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The Philip Southcote School Careers Programme
Our careers provision is guided by the Department for Education’s latest statutory guidance (May 2025) and fully aligned with the updated Gatsby Benchmarks, which set the standard for world-class careers education. We are committed to delivering a comprehensive, personalised programme that empowers every student—whether their aspirations involve entering employment, volunteering, further study, or developing greater independence as adults.

Our Moving On Co-ordinator is Karen Robinson. Please feel free to contact her with any careers or next steps questions you may have.
robinsonk@philip-southcote.surrey.sch.uk
Our
Lead for Careers across the school is Louise Cooper, Deputy Head.
cooperl@philip-southcote.surrey.sch.uk
Philip Southcote School is committed to providing Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) to all students through the curriculum and organised activities. The CEIAG programme is designed to meet the collective and individual needs of the students at Philip Southcote School. The programme is differentiated and personalised to ensure students’ progress through their stages of career planning and development.
Principles:
- Develop their employability skills
- Develop independent learning skills
- Raise individual aspirations and expectations
- Support their life-long learning
- Develop and deliver a stable careers programme
- Support parents and students to understand career and labour market information
- Ensure all students have meaningful encounters with employers and in workplaces
- Support students and parents by providing information about post-16 provisions
- Ensure students receive professional and impartial careers advice
Key Stage 3 Provision
- Students attend half termly careers assemblies
- All students investigate a variety of careers through the PSHE Curriculum
- Annual Careers Fair to meet and learn about range of local opportunities and roles
- In Year 9, the Moving On Coordinator meets tutor groups to discuss next steps and options
Key Stage 4 Provision
- Students attend half termly careers assemblies
- All students investigate a variety of careers through the PSHE and Preparation for Adulthood Curriculums
- Annual Careers Fair to meet and learn about range of local opportunities and roles
- In Year 10, the Moving On Coordinator meets tutor groups to discuss next steps and work experience
- A work experience placement to support career aspirations
- Support with completing application forms
- Years 10 and 11 students and parents invited to attend Next Steps event to meet college representatives and other provisions
- Annual reviews discuss next steps and Moving On Coordinator provides bespoke support
Sixth Form Provision
- Students attend termly careers assemblies
- All students investigate a variety of careers through the PSHE and Preparation for Adulthood Curriculums, as well as through their EHCP lessons.
- Annual Careers Fair to meet and learn about range of local opportunities and roles
- In individual students’ year before leaving (students can choose to stay for 1, 2 or 3 years), the Moving On Coordinator meets students and families to discuss next steps
- A work experience placement to support career aspirations – one-off or ongoing through the year of 1-2 days a week.
- Support with completing application forms for jobs and next provisions
- Students and parents invited to attend Next Steps event to meet college representatives and other provisions
- Annual reviews discuss next steps and Moving On Coordinator provides bespoke support
- Every Sixth Form student develops skills and experiences in two workplaces/jobs in the Skills Centre (ongoing throughout the year; 2 days per fortnight).
By the end of Key Stage 4, all students will have:
- Enhanced their self-knowledge, career management and employability skills
- Experienced the world of work through a work experience placement
- Been provided with support to successfully apply to post-16 provision of their choice
- Been given information about appropriate available funding
- Had at least one careers guidance interview with a qualified careers adviser
- Followed the Preparation for Adulthood curriculum to enhance their independence and employability
By the end of Sixth Form, all students will have:
- Actively engaged in the world of work through a variety of work experience opportunities
- Followed the Preparation for Adulthood curriculum to enhance their independence and employability
- Followed a holistic curriculum which encompass a variety of foci to encourage personal development, independence and preparation for adulthood.
- Had at least two careers guidance interviews with a qualified careers adviser
- Developed 4-6 different skills in the Skills Centre.
Application for Provider Access
Provider Access Policy Statement
Date updated: November 2025
Rationale
High quality careers education and guidance in school or college is critical to young people’s futures. It helps to prepare them for the workplace by providing a clear understanding of the world of work including the routes to jobs and careers that they might find engaging and rewarding. It supports them to acquire the self-development and career management skills they need to achieve positive employment destinations. This helps students to choose their pathways, improve their life opportunities and contribute to a productive and successful economy.
