Vision

At Higham Lane North Academy, we are committed to delivering a high-quality careers education programme that inspires and prepares students for the world of work. Our provision is designed to build early awareness of future pathways, raise aspirations, and develop essential employability skills.

Our careers programme supports students in understanding the links between their learning and future career opportunities, enabling them to make informed decisions and successfully progress through education, employment or training.

Careers Leader

Careers Leader: Romayne Charles
Email: hello@hlna.co.uk

The Careers Leader is responsible for the strategic development, implementation and evaluation of the academy’s careers programme.

Our Careers Programme

Our careers programme is aligned with the Department for Education statutory guidance and is underpinned by the Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Career Guidance.

As a Year 7 cohort, students begin their careers education through a structured programme which includes:
• House time careers activities
• Curriculum-linked learning across all subject areas
• Enrichment activities and themed careers events
• Introduction to a wide range of job roles, sectors and pathways
• Development of key employability skills such as teamwork, communication and problem-solving

The programme is designed as part of a progressive five-year journey and will be reviewed annually to ensure it remains relevant and responsive to student needs as the academy grows.

Gatsby Benchmarks

Our careers provision is structured to ensure that, over time, all students benefit from a programme that fully meets the eight Gatsby Benchmarks:

1. A stable careers programme
2. Learning from career and labour market information
3. Addressing the needs of each pupil
4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
5. Encounters with employers and employees
6. Experiences of workplaces
7. Encounters with further and higher education
8. Personal guidance

At Key Stage 3, the focus is on awareness, aspiration and challenging stereotypes, forming a strong foundation for future meaningful encounters and decision-making.

Provider Access Policy Statement

In line with statutory requirements (the Baker Clause), Higham Lane North Academy ensures that all students have access to a wide range of education and training providers.

We are committed to providing multiple meaningful encounters with providers of technical education and apprenticeships for all students in Years 8–13, as required by statutory guidance.

Given the current age of our students (Year 7), provider access is introduced in an age-appropriate way. As cohorts progress, the academy will ensure full compliance with the requirement for a minimum of six encounters with providers.

To date all students at Higham Lane North Academy have had two encounters with providers ; taking part in the Dell Social Enterprise Event and the Coffee Shop Enterprise Challenge.

Providers wishing to request access should contact:
Romayne Charles via email @ hello@hlna.co.uk

Careers in the Curriculum

Careers education is embedded across the curriculum. All subject areas contribute by:
• Explicitly linking curriculum content to careers and future pathways
• Ensuring all knowledge booklets include clear references to related careers
• Demonstrating how subject knowledge is applied in real-world contexts
• Promoting transferable employability skills

This ensures that all students experience meaningful links between learning and careers throughout their education.

Work Experience

In line with statutory careers guidance, Higham Lane North Academy is committed to providing students with meaningful experiences of the workplace.

Although students in Year 7 do not yet participate in formal work experience, we begin preparing them by:
• Developing employability skills such as communication, teamwork and resilience
• Introducing workplace expectations and professional behaviours
• Providing early encounters with employers and employees

As the academy grows, students will access planned and progressive workplace experiences, including:
• Experiences of the workplace during Key Stage 3
• A formal work experience placement in Year 10 (Key Stage 4)

These experiences may include:
• Work experience placements
• Workplace visits
• Employer-led projects and activities

All work experience opportunities will be meaningful, appropriately planned, risk assessed, and tailored to meet the needs of individual students.

Labour Market Information (LMI)

Students are introduced to labour market information in an age-appropriate way, including:
• Awareness of different job roles and employment sectors
• Understanding the skills required for different careers
• Recognising how the world of work is changing

Students and parents can access up-to-date information via:
• National Careers Service (www.nationalcareers.service.gov.uk)

Employer and Industry Links

We aim to provide students with meaningful encounters with employers and employees to help raise aspirations and broaden understanding of career opportunities.

This includes:
• Visits from employers and guest speakers
• Enrichment activities linked to the world of work
• Employer engagement through curriculum and events

To date all students at Higham Lane North Academy have had two encounters with providers ; taking part in the Dell Social Enterprise Event and the Coffee Shop Enterprise Challenge.

These opportunities will expand as the academy grows, ensuring all students benefit from regular and meaningful engagement with employers.

Personal Development and Guidance

At Key Stage 3, students receive structured, group-based careers education.

As students progress, they will have access to:
• Independent and impartial careers guidance
• Personal guidance interviews with a qualified careers adviser

The academy will ensure that all students receive at least two personal guidance interviews by the end of Key Stage 4, in line with statutory guidance.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Review

The careers programme is regularly monitored and evaluated to ensure it is effective and meets the needs of all students.

We evaluate our provision through:
• Student voice and feedback
• Staff feedback
• Monitoring participation and engagement in careers activities
• Reviewing progress against the Gatsby Benchmarks

The programme is reviewed annually to ensure continuous improvement.

Further Information

If you would like more information about our careers programme, please contact the Careers Leader using the details above.