Careers at Wigmore High School
Preparing students for their future
At Wigmore High School, we are committed to preparing resilient, well-rounded and independent young people who are equipped to flourish in a modern, global community.
Careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG), together with work-related learning, is an important part of our curriculum. We help students understand the opportunities available to them, develop the skills and confidence they need for the future, and make informed decisions about their next steps.
Our careers programme is inclusive, impartial and progressive. It supports every student to explore a wide range of academic, technical, vocational and employment pathways and to develop the knowledge, skills and experiences needed to make successful transitions.
Our programme is informed by the Department for Education's statutory guidance for careers guidance and access to education and training providers and the eight Gatsby Benchmarks for Good Career Guidance.
Our Careers Programme
Our careers programme is designed to help students:
- Understand the full range of education, training and employment pathways available to them.
- Explore careers and develop an understanding of the skills needed for different occupations.
- Use careers and labour market information to inform their decisions.
- Develop employability, enterprise and workplace skills.
- Meet employers, employees and education and training providers.
- Experience different workplaces and the world of work.
- Make informed choices about GCSEs, post-16 education, training and employment.
- Develop the confidence and resilience needed to manage future transitions.
- Receive impartial personal careers guidance when they need it.
Students experience careers education throughout Years 7–11, with activities planned to build progressively as they move through school.
Your Careers Journey
Year 7
Students begin to explore their interests, strengths, skills and aspirations.
Activities may include:
- Introduction to careers and the world of work
- Exploring personal strengths and interests
- Understanding different careers and occupations
- Developing employability and character skills
- Tutor-time careers activities
Year 8
Students begin to broaden their understanding of career pathways and the relationship between education and employment.
Activities may include:
- Career exploration
- Employer and careers talks
- Introduction to labour market information
- Exploring technical and vocational pathways
- Developing employability skills
Year 9
Year 9 is an important decision-making point as students choose their GCSE subjects.
Students receive support through:
- GCSE options information and guidance
- Careers and progression information
- Subject-to-career links
- Information about post-16 and future pathways
- The opportunity to request an appointment with our independent careers adviser
Students and families are encouraged to consider how GCSE choices relate to future opportunities while remembering that there are many different routes into careers.
Year 10
Students develop their understanding of the workplace and begin to focus more closely on post-16 options.
Activities may include:
- Careers guidance interviews
- Employer and workplace encounters
- Sixth-form college visits
- Work-related learning
- CV and application skills
- Interview preparation
- Financial awareness and employability activities
- College, sixth-form and training-provider information
- Apprenticeship and technical education information
Year 11
Students receive focused support as they prepare for their next steps.
This includes:
- Individual careers guidance
- Post-16 information and guidance
- Sixth-form and college visits
- Apprenticeship information
- Application and interview preparation
- CV and personal statement support
- Support with transition and progression
- Additional guidance for students who require further support
Our aim is that every student leaves Wigmore with a clear and realistic plan for their next stage of education, training or employment.
What Does Our Careers Programme Include?
Students benefit from a wide range of careers and work-related learning opportunities, including:
- 1:1 independent careers guidance with a qualified adviser
- Careers talks and sector insight sessions
- Employer and employee encounters
- CV writing and personal statement workshops
- Interview skills and mock interviews
- College, sixth-form and university visits
- Apprenticeship and technical education information
- Inspirational talks from employers, alumni and other professionals
- Financial awareness workshops
- Dedicated work-related learning lessons
- Tutor-time careers activities
- Labour market information
- Support with GCSE and post-16 choices
These activities are planned progressively to ensure that students encounter careers education at appropriate points throughout their time at Wigmore.
Our Careers Curriculum
Our careers provision aims to:
- Raise aspirations and broaden students' horizons.
- Help students make informed and realistic decisions about their future.
- Provide impartial advice and guidance about the full range of pathways.
- Develop enterprise, employability and workplace skills.
- Help students understand the relationship between what they learn in school and the world of work.
- Link curriculum learning to future education, training and career opportunities.
- Provide meaningful encounters with employers and education and training providers.
- Promote equality of opportunity, inclusion and diversity.
- Challenge stereotypes about subjects, careers and pathways.
- Support students to develop the confidence and resilience needed for future transitions.
