some of the reasons why attending the open events will make the decision-making process easier.
1. Find out information you don’t know: Students have lots of questions and open events will give them the opportunity to ask them – in person! Tutors from all subject areas and support staff from all departments are generally available to speak to.
2. Get an idea of what life is like at college: Students can certainly find out lots of information on college websites and social media channels but attending an open day will give them much more insight into life at college. By going along and meeting staff and current students, they will be able to get a feel for how college works, and whether it’s likely to suit them.
3. Understand what qualifications are available, what they lead to, and what prospective students need to achieve to be accepted at college: One of the biggest worries prospective students have is around entry requirements – what will they need to achieve in their GCSEs to get a place at college – and what level should they start at?! College staff will be able to alleviate these concerns at their open events where staff can talk through the different levels and types of qualification on offer – including apprenticeships.
4. Tour the campus facilities: Students have the opportunity to go and see college classrooms, workshops, kitchens and salons for themselves, see them in action, with demonstrations, tastings and Q&A sessions planned.
5. Find out how to apply: Although support is on hand within our academy, the college admissions staff will also be able to help, talk through the application process and even help get the application submitted at the event.
6. Avoid issues further down the line: Year 11 is a very busy and often stressful time. With revision and exams ahead, students don’t want to be worrying about whether there will be any places left at college. An early application will gives peace of mind and some leeway if a student changes their mind later on.
7. Get help with the practicalities: Sometimes it’s the logistics of moving from school to college that worries prospective students and their parents/carers. How will they travel to college? How long will it take? How much will it cost? Can we afford the extras such as uniform and equipment? Attending an open event will give the opportunity to talk to staff who can provide further information on the college bursary as well as details about bus/train passes if applicable.
We encourage students, parents and carers to attend as many of the open events as possible, even those where you feel you may not be interested, they might just surprise you!
Qualifications/ Post 16 Options:
BTECS
BTEC(Business and Technology Education Council) are vocational qualifications, focusing n practical, hands-on learning in a specific career area. They are available in schools, sixth form colleges and further education colleges, and are recognised by universities and employers. They come in several levels, with Level 3 being equivalent to A Levels.
For further information on BTECS please click here.
A Levels
A-levels are academic courses taken by students and are subject based. Students normally study three or more A levels over two years, and are usually assessed by a series of examinations. Students normally require a minimum of at least five GCSEs at grade 4 to 9 to study A levels.
For further information on A levels please click here.
T Levels
T Levels are post 16 courses, and are equivalent to 3 A levels. These 2-year courses, have been developed in collaboration with employers and businesses so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work, further training or study.
Department for Education: Find out about T Levels from students, teachers, careers leaders, employers and a university representative. This 6-minute film explains what makes T Levels different from existing post-GCSE choices and who they will suit.
For further information on T Levels click on: Introduction of T Levels
Apprenticeships
An apprenticeship is a skilled job with training. Every apprentice is guaranteed a minimum wage linked to their age. They’re available at all academic levels – whether you’re leaving school without GCSEs or completing your A-levels. There are apprenticeships in industries like engineering, health and accountancy – plus a host of careers you’d never think of. And 9 in 10 apprentices stay in work after completing their course.
Today, apprenticeships offer a route into high-skilled jobs that you had to go to university to train for in the past. If you know what career path you want to follow, an apprenticeship could get you there without the fees – while enabling you to develop employability skills too. University is essential for certain careers and great for those with passionate academic interests. Carefully consider the pros and cons of both university and apprenticeships before making your decision.
For more information on Suffolk apprenticeships please click here, and for general apprenticeship information please click here.
Local College Websites:
Click here for East Coast College
Click here for Lowestoft 6th Form College
Click here for East Norfolk 6th Form College
Click here for Sir John Leman High School
Click here for City College Norwich
Click here for Easton College
Click here for Paston 6th Form College
Click here for Suffolk New College (Halesworth, Leiston, Otley and Ipswich Campus)
Click here for Access Creative College
Click here for Access Sport Lowestoft
Click here for University Technical College Norfolk
Raising the Participation Age:
All young people are required to remain in education or training until their 18th birthday. This doesn’t mean staying in school or college. Students can choose to study or train in a variety of ways:
- Stay on full time in a school, college or training provider.
- Work or volunteer full time, together with part-time accredited education or training (of at least 20 hours).
- Take up an apprenticeship, traineeship or work based learning.
Why? Employment prospects require an increasing level of skills, training or qualifications. By staying in education for longer young people will be better equipped to pursue successful careers.
More details can be found on the Government website: Raising the participation age – Suffolk County Council
Bursaries: 16 to 19 Bursary Fund
If you think you might struggle with the costs for education or training you may be able to get help from the bursary fund.
There are two types of bursaries, a vulnerable student bursary and a discretionary bursary. Full details of these, including eligibility criteria, can be found on the Government website here
The sixth form, college or other educational institution you will attend is responsible for managing both types of bursary, so students should contact their further education provider once their application has been accepted.
The following websites can give general Information, advice and guidance (click each to access website):
Parents Advice for Career Conversations – Talking Futures
Use the Careerometer below to compare different jobs, salaries, working hours etc. Click on the dotted area in one of the cards and enter in a career that you’re interested in, then use the next card to add another career, to compare the two.
In our on-going mission to provide students with outstanding careers education and support, we have subscribed to the award-winning, online careers platform Unifrog.
