KS3 KS4 & KS5 Careers Commitments

Aligned to May 2025 statutory guidance

Careers Commitment by the end of Key Stage 3:

• Learners will understand how STEM subjects support a broad range of future career pathways, helping them make informed choices when selecting Key Stage 4 options.
• Learners will recognise the importance of strong achievement in English and maths, understanding how these subjects underpin access to future learning, technical routes, and employment.
• Learners will receive clear, age-appropriate information on 14–19 progression, including GCSE options, technical pathways, academic routes, and vocational opportunities.
• Learners will develop an understanding of post-16 options, including A-levels, T Levels, apprenticeships, and other technical education routes, preparing them for future decision-making in Years 10–11.
• Learners will be supported to identify and reflect on their strengths, skills, and areas for development, and understand how these may influence their future learning and career choices.
• Learners in KS3 will participate in at least one meaningful employer encounter each year, gaining early insight into the workplace, job roles, and the skills valued by employers (Gatsby Benchmark 5).
• Learners will use Unifrog online careers platform and high-quality labour-market-information tool to explore local industries, growth sectors, and opportunities in the wider economy (Gatsby Benchmark 2).
• Learners will be offered access to personalised, impartial careers guidance, including the opportunity for a 1:1 guidance interview with a qualified, independent Careers Adviser by the end of KS3 (Gatsby Benchmark 8).
• Learners in Year 8 or Year 9 will receive at least two encounters with approved providers of technical education or apprenticeships, in line with Provider Access Legislation (PAL), ensuring they receive impartial information about technical pathways before 28 February of Year 9 (Gatsby Benchmark 7).

KS4 Careers Learning Commitment

(Aligned to May 2025 Statutory Guidance)

Careers Commitment by the end of Key Stage 4:

Curriculum, Progression and Pathway Understanding

• Learners will understand how KS4 subject choices connect to a wide range of post-16 and future career pathways, including academic, technical, and vocational progression routes.
• Learners will recognise the importance of achieving strong outcomes in English and maths, understanding that these qualifications are essential entry requirements for further education, apprenticeships, and employment.
• Learners will receive accurate, impartial and up-to-date information on all post-16 options, including A-levels, T Levels, apprenticeships, vocational qualifications, and specialist technical routes, in line with statutory guidance.
• Learners will be supported to make informed and aspirational decisions about their post-16 destinations, using career guidance, employer insights, and labour market information to match their strengths, interests, and long-term goals.

Encounters, Experiences and Employer Engagement (Gatsby Benchmarks 5 & 6)

• Learners will take part in a minimum of two meaningful encounters with employers and employees during Key Stage 4, gaining insight into workplace expectations, job roles, and the skills valued by different sectors, sector-specific skills, and pathways into employment.
• Learners will participate in at least one meaningful experience of a workplace, either virtually or in person, enabling them to deepen their understanding of working environments and roles.

Digital Careers Tools and Labour Market Understanding (Gatsby Benchmark 2)

• Learners will use the Unifrog careers platform and high-quality labour-market-information tools to explore growth sectors, compare post-16 pathways, and develop an informed understanding of local and national labour markets.

Personal Guidance and Individual Support (Gatsby Benchmark 8)

• Learners will have access to at least one 1:1 careers guidance interview with a qualified, impartial Careers Adviser in Year 10 or Year 11, ensuring personalised support ahead of post-16 transition.

Provider Access Legislation (PAL) – Access to Technical and Apprenticeship Providers (Gatsby Benchmark 7)

• Learners will receive a minimum of two encounters with approved providers of technical education and apprenticeships during Key Stage 4, as required under the May 2025 Provider Access Legislation, ensuring they are fully informed about technical routes available after KS4.
• Learners will hear from a range of post-16 training providers during these two mandatory KS4 encounters, including colleges, apprenticeship training providers, UTCs, and sixth forms, to support impartial and comprehensive decision-making.

