Employer Engagement and Provider Access:

We encourage pupils to have visits from and visits too a range of providers, who can potentially offer placements that are appropriate for our pupils and their next steps of learning.

We are committed to working with local employers within our local community to give our pupils a range of opportunities to experience the world of work. We also work closely with our Enterprise Advisor to enhance our careers curriculum and set it in a real-life context.

We welcome any interest from families, friends or local business, who might be able to offer our students a placement or a visit to school. We would also welcome anyone who would like to provide information such as at a careers fair or through an assembly. We have scheduled careers lessons

weekly and explore green careers week and careers week across the year. If you visit school, please be prepared to discuss with the following with the pupils;

· Opportunities on offer for example apprenticeships or qualifications.

· Information on potential careers the opportunity might lead to.

· What learning and training is like with them.

· Time to answer any questions as needed.

We have previously worked with local colleges; Newcastle and Gateshead, as well as learning skills and NHS choices colleges. There have also been opportunities for local vocational providers to visit, such as Wheels project and Bill Quay Farm.

We have access to a range of rooms and areas, eg cookery room, a science lab, hall and gym area and vocational/ life skills room.

Anyone interested in working with us should contact the school and speak to Lucy Cameron, Deputy Head, 0191 4692462 to discuss further.

Provider Access complaints:

If you have a complaint about access to school, please email the school office FAO the headteacher Anita Bell: hilltopschool@gateshead.gov.uk or ring the main school office 0191 469 2462 to discuss the complaints procedure further. You can also contact the CEC on provideraccess@careersandenterprise.co.uk to raise a complaint about access to pupils in Hill Top school..

If you require any further information please contact Lucy Cameron (Deputy Head) lucycameron@gatedu.org 0191 4692462

Entitlement: 

Formal Pathway: 

KS3: Pupils have access to a careers programme through the curriculum, informal experiences with employers and experiences of workplaces. Pupils are also encouraged to start to identify their skills and possible future careers, through their EHCP reviews.  

KS4: As pupils move into KS4, careers guidance becomes more focussed to support the pupils as they prepare to transition to their next steps for post 16. It is addressed through the curriculum and the preparing for adulthood agenda. Pupils will have opportunities for work experience, at an appropriate level, supported by local providers and our enterprise advisors. Pupils will also have a careers interviews each year, by an independent advisor through the local CIAG team.  Staff support pupils to understand their options through visits to providers and visitors in school.  

KS5: Pupils at KS5 access a curriculum based around the preparing for adulthood agenda, which includes education and employment. Pupils in KS5 also continue to access work experience, supported by NHS project choice and have further opportunities for careers interviews. Pupils will also be involved in enterprise projects and other experiences with work places and employers, such as the careers fair.  

 Informal and Semi-formal: Pupils in the autism centre access a careers curriculum that is appropriate to their need. Some pupils will have visits to external employers, some will take part in internal work experience and some will take part in more formal work experience placements. The autism curriculum is based around developing pupil’s communication skills, to support them to understand and contribute meaningfully to conversations around their future. If appropriate, pupils will take part in careers interviews, others will have conversations using their own communication methods to express their likes and dislikes.  

 Work Experience and Employee Encounters: 

Through the “Skills and post-16 Education Act 2022” there has been further changes to the provider  

encounters that schools must offer. These encounters must take place during the school hours, although parents and pupils are also encouraged to make visits after school as part of transitions.  

• Two encounters for pupils during the ‘first key phase’ (year 8 or 9) that are mandatory for all pupils to attend, to take place any time during year 8 or between 1 September and 28 February during year 9. 
• Two encounters for pupils during the ‘second key phase’ (year 10 or 11) that are mandatory for all pupils to attend, to take place any time during year 10 or between 1 September and 28 February during year 11.  
• Two encounters for pupils during the ‘third key phase’ (year 12 or 13) that are mandatory for the school to put on but optional for pupils to attend, to take place any time during year 12 or between 1 September and 28 February during year 13. 

These are currently provided in the form of visits to colleges and providers in the local area, as well as visitors into school.  

Work experience will be designed to meet the needs of individual pupils, with particular consideration for pupils with SEND and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The school will carefully match the placement to each pupil’s ability, needs and aspirations, as far as possible. The school will work with the employer to put in place additional support within the work placement for pupils with additional needs, where required, and help prepare the pupil for the work placement.16-18 study programmes requires high-quality and meaningful work experience (where appropriate).