At Sturminster Newton High School, our Careers Education curriculum is designed to ensure that all students are entitled to high-quality, impartial and accessible careers guidance, regardless of background or starting point. Rooted in our whole-school commitment to equity of provision and high expectations, our careers programme empowers students to make informed and aspirational choices about their futures.
Careers education is delivered through tutorial sessions and personalised guidance interviews. All students at Key Stages 4 and 5 receive a minimum of two individual careers interviews, ensuring tailored support that reflects their interests, strengths and ambitions. We deliberately make clear links between curriculum subjects and future pathways so that students understand how their learning connects to further education, training and employment.
Our curriculum aims to develop reflective, self-aware individuals who can identify their personal qualities, set goals and take ownership of their next steps. Through encounters with employers, universities, colleges and apprenticeship providers, students build valuable cultural capital and broaden their horizons. Parents and carers are supported through access to relevant information, including labour market insights, enabling them to guide students confidently.
The impact of our careers provision is measured through destination data and student voice. Ultimately, our careers curriculum ensures that every student leaves Sturminster Newton High School informed, confident and prepared for the next stage of their education or training.
Sturminster Newton High School is committed to ensuring that all young people have access to realistic information and guidance about the full range of career pathways available to them.
We aim to ensure that all our students are self-confident, skilled and career-ready.
This will be achieved through a programme of high quality, planned Careers and Work Related Learning activities, advice and guidance which meets the Gatsby Benchmarks for careers advice, namely:
Information for Parents Information for Employers, Colleges and other providers SNHS Careers Provider Access Statement
- A stable careers programme
- Learning from career and labour market information
- Addressing the needs of each pupil
- Linking curriculum learning to careers
- Encounters with employers and employees (Access dorsetlep.co.uk)
- Experiences of workplaces
- Encounters with further and higher education
- Personal guidance
In addition, Gatsby Benchmarks are being updated from September 2025:
Gatsby Benchmarks key updates/amendments:
- Careers at the Heart of Education and Leadership: Careers Guidance is now a whole-institution responsibility, integrated into strategic planning and leadership (Benchmarks 1,2,3,5)
- Inclusion and Impact: Tailored support for every student, with particular attention to those who are vulnerable, disadvantaged or have SEND (1, 2, 6)
- Meaningful and Varied Encounters – Moving away from a set period of Work Experiences, students should encounter a greater variety of employer and workplace experiences, including opportunities for preparation and reflection.
Sturminster Newton High School is a pilot school for this, working closely with Dorset Chamber to expand student encounters at Key Stage 3 (1, 2, 6)
- Information and Data Use: Enhanced used of data to inform guidance, track aspirations and evaluate long-term outcomes
- Parent/Carer Engagement now embedded, recognising their influence on career decisions made by students (1, 2)
If you would like to speak to a member of the team either for advice or to offer a talk/visit for our students, please contact the school on careers@mysnhs.net.
To view the policy statement on Careers Guidance, please visit the school policies page
The school’s named career leader is Paul Dodman who can facilitate impartial information advice and guidance for students, supported by the Heads of Year. Please contact him on 4179pd@mysnhs.net
A designated Careers Adviser, Steve Martin conducts face to face interviews to provide students with impartial advice on all aspects of future education, employment and training.
Please contact him on 4179smx@mysnhs.net
Students are also able to request individual appointments (with priority going to Years 11, 12 and 13) or may be referred by school staff.
All students identified on the Dorset Council RONI list and disadvantaged students are seen during key transition points.
Every student will have at least one face to face careers appointment during KS4
The school also works with the Careers and Enterprise Company and its Enterprise Advisor to deliver careers advice and guidance and allows providers of technical education, college course, T-Levels etc. access to the school to inform students regarding the progression routes they offer.
