Aims
This policy statement aims to set out our school’s arrangements for managing the access of education and training providers to students for the purpose of giving them information about their offer.
It sets out:
- Procedures in relation to requests for access
- The grounds for granting and refusing requests for access
- Details of premises or facilities to be provided to a person who is given access
Statutory requirements
Schools are required to ensure that there is an opportunity for a range of education and training providers to access students in years 8 to 13 for the purposes of informing them about approved technical education, qualifications or apprenticeships.
Schools must provide a minimum of 6 encounters with technical education or training providers to all pupils in years 8 to 13 (see more detail in section 2.1 below).
Schools must also have a policy statement that outlines the circumstances in which education and training providers will be given access to these students.
This is outlined in section 42B of the Education Act 1997, the Skills and Post-16 Act 2022 and on page 43 of guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) on careers guidance and access for education and training providers.
This policy shows how our school complies with these requirements.
The 6 encounters schools must offer to all pupils in years 8 to 13
Schools must offer:
2 encounters for pupils during the ‘first key phase’ (year 8 or 9)
- All pupils must attend
- Encounters can take place any time during year 8, and between 1 September and 28 February during year 9
2 encounters for pupils during the ‘second key phase’ (year 10 or 11)
- All pupils must attend
- Encounters can take place any time during year 10, and between 1 September and 28 February during year 11
2 encounters for pupils during the ‘third key phase’ (year 12 or 13)
- Pupils can choose to attend
- Encounters can take place any time during year 12, and between 1 September and 28 February during year 13
These encounters must happen for a reasonable period of time during the standard school day. Schools can continue to provide complementary experiences, but encounters outside of school hours won’t count towards these requirements.
Schools must ask each provider to provide the following information as a minimum:
- Information about the provider and the approved qualifications or apprenticeships they offer
- Information about what careers those qualifications and apprenticeships can lead to
- What learning or training with the provider is like
- Answers to any questions from pupils
Meaningful provider encounters
Our school is committed to providing meaningful encounters to all pupils.
1 encounter is defined as 1 meeting/session between pupils and 1 provider. Meaningful live online engagement is also an option at our school.
Student entitlement
All students in years 8 to 13 at The Canterbury Academy are entitled to:
- Find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities, as part of our careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point
- Hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships, e.g. through activities and events such as options events, assemblies and taster events
- Understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses
Management of provider access requests
Procedure
A provider wishing to request access should contact our Careers & Progression Lead, Mrs S Kendrick White
Telephone: 01227 463971
Email CareersatTheCanterburyAcademy@canterbury.kent.sch.uk
Opportunities for access
A number of events, integrated into our careers programme, will offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to students and/or their parents/carers:
Please speak to our Careers and Progression Lead to identify the most suitable opportunity for you. These events will run in line with any measures related to public health incidents, including COVID-19.
Granting and refusing access
Access will be granted when the opportunities are considered of benefit to the students and appropriate and timely to the students’ development. To arrange access contact our Careers & Progression Lead Sarah Kendrick White
Safeguarding
Our safeguarding/child protection policy outlines the school’s procedure for checking the identity and suitability of visitors. Education and training providers will be expected to adhere to this policy.
Premises and facilities
The school will make the main hall, classrooms or private meeting rooms available for discussions between the provider and students, as appropriate to the activity. The school will also make available AV and other specialist equipment to support provider presentations.
Previous providers
Previously we have invited 2 providers of information on technical pathways from the local area to speak to our pupils.
Pupil destinations
The most recent statistics we have show that 98% of our year 11 pupils stayed in education, 70% chose Sixth Forms, 24% moved to Further Education Providers and 3.5% chose another education provider. Last year, 200 pupils applied to university.
Complaints
Any complaints related to provider access can be raised following the school complaints procedure or directly with The Careers & Enterprise Company via provideraccess@careersandenterprise.co.uk.
Links to other policies
- Safeguarding/child protection policy
- Careers guidance programme
- Curriculum policy
- Teaching and learning policies
Please visit https://canterbury.kent.sch.uk/the-canterbury-academy/about-us/policies-and-documents/
Monitoring arrangements
The school’s arrangements for managing the access of education and training providers to students are monitored by Mr S Hadlow, Director of Studies.
This policy will be reviewed by Mr S Hadlow, Director of Studies, annually. At every review, the policy will be approved by the governing board.