Careers Education and Guidance

The information below summarises our careers programme which is recognised as outstanding. Our careers leader is Mrs S Keane (email careers@hemelschool.com)

'Careers education is generally a strength. ‘Golden threads’ run through all year groups, and there are a wide range of opportunities to engage with employers. This includes work experience in Year 10. Pupils have the information they need to make well-informed choices about their next steps. This includes an appropriate programme of support for sixth-form students. The school meets the requirements of the Baker Clause, which requires schools to provide pupils in Years 8 to 13 with information about approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships'.

Ofsted, December 2022

Our Careers Programme

The Hemel Hempstead School seeks to maximise the life chances of all of our students and so it is crucial to prepare young people for life beyond school.

The school aims to meet the needs of all students so the programme will be differentiated to ensure progression through activities that are appropriate to students’ stages of career learning, planning and development. They need to be empowered to plan and manage their own futures and availability of information is a key determinant of career choice.

The programme will raise aspirations, challenge stereotyping and promote equality and diversity. It supports social mobility by improving opportunities for all young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special educational needs and disabilities.

The school endeavours to follow the DfE statutory careers guidance (2018) which includes the Gatsby Benchmarks.

Future Skills Programme

In September 2020 we introduced our Future Skills programme as part of our 'careers in the curriculum' provision. Students spend time with their Form Tutor each week working on the development and practical application of 8 key skills which prepare them for employment and the wider world. The 8 key skills are:

Listening

Speaking

Problem Solving

Creativity

Staying Positive

Aiming High

Leadership

Teamwork

The objectives

• Empowering students to plan and manage their own futures.
• Helping student to explore and follow courses that are appropriate to their needs.
• Improving understanding of the world of work.
• Ensuring appropriate provision and guidance.
• Successful transition to the next stage of education and employment.
• Offering a responsive service that allows time for face to face guidance.
• Providing comprehensive and unbiased advice and guidance.
• Actively promoting equality and challenging gender stereotypes.
• Provide activities that help raise motivation and attainment.

Measuring the impact

One of the main ways we measure and assess the impact of our careers programme is using Compass to generate a Gatsby profile. Compass is a tool for schools and colleges in England that supports schools to evaluate their careers activity against the eight benchmarks of best practice - known as the Gatsby Benchmarks. The tool was built in partnership with the Gatsby Charitable Foundation.

Our careers programme will next be reviewed in May 2025. 

What we do

The list below shows the events and opportunities that we provide students to prepare them for their next steps and the wider world.

Scholars' Education Trust Provide Access Statement

Careers Calendar 2023-2024

Gatsby Benchmark Evaluation - April 2024

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

Year 11

Year 12

Year 13