Careers education at Wigmore
Part of our school’s vision is to develop resilient, well-rounded, independent young people who are equipped to flourish in a modern global community. Central to this is our curriculum offer of careers education and work-related learning. In our increasingly interconnected and interdependent world, students should be inspired by the wide variety of opportunities that lie ahead. However, navigating the landscape of choices available to students, either when choosing which subjects to study, or deciding whether to opt for education, training or employment as school leavers can be complex and sometimes challenging.
Information for students and parents
High quality careers guidance is crucial in helping students make the right choices for them, and emerge from school ready for the world of work. At Wigmore High School, we achieve this through our diverse careers education and work-related learning programme. Every student is supported to make well-informed decisions about their next steps by providing access to differentiated and impartial advice and guidance about the range of academic, vocational and training options available. Students are also introduced to the world of work, and through a rich provision of activities, students look to develop character attributes and key skills, which will underpin future success whichever pathway they choose.
Our programme to support all students includes:
- 1:1 careers guidance with independent adviser
- CV writing and personal statement workshops
- interview skills workshops
- mock interviews
- careers talks
- college and university visits
- inspirational and motivational talks from guest speakers
- financial awareness workshops
- dedicated work-related learning lessons
- tutor time activities programme
Curriculum intent
- to raise students’ aspirations, increase motivation and broaden their horizons
- to empower students to make informed, realistic decisions about their future
- to provide high quality, independent careers advice to students motivating them to fulfil their potential
- to provide advice and guidance which is in the best interests of the student
- to work in partnership with local post-16 providers, employers and others to provide opportunities to experience the world of work
- to develop enterprise and employability skills and the links between living, learning and earning
- to demonstrate the relevance of the knowledge and skills learnt across the curriculum to students’ future study and employment opportunities
- to support inclusion, challenge stereotyping and promote equality of opportunity
GCSE Option choices
In Year 9 students are asked to choose subjects that they would like to continue to study at GCSE. To support them, Year 9 students have the opportunity to request careers guidance with our independent careers adviser, Mike Hughes.
Meeting the needs of all students
The careers team work closely with the pastoral & SEND team and form tutors to provide targeted support for vulnerable and disadvantaged students. In addition to careers guidance interviews for all students in Year 11, selected students benefit from interviews in Year 10.
Information for teachers
The minimum curriculum standards at Wigmore School state that there is an expectation that teachers will draw links from individual subjects to careers. Subject leaders are encouraged to look for opportunities to invite representatives from businesses and organisations into school to enhance these links, as well as looking for ways of promoting these links through off-site visits. Teachers can seek advice from the Careers Leader and from the resource library of the Careers and Enterpise Company.
The Gatsby Benchmarks
Careers education at Wigmore aims to deliver the eight Gatsby benchmarks. The benchmarks created by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation define all elements of an excellent careers programme, based on national and international research. They are at the core of the Government’s strategy to develop and improve careers provision nationally and now form part of the Ofsted framework for inspection.
More information about the Gatsby benchmarks can be found here.
Information for providers and employers
Wigmore School welcomes education and training providers, as well as employers to come into school to talk to students about careers, skills and future opportunities. If you would like to arrange a mutually suitable time to come into school, please contact the Careers Leader. Please see our provider access policy below for more details.
Provider Access Policy Statement
Our Provider Access Policy Statement is available on our policies page.
Our Careers Team
Mrs Victoria Austen – Careers Leader
[email protected]
01568770323
Mr Paul Bescoby – Assistant Headteacher (Pastoral)
[email protected]
01568770323
Mr Mike Hughes – Independent Careers Adviser
[email protected]
Post 16 Pathways and Progression
All young people in England must continue in education or training until 18 years of age. Young people have the following choices at the end of year 11:
- full time study at a college, sixth form or training provider
- full time work or volunteering combined with part time education of training
- an apprenticeship or traineeship
Measuring the impact of our careers programme
Our progress towards achieving the Gatsby Benchmarks is evaluated using the online Compass tool provided by the Careers and Enterprise Company. This is carried out on a termly basis by the Careers Leader, working closely with our Enterprise Adviser and the Enterprise Coordinator at Herefordshire Council. The Careers Programme development plan is based upon the outcomes of the ‘Compass+’ audit. Provision is also monitored and evaluated through the school’s quality assurance procedures.
The effectiveness of our careers guidance will be reflected in the numbers of students progressing to positive destinations such as apprenticeships, technical routes, sixth form colleges, further education colleges or employment. Destination data (DfE) is used to assess how successfully students make the transition into the next stage of education or training, or into employment and to inform future provision.
Wigmore Alumni
At Wigmore we actively follow the progress of all our students following the completion of the GCSE exams. Sometimes students require support before the exam results are published if they are uncertain about the choices they have made and for some there is a need to reconsider their plans once the results are published. Being a small community school, we maintain close relationships with our students and guide and support them when required. We also encourage our students to return to school either to talk to younger pupils or to seek further support should they need it.
Useful careers links
National Careers Service: The National Careers Service offers information and professional advice about education, training and work to adults and young people aged 13 years and over. Students and their parents can access support via the website.
START Profile: A free, online careers platform, designed to connect 11-18 year olds with their future career potential. This platform is used by students at Wigmore as part of the tutor time programme.
Career Pilot: This website offers guidance regarding your choices at 14, 16 and 18 as well as information relating to different qualifications and job sectors. There is also a handy career tool to help you decide on future careers choice.
Apprenticeships: If you are interested in finding an apprenticeship please register at https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship. Further information on apprenticeships is available on Not Going to Uni.
Informed Choices: A useful guide from the Russell Group universities to help students understand which A Level subjects open up different degrees, particularly at Russell Group universities.
Local providers
Herefordshire, Ludlow & North Shropshire College
Herefordshire and Worcestershire Group Training Association
Other career options
Useful links for parents
The Parent Perspective Careers Podcast
This information will be reviewed in September 2025.
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