Introduction

Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) at The Emmbrook School is a vital part of school life. All students will receive this as part of their learning here at the school. We are committed to providing the appropriate activities and experiences to enable students to make successful transitions from the start of Year 7, through Key Stages 4 and 5 and then on to further education, training programmes, apprenticeships or work.

The Emmbrook School CEIAG aims are:

·       To allow students to make informed and considered choices at the end of all three key stages.

·       To help and guide students to make transitions into new situations.

·       To promote self-development in students including employability skills.

·       To help students to value differences and diversity between people.

·       To raise aspirations and make students aware of opportunities available to them.

·       To provide guidance to all students in relation to decisions about options, further education and career choices, including apprenticeships.

Careers education should not just be seen as learning about jobs but also learning about work ethics, equipping students with skills (both hard and soft) for the workplace, ensuring transition occurs smoothly and helping to reduce barriers to entering the world of work.

Our careers provision at The Emmbrook is based on the GatsbyBenchmarks as recommended in the DfE’s Careers Strategy (December 2017) and the Statutory Guidance for Careers (January 2023).

Students in years 8-13 are entitled:

• To find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point.
• To hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships – through options evenings, assemblies, group discussions and taster events.
• To understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses.

For pupils of compulsory school age, these encounters are mandatory and there will be a minimum of two encounters for pupils during the ‘first key phase’ (year 8 to 9) and two encounters for pupils during the ‘second key phase’ (year 10 to 11). For pupils in the ‘third key phase’ (year 12 to 13), particularly those that have not yet decided on their next steps, there are two more provider encounters available during this period, which are optional for pupils to attend. 

These provider encounters will be scheduled during the main school hours and the provider will be given a reasonable amount of time to, as a minimum:

• share information about both the provider and the approved technical education qualification and apprenticeships that the provider offers
• explain what career routes those options could lead to
• provide insights into what it might be like to learn or train with that provider (including the opportunity to meet staff and pupils from the provider)
• answer questions from pupils

Meaningful provider encounters

One encounter is defined as one meeting/session between pupils and one provider. We are committed to providing meaningful encounters to all pupils.

Previous Providers

In previous terms/years, we have invited the following providers from the local area to speak to our pupils:

• Activate Learning; Bracknell and Wokingham College and Institute of Technology
• RSSL
• Reading University
• Oxford Brooks University
• Muddy Ducks
• The Army
• Wates Construction
• Health Reach
• Reading Football Club

All students in years 11, 12 and 13 are offered a careers interview. 

Unifrog

Unifrog is a user-friendly platform which shares the mission to help students find their future.  Unifrog contains all the available information in one platform to help students make the best choices.  We launched Unifrog in July 2023 for Year 12 students who have started using Unifrog to consider post-18 options.  We aim to launch Unifrog to all other year groups over the coming year.  They will be able to log and track all Career-related work and activities throughout the course of their time at The Emmbrook School.

https://www.unifrog.org/about

We also use the services of independent careers specialists who can offer individual guidance for students and advise them on the range of opportunities available post-16 and post-18.  

All students in years 11, 12 and 13 are offered a careers interview.  Some students in other year groups may also benefit from individual specialist careers advice.

Please contact the school if you would like to know more about the career advice and guidance options available for your child.

B Martins
Careers Lead

Tel:  0118 978 4406

Bmartins@emmbrook.wokingham.sch.uk

Policy Statement on Provider Access

Talking Futures - Parents Advice for Career Conversations

Information to be reviewed July 2025