As the number of apprenticeships rises every year, it becomes increasingly important that all young people have a full understanding of all the options available to them post-16 and post-18 including wider technical education options.
Commitment
Philip Southcote is committed to ensuring there is an opportunity for a range of education and training providers to access students, for the purpose of informing them about approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships. Philip Southcote is fully aware of the responsibility to set students on the path that will secure the best outcome which will enable them to progress in education and work and give employers the highly skilled people they need. That means acting impartially, in line with the statutory duty, and not showing bias towards any route, be that academic or technical.
Philip Southcote endeavours to ensure that all students are aware of all routes to higher skills and are able to access information on technical options and apprenticeships (The Department of Education, July 2021: “Baker Clause”: supporting students to understand the full range of education and training options, and the Provider Access Legislation, January 2023).
Aims
The Philip Southcote policy for access to other education and training providers has the following aims:
To develop the knowledge and awareness of our students of all career pathways available to them, including technical qualifications and apprenticeships.
To support young people to be able to learn more about opportunities for education and training outside of school before making crucial choices about their future options.
To reduce drop out from courses and avoid the risk of students becoming NEET (Young people not in education, employment or training).
Student Entitlement
Philip Southcote fully supports the statutory requirement for students to have direct access to other providers of further education training, technical training and apprenticeships. The school will comply with the legal requirement to put on at least six encounters with providers of approved technical education qualifications or apprenticeships. This will be done in assemblies throughout the year, in addition to providers attending careers events at the school.
Development
This policy has been developed and is reviewed annually by the Moving On Coordinator (Karen Robinson), SLT Careers Lead (Louise Cooper) and Line Manager (Lee Jerwood - Headteacher) based on current good practice guidelines by the Department for Education.
Links with other policies
It supports and is underpinned by key school policies including those for Careers, Child Protection, Equality and Diversity, and SEND.
Equality and Diversity
Access to other providers is available and promoted to allow all students to access information about other providers of further education and apprenticeships. Philip Southcote is committed to encouraging all students to make decisions about their future based on impartial information.
Requests for access
Requests for access should be directed to Karen Robinson, Moving On Coordintaor. Karen Robinson may be contacted by telephone or email: robinsonk@philip-southcote.surrey.sch.uk / 01932562326.
Grounds for granting requests for access
Access will be given for providers to attend during school assemblies, timetabled Careers-based lessons, and Careers or Raising Aspirations events that Philip Southcote is arranging. Students may also travel to visit another provider as part of the trip to be organised in partnership with Philip Southcote.
Details of premises or facilities to be provided to a person who is given access
Philip Southcote will provide an appropriate room or assembly hall to be agreed. Computer rooms can also be arranged. The Moving On Co-ordinator will organise this, working closely with the provider to ensure the facilities are appropriate to the audience. Appropriate safeguarding checks will be carried out. Providers will be met and supervised by a member of the Careers Team who will facilitate.
Live/Virtual encounters
Philip Southcote will consider live online encounters with providers where requested, and these may be broadcast into classrooms or the school assembly hall. Technology checks in advance will be required to ensure compatibility of systems.
Parents and Carers
Parental involvement is encouraged, and parents may be invited to attend the events to meet the providers.
Management
The Moving On Coordinator coordinates all provider requests and is responsible to his/her senior management line manager.
Complaints Procedure
Any complaints about this policy should be raised to Louise Cooper, email: cooperl@philip-soutchote.surrey.sch.uk. Louise Cooper will raise the complaint to Lee Jerwood, Head, Philip Southcote.
Monitoring review and evaluation
The Policy is monitored and evaluated annually via the Careers Team.
Policy Co-ordinator: Louise Cooper
Policy Reviewed: November 2025
Appendix
Providers who have been invited into Philip Southcote to date include:
- Brooklands College
- Kingston College
- Merrist Wood College
- The Halow Project
- Surrey Choices
- Dramatize
- Guildford
- Nescot
- Richmond College
- Woking College
- Alton College
- Treloars College
- BCA College
- Club House Project
- West Thames College
- Foxes Aurora
Destinations of previous pupils from Philip Southcote include:
- Brooklands College
- Kingston College
- Merrist Wood College
- The Halow Project
- Surrey Choices
- Dramatize
- Guildford College
- Nescot College
- Richmond College
- Woking College
- Alton College
- Treloars College
- BCA College
- Club House Project
- West Thames College
- Foxes Aurora
- Syon Manor College
Local Colleges and Post-16 Provisions