Careers education is not limited to one subject or one lesson. Teachers across the curriculum are encouraged to make meaningful links between subject learning and future opportunities.
Supporting Every Student
We believe that every student should have access to high-quality careers education and guidance.
Our Careers Team works closely with pastoral staff, SEND staff and tutors to identify students who may benefit from additional support.
This can include targeted careers guidance, additional meetings, support with applications and transition planning, and signposting to appropriate services.
We aim to ensure that students from all backgrounds can access and understand the full range of opportunities available to them.
Information for Parents and Carers
Parents and carers play an important role in helping young people make decisions about their future.
We provide families with information to help them understand:
- GCSE options and subject choices
- Sixth-form and college pathways
- Apprenticeships and technical education
- Further and higher education
- Careers and labour market information
- Work-related learning
- Applications and interviews
- Important transition points
Parents and carers can support their child by talking regularly about their interests, strengths and aspirations and by encouraging them to explore a wide range of possibilities.
Parents can access careers information through:
The school website
Our Careers pages provide information about our programme, pathways, key decision points, useful resources and contacts.
Information evenings and events
These may include GCSE options events, post-16 information events, careers fairs and employer engagement activities.
School communications
Careers information may be shared through newsletters, emails, letters and communications aimed at particular year groups.
Parents' evenings and meetings
Parents can discuss progression and future plans with tutors, Heads of Year and other members of staff where appropriate.
Careers guidance
Where appropriate, parents may be involved in discussions around careers guidance and transition, particularly where additional support is required.
We encourage parents and carers to contact the Careers Team if they require further information or support.
Information for Students
Students can speak to their tutor, Head of Year, Careers Team or other trusted member of staff if they are unsure about their future plans.
Useful questions to consider include:
- What subjects do I enjoy?
- What am I good at?
- What skills do I want to develop?
- What careers interest me?
- What qualifications might I need?
- What different routes could I take?
- What are the entry requirements?
- What does the labour market look like?
- What opportunities are available locally?
- What could I do after Year 11?
There is no single route to a successful career. We encourage students to explore different possibilities and make choices that are right for them.
Post-16 Pathways and Progression
Young people in England are required to continue in education or training until the age of 18.
At the end of Year 11, students may choose from a range of pathways, including:
- Full-time study at a sixth form or college
- Technical and vocational education
- Apprenticeships
- Training
- Employment combined with part-time education or training
- Other appropriate education or training pathways
We encourage students to research their options carefully and consider which route best suits their interests, strengths, aspirations and circumstances.
Current government guidance emphasises the importance of ensuring that young people understand the full range of academic, technical and vocational routes available to them.
GCSE Options
Choosing GCSE subjects is an important decision, but it does not determine a student's entire future.
In Year 9, students receive information and guidance to help them make informed choices.
This includes:
- GCSE options information
- Information about progression routes
- Links between subjects and careers
- Opportunities to discuss future plans
- Access to careers guidance with our independent careers adviser
Students and families are encouraged to consider both current interests and future possibilities while keeping an open mind about the many routes available.
Work Experience and the World of Work
Understanding the workplace is an important part of careers education.
Students have opportunities to learn about work through employer encounters, workplace-related activities, careers talks and work-related learning.
We work with employers and other organisations to help students understand:
- Different workplaces and sectors
- The skills employers value
- Workplace expectations
- Different routes into employment
- The relationship between education and employment
Our programme will continue to develop in line with national guidance and the opportunities available to our students.
Working with Employers and Education Providers
Wigmore High School welcomes employers, colleges, universities, apprenticeship providers, training organisations and other partners who can contribute to students' careers education.
We are particularly interested in opportunities that provide students with meaningful encounters with:
- Employers and employees
- Apprenticeship providers
- Technical education providers
- Colleges and sixth forms
- Universities and higher education providers
- Local businesses and organisations
If you are an employer or education/training provider interested in working with our students, please contact our Careers Leader.
Our Provider Access Policy Statement sets out the arrangements for education and training providers seeking access to students and should be read alongside our careers programme. The school publishes this information in accordance with the relevant statutory requirements.
The Gatsby Benchmarks
Our careers programme is structured around the eight Gatsby Benchmarks for Good Career Guidance.
These provide a framework for high-quality careers provision:
- 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
The current DfE statutory guidance expects schools to publish information about their careers programme and how it meets the requirements and expectations of the Gatsby Benchmarks.
