Vision & Values
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Careers and Future Pathways

Preparing every young person for a future full of possibility.

At The John Wallis Church of England Academy, careers education is about much more than choosing a job. We want every young person to understand the opportunities available to them, recognise their own strengths and ambitions, and leave us confident about what comes next.

From Year 7 through to Sixth Form, pupils experience a progressive programme of careers education, encounters with employers and education providers, workplace experiences and impartial personal guidance.

Our careers programme is built around the eight Gatsby Benchmarks and ensures that pupils understand the full range of routes available to them, including sixth form, further education, university, apprenticeships, technical education, T Levels, supported internships and employment.

 

Link to our Gatsby Benchmarks

 

Our Careers Programme

Every pupil should leave John Wallis with the knowledge, experiences and confidence to make informed decisions about their future.

Across Years 7–13, pupils will:

  • learn about different careers, industries and employment sectors.
  • understand local and national labour-market opportunities.
  • meet employers and people working in a wide range of careers.
  • experience workplaces and the world of work.
  • encounter colleges, universities, apprenticeship and technical-education providers.
  • understand academic, vocational and technical pathways.
  • learn how curriculum subjects connect to future careers.
  • develop employability, application and interview skills.
  • receive impartial careers information, advice and guidance.
  • receive additional support where needed to ensure that background, disadvantage or SEND does not limit aspiration.

Pupils will have at least one meaningful encounter with an employer during each year of secondary education.

 

Experiences of the Workplace

We want pupils to understand what workplaces are really like, rather than simply hear about them.

From September 2026, we are developing a progressive programme providing the equivalent of two weeks' worth of meaningful work experience by the end of Year 11.

This includes:

  • Years 7, 8 and 9:  A range of meaningful, employer-led workplace activities equivalent to one week across Key Stage 3. These may include workplace visits, employer projects, work shadowing and other immersive experiences.
  • Years 10 and 11: Five days of meaningful work-experience placement activity, which may take place with one or more employers.

Pupils in our Sixth Form will have further opportunities to experience workplaces and develop the knowledge, skills and networks needed for their chosen next steps.

 

Personal Careers Guidance

Every pupil has access to impartial careers education, information, advice and guidance.

Every pupil will have:

  • at least one individual personal-guidance meeting with an appropriately trained careers adviser by the age of 16
  • a further personal-guidance meeting by the age of 18.

Additional guidance is available at important decision points and for pupils who would benefit from further support.

Pupils or parents who would like to request a careers guidance meeting should contact our Careers Leader.

 

Careers Leader

Careers Leader: Ms S. Manchester
Email: smanchester@thejohnwallisacademy.org

Our Careers Leader is responsible for the strategic leadership and development of careers education across the Academy.

Pupils, parents and carers, employers, education providers and other partners who would like further information about our careers programme are welcome to contact the Careers Leader.

 

Employers and Partners

We want our pupils to meet people from the widest possible range of industries, professions and backgrounds.

We welcome employers who can:

  • speak to pupils about their career or industry;
  • host workplace visits or work experience;
  • support careers and enterprise activities;
  • provide mentoring;
  • support interview or employability activities; or
  • help pupils understand the skills employers value.

If you would like to work with our pupils, please contact our Careers Leader.

 

Education and Training Providers

We are committed to ensuring that pupils understand the full range of routes available to them.

Further-education colleges, apprenticeship providers, technical-education providers, universities and other education and training organisations are therefore an important part of our careers programme.

Information about requesting access to pupils is set out in our Provider Access Statement below.

 

Careers-Provider-Access-Statement.pdf

 

Measuring Our Impact

We review the effectiveness of our careers programme throughout the year.

This includes considering:

  • pupil participation in careers activities.
  • pupil voice and feedback.
  • employer and provider feedback.
  • Gatsby Benchmark performance.
  • participation in workplace experiences.
  • uptake of personal guidance.
  • intended destinations.
  • sustained education, employment and training destinations.
  • the outcomes of different groups of pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND.

This information is used to continually strengthen our provision and ensure that our careers programme meets the needs and ambitions of our pupils.

Information reviewed: September 2026
Next review: September 2027