All students at the Academy have access to this excellent platform and can use it to record their careers journey from Year 7 to Year 11, and it can be accessed here.
The Unifrog platform is designed to support learners in making the most informed decisions about their futures and has a range of tools that are suitable for all year groups. Each student has their own personal account that provides a wide range of information related to their interests and aspirations. Key features of the platform include:
| Section of the Platform | What is available | Suitable students |
| Exploring Pathways | Explore careers, careers sectors, subjects, webinars and a vast range of other reading and viewing materials | Years 7 to 11 |
| Quizzes | Designed to consider skills, interests, personality types, and jobs to match these | Years 7 to 11 |
| Recording interactions and activities | Record interactions and activities, examples of skills etc | Years 7 to 11 |
| Searching for Opportunities | Find and compare colleges, universities, apprenticeships, along with available activities and bursaries | KS4 |
| Application Support | Support to write CVs, cover letters, personal statements | KS4 |
Students login to Unifrog using their email address and password that they have set after their initial sign up. Unifrog can be used from any computer, tablet or smartphone. We encourage students to use the platform at home and with their parents / carers so that they can support them through the process of deciding their next step.
Unifrog Parent Access
Parents can also sign up to Unifrog so that parents can also use the platform as if they were a student. The sign up code required is ORMDPARENTS and you can sign up here www.unifrog.org/code. You can also sign up to Unifrog’s parent/carer newsletter when you first sign in to get expert advice and guidance on supporting your child with their next steps.
You are also able to link your own Unifrog account to that of your child. However, for this to be enabled we would require written confirmation of this request and confirmation of the parent/carer email address used to log into the website.
We would encourage parents to also use the platform with your child so you can support them in the careers education pathway.
All year 10 students are expected to take part in our work experience programme from Monday 28th June to Friday 2nd July 2027.
The programme was launched on enrichment day in July, and updates will take place in year 10 assemblies, form time and curriculum lessons.
Students are issued with their work experience booklet, which has all the information necessary to support students, parents and carers with the work experience process. This includes:
- Work Experience timeframe.
- How to research for suitable placements.
- How to contact prospective employers, and guidance on how to write a letter or email, and how to make a phone call or in-person contact.
- Aims and objectives of work experience.
- FAQ’s for students, parents and carers.
This year we are using Unifrog to administer our work experience programme, and the booklet has full instructions on how to complete the application form, and the subsequent stages of the work experience process.
- How parents and carers can support students before, during and after work experience.
If any members of our school community are able to offer a placement to any of our students, please contact Mrs Richings as shown below.
Students not having found a placement will remain in school on a bespoke learning package. However, this will not give the same experience as a student going out on work experience.
The year 10 team and Mrs Richings are available for any advice and guidance to students, and if parents/carers have any queries regarding the academy’s work experience programme, please contact Mrs Julie Richings, Transition and Co-curriculum Projects Manager on [email protected] , 01502 574474 X110 or contact us here.
Work Experience Guide for students, parents and carers
Work Experience Launch for 2027
Our aim is for each of our partnerships to advance, support and enrich both our curriculum and enrichment offers for students.
Ormiston Denes Academy would welcome contact from prospective employers, community groups, volunteering groups etc, who would be willing to support our students in any way. This could be through the offer of work experience, workplace visits or work shadowing, talks in school, mock interviews, industry insights or workshops, all designed to give students a better insight into the world or work, and how work connects to what they are learning in school.
Even if you are not sure what you may be able to offer, there are many ways in which you can share your experience and help build our students’ knowledge of employability skills, labour market information, career sectors, workplace etiquette, what an employer looks for, to name just a few. We have many activities that you would be able to join in with, and we are always open to new ideas and opportunities.
If you feel you could spare any time to support the academy and our students, please contact Mrs Richings on [email protected] or call the academy on 01502 574474
Some of our current partnership working is shown below:
NEACO
The Network for East Anglian Collaborative Outreach (NEACO) aims to help young people in East Anglia with little or no experience of university to explore the world of higher education. Take your place is a programme aimed at young people aged 13 to 19 considering their study options after school or college, with partners working with schools, colleges and Local Enterprise Partnerships.
Further information can be found on their website, here.
University of East Anglia (UEA)
We are a UEA partnership school. This means that we are offered a number of opportunities for young people, staff, parents and carers and the wider school community. We also have an Outreach Officer, who is our dedicated point of contact to help the select young people who will benefit most from taking part in our activities.
The activities offered are designed to enable young people to recognise that going to university is an option for them. Everything is provided totally free of charge by the university, apart from some transport costs. Activities are linked to careers and widening participation, and fully support us to achieve both Ofsted and Gatsby Benchmark reporting requirements.
The UEA believes in championing young people from all backgrounds to succeed in whatever way is best for them. However they are clear that, if young people are clued up on all things university and decide it’s not for them, that’s fine.
Details of their outreach programme can be found here.
They assess the impact of their work using data requested from all partnership schools. Students, parents and carers, have been informed that data will be provided by the school, and given the option to opt out if they wish. Details about the data collection can be found here.
The date of the next review of this published information is 1st September 2027. Parents, carers, students and key stakeholders are invited to submit feedback at any time of the academic year by emailing [email protected], by telephoning Mrs Richings on 01502 574474 or contacting us here.