Careers Provision

At St Michael’s Catholic Academy, careers education is embedded within our Holistic Development (HD) curriculum. Through this programme, students gain a strong understanding of the Labour Market, the world of work, and financial education. Lessons are designed to build essential life and employability skills, covering British Values in the workplace, dreams and goals, budgeting, CV writing, work experience preparation and reflection, and enterprise challenges. 

We use Compass+, a national careers planning and tracking tool, to monitor our provision and ensure every student receives high-quality, personalised careers guidance. 

The Tees Valley Combined Authority careers team work in partnership with St Michael’s and local employers to help students explore and access the wide range of opportunities available across the Tees Valley region. 

> Visit the Tees Valley Careers website <

At St Michael’s Catholic Academy, students engage with up-to-date Labour Market Information (LMI) to make informed decisions about their future education and career pathways. Our annual Careers Drop-Down Day enables students to explore local, regional, and national employment trends, learning about the skills, qualifications, and opportunities available across a range of industries. The event is tailored each year to reflect the contextual needs of our students and the developing Labour Market within the Tees Valley area. 

Students also have access to the Careerometer tool below, which allows them to compare different jobs, salaries, and employment growth projections, helping them plan realistic and aspirational futures. 

At St Michael’s Catholic Academy, we recognise that every student’s journey is unique. Our careers programme is designed to celebrate individuality and support personal growth, helping students discover their strengths, interests, and aspirations. 

Students in Key Stage 3 use Unifrog’s Future Me platform to explore their interests and ambitions through quizzes that link to potential higher education courses and career pathways. Unifrog also tracks the transferable skills of each student, enabling staff to identify areas for development and celebrate key strengths. This information is used across the curriculum to help students make informed choices about their future learning and career goals. 

The Future Skills Questionnaire, also completed by Key Stage 3 students, encourages reflection on personal development and readiness for the world of work. It helps students understand the skills they are building and supports teachers in tailoring guidance to their individual needs. 

Our wider programme offers a range of enrichment opportunities designed to reflect the interests and ambitions of our students. Examples include a Photography Workshop for creative learners and a Branding Workshop for students interested in business and marketing. Students in Years 9 and 10 can choose to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award, while those in Years 8 and 9 develop teamwork and resilience on an Outward Bound residential trip in the Lake District. 

At St Michael’s Catholic Academy, we believe that careers education is at the heart of the curriculum. Every subject plays a vital role in helping students understand how their learning connects to the wider world and the skills valued by employers. 

Across all curriculum areas, students develop a broad range of transferable skills that prepare them for life beyond the classroom. We place particular focus on developing the following essential competencies: 

• Communication 

• Collaboration 

• Problem-solving 

• Organisation 

• Time management 

• Creativity 

• Digital literacy 

These skills are regularly monitored and tracked through Unifrog, allowing staff and students to identify strengths and areas for further development. Curriculum areas intentionally embed opportunities to strengthen these competencies, ensuring that skill development is both purposeful and progressive. 

We also place a strong emphasis on oracy, drawing on Voice 21 research which highlights the importance of speaking and listening as essential life and career skills. Oracy is embedded throughout all lessons, enabling students to develop confidence, clarity, and professionalism in how they express their ideas — skills that are vital in the workplace and wider society. 

By building these essential skills into everyday learning, we ensure that students not only achieve academic success but also develop the confidence and capabilities needed to thrive in further education, employment, and beyond. 

At St Michael’s Catholic Academy, students are given regular opportunities to learn directly from employers and experience the world of work. These encounters help students develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make informed choices about their future careers. 

Students in Year 10 complete a Work Experience placement, allowing them to apply their learning in a real workplace setting and gain valuable insights into professional life. Throughout the year, dedicated Apprenticeship Assemblies introduce students to a range of pathways into employment, training, and higher education. 

Our Future Friday social media campaign celebrates the world of work by showcasing a variety of careers linked to different subject areas, helping students make clear connections between what they study and real-life opportunities. 

Subject areas also enrich learning through curriculum-linked trips, such as STEM visits to Nissan and Geography fieldwork at a recycling plant, allowing students to see their classroom knowledge in action. 

There are many excellent websites to help students and families explore careers, apprenticeships, and volunteering opportunities: 

• National Careers Service 

• National Apprenticeship Service 

• National Citizen Service 

• Voluntary Opportunities 

At St Michael’s Catholic Academy, we believe that meaningful workplace experiences are key to helping students make informed and ambitious decisions about their futures. 

All Year 10 students take part in a Work Experience placement, taking place this year from 1st to 3rd June 2025. These placements give students the opportunity to develop essential employability skills, explore career interests, and experience the expectations of a professional environment. 

Inclusion is central to our approach — we work closely with employers and partner organisations to ensure that placements meet the needs of all students. Support is provided through collaboration with organisations such as Cleveland Police and the Learning Curve Group, ensuring that every student can access a placement that suits their individual strengths, aspirations, and circumstances. 

Alongside in-person placements, students also take part in virtual work experience opportunities, educational visits, Duke of Edinburgh and collaborative projects with charities. These experiences broaden students’ understanding of the workplace and encourage them to engage with their community, developing the values of service, teamwork, and responsibility. 

At St Michael’s Catholic Academy, we provide a wide range of opportunities for students to explore further and higher education, ensuring they are well-prepared to make informed decisions about their future pathways. 

Our Discovery Days give Year 10 students the chance to visit local colleges and experience a variety of courses firsthand, helping them discover whether college life is the right path for them. 

Throughout the year, we host Pop-Ups and Workshops every Thursday lunchtime in the Dining Hall and during Parents’ Evenings, where students and families can speak directly with college representatives, training providers, and employers. 

Students in Years 10 and 11 also attend dedicated college assemblies, which provide insight into the full range of post-16 routes and qualifications available. 

Our Year 9 Outreach programme introduces students to further education through taster sessions and workshops with local providers. In addition, the Catalyst Programme, run in partnership with Oxford University, begins in Year 8 and supports students in exploring university life and raising aspirations for higher education. 

To support these experiences, students and families can access the following resources to learn more about apprenticeships and future opportunities: 

• What is an Apprenticeship? 

• Find an Apprenticeship 

At St Michael’s Catholic Academy, every student receives individual, high-quality careers guidance to help them make informed and aspirational choices about their future pathways. 

Our dedicated Careers Adviser, Mr Chris Rea (crea@stmichaels.bhcet.org.uk), provides 1:1 careers meetings for all students. These sessions begin in the summer term of Year 10 and continue through Year 11, ensuring that every young person receives tailored advice and support at a crucial stage in their education. 

During these meetings, Mr Rea helps students explore their career interests, skills, and personal goals, guiding them through the process of choosing post-16 pathways such as college courses, apprenticeships, or training programmes. He also supports students with CV development, application writing, and interview preparation, ensuring they are confident and ready to take their next steps. 

We also work in partnership with Stockton Borough Council, who provide targeted careers support for students with additional needs, including those who may be at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). This collaboration ensures that vulnerable students receive individualised guidance, mentoring, and transition planning, helping them overcome barriers and access suitable education, training, or employment opportunities. 

To ensure that our provision remains responsive and effective, Year 11 student voice is conducted half-termly. This enables us to closely monitor student engagement with the careers programme, evaluate the impact of our guidance, and continuously improve the support we offer. 

In addition, My Big Career works with Key Stage 3 students through early mentoring and guidance. This programme helps younger learners begin exploring their aspirations, develop confidence, and understand how their studies link to future career possibilities.