Moving On Guide


Useful Links for Students, Parents and Teachers
Preparing for Adulthood | NDTi
This provides a range of tools, including employment, independent living and friends and relationships resources.
Preparing for adulthood - Surrey County Council
Help and support for young people preparing for adulthood, including information about finding work, further education and living independently.
Next steps guide - post-16 options for pupils with special educational needs - Surrey County Council
This guide is designed to take young people through the various post-16 education options and to help them think about what route might be most suitable. It is designed to be used alongside guidance from their Special educational Needs (SEND) Case Officer.
Search apprenticeship – Find an apprenticeship – GOV.UK
This tool allows you to search for specific apprenticeships in your local area.
Innervate is an independent careers services company providing careers and personal guidance services for schools. Innervate provides our careers guidance interviews. On their website, they have a range of resources for both parents and young people.
Apprenticeships, 14 to 19 education and training for work - GOV.UK
These help young people who want to get an apprenticeship or job but don’t yet have the right skills or experience. Use this link to find out more information and traineeships that are available now.
Careers advice - job profiles, information and resources | National Careers Service
Provides careers information, advice and guidance to help young people make decisions at all stages
in their career.
Labour Market Information
Labour Market Information documents are provided to give key information about career and job requirements, patterns and availability. Parents/carers and staff should try and use this key information to support young people to understand the roles in different sectors, as well as any opportunities in the surrounding areas.
Inspiring Opportunities Newsletter - Autumn Term 2025 edition - Issue 19
Careerometer
Skillsometer
Skillsometer can help you discover what jobs you might like to do in the future. You will be presented with a series of statements. Select the emoji that shows how you feel about each statement. You will be given suggestions of jobs linked to what you most enjoy doing.
Work Experience and Placements
Year 10 all have one week of work experience. These placements can range from local schools, hairdressing salons, local businesses, local supermarkets and many more organisations. Some students may even feel more comfortable remaining in school so may find themselves working in the school office or even with the Premises team.
In Sixth Form, we try to get as many of our young people out onto work experience when, of course, they feel prepared and ready to do so. Karen Robinson, our Moving On Co-ordinator, works closely with pupils throughout the year to find out the kinds of placements they would like to gain experience in and then matches them to local businesses where possible.
Here are some of our students talking about their experiences in the workplace:
Callum:
My placement is at a local library and I go once a week. I help to keep the library tidy, support my co-workers and help anyone who comes into the library.

Colm:
I work at a charity shop near my home once a week. I have gained experience in helping others, customer service, keeping the shop tidy and collecting new donations.

Billy:
For my Work Experience in Year 10, I worked at a local pet shop. I helped customers, looked after the animals and kept the shop floor clean and tidy.
Ruby:
I worked at a local primary school for my Year 10 work experience. I helped the students during lessons and listened to them read.

Brooke:
I worked at a hair and beauty salon for my Year 10 work experience. I did so well that I was able to get an internship once a week so am continuing here, learning lots of new skills and working towards getting a full-time job at a salon when I leave school.
Employers and Volunteers
We welcome anyone who would like to donate their time or experience to help us develop our careers provision. Giving our students the chance to encounter the world of work is invaluable in helping them to gain key life experiences, as well as to raise their own aspirations about their futures.
If you would like to get involved, we have identified some of the areas of highest impact that we would welcome your experience in. If you would like to be part of any of the below please do not hesitate to contact us using our contact form
|
Area |
Time commitment |
|---|---|
|
Assemblies and presentations: |
30 mins |
|
Provide Post-16 apprenticeships: |
|
|
On-site visits: Are you able to take a student to your place of work and give them an experience of a ‘day in the life’? |
Half - full day |
|
Interview preparations and mock interviews: |
1 - 3 hours |
|
Volunteering opportunities: |
|
|
Work Experience opportunities: |