As an overview, each year group lessons aim to build the importance of considering future plans, building aspiration and challenging negative impressions, with specific reference to –
Year 7
- Building self-esteem via discussions of students’ own skills and qualities
- Finding careers information
- Challenging workplace stereotypes
- Dream jobs
- Outside speakers (e.g. local vet) to begin employer encounters
- Guest speakers when available
- “Job of the Week” slides in tutor time
Year 8:
- Discussing which subjects can lead to which jobs and careers/importance of school subjects
- Labour Market Information (LMI)
- Explore Job and Career groups and families
- Whole year group aspirational Visit to Bournemouth University
- Targeted groups visit North Dorset Careers Fair to begin encounters with employers
- Guest speakers when available
- Job of the Week” slides in tutor time
Year 9:
- Research into specific jobs and careers/how to get there
- The importance of choosing the right option subjects (leading into the Options Evening in Spring Term)
- Work with Young Enterprise to deliver the Learn to Earn programme (whole day activities) in May
- Selected students to begin employer visits in line with the new way of delivering Experience of the Workplace
- Guest speakers when available
- Preliminary Careers/Options interviews with Careers Adviser
- Job of the Week” slides in tutor time
Year 10:
- Individual Careers Interviews with Careers Adviser
- Visit North Dorset Careers Fair to further encounters with employers
- Further research into local job and apprenticeship opportunities
- Working hours ages 15-18
- Outside speakers (e.g. The Army, The NHS) to expand student experiences
- Application process for Work Experience leading to 5 day placements in July
- Mock Interview Day to boost confidence and provide experience
Year 11:
- Individual Careers Interviews with Careers Adviser
- Writing professional personal statements and CVs
- Completing Post 16 Action Plan tailored to suit individual student needs
- Personal interviews with SLT to discuss sixth form and future choices
- Guest speakers from local colleges to help choices
Years 12 and 13:
- Further work experience programme in Year 12 (July)
- UCAS convention/Apprenticeships convention visits to increase aspiration
- Visits to Universities (Bournemouth, Southampton, Bath Spa etc and other FE/HE providers
- Individual Careers Interviews with Careers Adviser
- “Dragon’s Den” style entrepreneurial challenge Year 12
- Mock interviews/CV building
- Individual help and guidance for UCAS applications including specialist mentors for Medicine applications
In addition, the school aims to promote Careers and Work-related Learning via:
- References to careers and employment in lessons and the engagement of guest speakers
- STEM activities and presentations
- Employer links and presentations in assemblies
- Activities to mark National Careers week
How can parents / carers help support their child’s career education:
Parents / carers can support their child in a number of ways:
- Take an interest in what your child / children have been learning about at school
- Discuss the soft skills that employers are looking for
- Talk about your own work and employment experiences and the skills used
- If possible, take your children to visit your workplace
- Explore together the range of opportunities available at each of the transition points (Year 9, 11 and 13)
- Support visiting open days / completing application forms
- Set small tasks such as planning an event / day out or budgeting
- Seek support from the school if your child needs it: careers@mysnhs.net or 4179pd@mysnhs.net
Here are additional sources of information that students, parents and carers are able to access, that may be helpful:
National Careers Service
(https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk)
Provides information relating to job profiles, skills, courses and personalised advice.
Find an apprenticeship
(https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeshipsearch)
UCAS
(https://www.ucas.com) which provides details on University courses.
Unifrog
(https://www.unifrog.org) which provides a portal to progression information, a resource bank of information and an on-line location for students to record their personal development, skills development and careers education.
Dorset Labour Market Information
Careerpilot
(https://www.careerpilot.org.uk)
Expert careers information and tools for 11-19 year olds, all in one place. All students have a profile on this site .
Not going to Uni
(https://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/apprenticeships-223)
Start Profile
(https://www.startprofile.com) which provides details on different jobs and careers including labour market information, alongside an ‘about me’ quiz which matches skills and interests of individuals to possible careers.
National Careers Service
(https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk) which provides information relating to job profiles, skills, courses and personalised advice.
Complete apprenticeship guide
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