Provider Access
Schools must provide opportunities for pupils to hear from providers of technical education and apprenticeships.
The current statutory guidance requires schools to ensure that pupils in Years 8–13 receive at least six opportunities to meet providers of technical education or apprenticeships. This includes specified mandatory encounters during Years 8–11.
Our Provider Access Policy Statement explains how providers can request access to students and how these encounters are organised. Our Provider Access Policy Statement is available on our policies page.
Careers and Labour Market Information
Understanding the world of work includes understanding how industries and occupations are changing.
Students are encouraged to use reliable careers and labour market information to explore:
- Different occupations
- Skills and qualifications
- Employment sectors
- Local opportunities
- Future career prospects
- Apprenticeships and technical routes
- Education and training requirements
Students should use more than one source of information when making important decisions and are encouraged to discuss their findings with their parents, tutors and careers advisers.
Useful Careers Resources
National Careers Service
The National Careers Service provides free, impartial careers information, advice and guidance for young people aged 13 and over, including tools to explore careers, skills and courses.
[Visit the National Careers Service]
Apprenticeships
Students interested in apprenticeships can explore apprenticeship opportunities and find information about applications, entry requirements and different apprenticeship routes.
[Find an apprenticeship – GOV.UK]
Gatsby Benchmarks
Find out more about the Gatsby Benchmarks and the research behind the framework for good careers guidance.
[Gatsby Benchmarks – Good Career Guidance]
START Profile
START is an online careers platform designed to help young people explore their interests, skills and future career possibilities.
LMI for All
LMI for All provides labour market information that can help students explore occupations and understand employment trends.
Careermap
Careermap provides information about careers, apprenticeships, employers and opportunities for school and college students.
Amazing Apprenticeships
Resources and information to help young people and families understand apprenticeships and technical education.
Parents and students should always check important information with the relevant education or training provider before making decisions.
[Visit Amazing Apprenticeships]
Local Education and Training Providers
Students may wish to explore opportunities offered by local and regional providers, including:
- Hereford Sixth Form College
- Herefordshire, Ludlow & North Shropshire College
- Hereford College of Arts
- Hartpury College
- Herefordshire and Worcestershire Group Training Association
- Riverside Training
- NOVA Training
- Shrewsbury Colleges Group
Students should check individual provider websites for current courses, entry requirements, open days and application deadlines.
Information for Teachers
Careers education is a whole-school responsibility.
All subject areas contribute by:
- Linking curriculum learning to careers and progression routes.
- Highlighting the skills developed through different subjects.
- Making connections between classroom learning and the workplace.
- Inviting employers and education providers to enrich learning.
- Identifying opportunities for careers-related visits and experiences.
Teachers can seek support from the Careers Leader and relevant careers resources.
Our Careers Team
Mrs Victoria Austen - Careers Leader
Mrs Lydia Stevens - Careers Adviser
If you have a question about careers education, guidance, work-related learning or future pathways, please contact the Careers Team. They can be contacted via email [email protected] or by telephone on 01568 770323.
Measuring the Impact of Our Careers Programme
We regularly evaluate the effectiveness of our careers provision.
We use careers evaluation tools, student and parent feedback, destination information and other quality-assurance processes to identify strengths and areas for development.
Our evaluation considers:
- Student participation and engagement
- Student and parent feedback
- Progress against the Gatsby Benchmarks
- Careers guidance and support
- Employer and provider engagement
- Work-related learning
- Student destinations
- The needs of different groups of learners
Current DfE guidance recommends that schools self-report progress against the Gatsby Benchmarks termly and recommends the use of Compass or Compass+ for this purpose.
The information gathered helps us continually improve our careers programme.
Wigmore Alumni
Our relationship with students does not end when they leave Wigmore.
We maintain links with former students and encourage alumni to share their experiences with current students.
Alumni can provide valuable insight into:
- Different career journeys
- Further and higher education
- Apprenticeships
- Employment
- Career changes
- The skills and experiences that have helped them succeed
Hearing directly from former students helps our young people understand that there are many different routes into successful careers.
Last reviewed: September 2026
We will review and update our careers information regularly to ensure that it remains accurate and useful for students, parents, staff, employers and education providers.