Careers Learning Commitment 

(Aligned to May 2025 Statutory Guidance)

Careers Commitment by the end of Key Stage 5:

Understanding Progression, Pathways and Future Destinations

• Learners will develop a secure understanding of the full range of post-18 pathways, including university degrees, higher technical qualifications (HTQs), higher and degree apprenticeships, specialist technical training, employment, and gap-year opportunities.
• Learners will understand the academic, technical and professional requirements of different post-18 routes, enabling them to make informed, aspirational decisions aligned to their skills, interests, and long-term career goals.
• Learners will receive clear, impartial and up-to-date information about the changing labour market, including regional and national growth sectors, higher-level skills needs, and emerging industries (Gatsby Benchmark 2).

Personal Development, Skills and Self-Awareness

• Learners will be supported to assess and articulate their strengths, skills, achievements and personal development needs, using this understanding to inform post-18 transitions.
• Learners will develop a strong understanding of the employability skills required for higher-level study and work, including communication, organisation, digital literacy, problem-solving, collaboration and professional conduct.

Encounters with Employers, Higher Education and Training Providers

• Learners will participate in multiple meaningful encounters with employers, including industry talks, workshops, mentoring, and sector-focused events, helping them explore advanced career pathways and professional expectations (Gatsby Benchmark 5).
• Learners will experience at least one meaningful workplace experience or extended industry placement, either in person or virtually, enabling them to gain real insight into higher-level roles and working environments (Gatsby Benchmark 6).
• Learners will take part in encounters with a wide range of higher education providers, including universities, colleges and training organisations, ensuring they understand the diversity of post-18 study opportunities available to them.
• Learners will receive at least three encounters with approved providers of technical education or apprenticeships during KS5, in line with the Provider Access Legislation (PAL) and updated May 2025 statutory requirements (Gatsby Benchmark 7).

Use of Digital Careers Platforms and Labour Market Tools

• Learners will use the Unifrog careers platform and high-quality labour-market information tools to compare university courses, technical qualifications, apprenticeship standards, and employment pathways.
• Learners will access digital tools to build CVs, portfolios and personal statements, preparing them for post-18 applications and professional environments.

Personal Guidance and Individual Support (Gatsby Benchmark 8)

• Learners will have access to at least one 1:1 careers guidance interview each year, delivered by a qualified, independent Careers Adviser, ensuring personalised support at critical transition points.
• Learners will be supported through the UCAS process, apprenticeship applications, technical education progression routes and employment preparation, including interview guidance, personal statements, and professional profiling.

Transition Readiness and Destination Planning

• Learners will be supported to make confident, informed and ambitious post-18 choices, grounded in impartial guidance, labour-market understanding, employer engagement and personal strengths.
• Learners will receive support to ensure a successful transition to their chosen destination, with targeted interventions for those at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training).

To achieve these outcomes all students will progress through a differentiated programme of teacher-led Personal Development learning in addition to the following indicative list of activities:

Autumn Term

Year Groups	Activity
11	Employer based skills workshops
7, 8, 9	Employer Estate visit
7, 8, 9 and 10	Careers through Arts events
11	West Berks Destinations Expo
6 – 11	ICollege Careers & Community Engagement Event
10	Justice system visits
10 and 11	Post 16 provider open events
9 and 10	Berkshire Youth employer visit

Spring Term

Year Groups	Activity
10 and 11	Film studios visit
7 – 10	Leisure and fitness employer visit
7 - 11	National Apprenticeship Week
7 – 10	Science Week employer activities
9 and 10	Extended work experience placements
9 and 10	14 –16 vocational college course exploration
9, 10 and 11	Mock interviews

Summer Term

Year Groups	Activity
9 and 10	Extended work experience placements
9 and 10	Hospitality visits
10 and 11	Transition support
9 and 10	NHS visit
7- 10	Fire Service visit
10	Electronics HO visit
10	Independence Open Event

Career Guidance Sessions:
Year 11	October – January
Year 9 and 10	February – July
Transition Support	July – October
1:1 career meetings available by appointment

Additional Interventions:

Autoskills –mechanics

Growing 2 Gether – gardening

Community Furniture Project – bike repair and furniture making workshop

Raw mentoring – gym based

Boxing

Make sense drama

Upper Lodge Farm

Burley Lodge Farm – equestrian based

These interventions are available on a bespoke/enrichment basis to learners depending on budget, availability and individual timetables.

Please refer to the Yearly Long-Term Plans and 25 – 26 iCollege Careers programme document for further details.