CAREERS
CAREERS AT SIR THOMAS WHARTON ACADEMY
"The comprehensive careers programme is well designed to ensure that pupils receive timely and high-quality guidance. Regular employer and higher education encounters, alongside purposeful work experience in Years 10 and 12, prepare pupils extremely well for their next steps". Graded Exceptional by Ofsted in 2026
POLICY FOR CAREERS, EDUCATION, INFORMATION, ADVICE AND GUIDANCE (CEIAG)
CURRICULUM INTENT
Social mobility matters both in terms of people and in delivering economic growth. The world economy is changing, and it is through education, skills and training from the early years into adulthood that we will make sure no one is left behind – delivering a modern country that is globally competitive and fit for the future. We at Sir Thomas Wharton Academy want to ensure that our young people will also be given the opportunity to enhance their life skills, which will not only increase educational success but will support them to go as far as their talents and aspirations will take them.
Sir Thomas Wharton Academy is committed to providing our students with a programme of careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) for all students in Years 7-13 that will inspire and motivate them from an early age. We will support our students in making well-informed choices about subjects and careers for their future.
Sir Thomas Wharton Academy’s Careers Education and Guidance policy is delivered with the following intent:
- To ensure that all students experience at least four high-quality career interactions during their career at Sir Thomas Wharton Academy
- To contribute to strategies for raising achievement, especially by increasing motivation and aspiration from an early age
- To ensure that 100% of students identify progression routes and next steps in their education and/or training
- To give students opportunities to experience Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths input from professionals in their field in order to inform long-term career decisions
- To prepare all students (including SEND) for independence, or supported independence, to equip these young people for further study
- To support inclusion, challenge stereotyping and promote equality of opportunity
- To encourage participation in continued learning, including higher education and further education.
- To develop enterprise and employment skills in order to prepare students for life-long learning
- To reduce drop out from and course switching in education and training
- To contribute to the economic prosperity of individuals and communities
- To meet the needs of all our students through appropriate differentiation
- To focus students on their future aspirations
- To involve parents and carers as much as possible.
STUDENT STATEMENT OF ENTITLEMENT
As a student at Sir Thomas Wharton Academy, you are entitled to receive a programme of careers education, advice, information and guidance.
The information on the careers section of the website will be reviewed each term. The date of the next review is October 2027.
YOUR CEIAG PROGRAMME WILL HELP YOU TO:
- Understand yourself, your interests, likes and dislikes, what you are good at and how this affects the choices you make.
- Find out about different courses, what qualifications you might need and what opportunities there might be.
- Develop the skills you may need for working life.
- Make realistic but ambitious choices about courses and jobs.
- Develop a plan for the future.
- Understand the different routes after Y11, including academic routes, vocational training, apprenticeships, further and higher education and jobs.
- Provide high quality CVs for job applications.
- Be able to make effective applications for jobs, training and further and higher education.
- Develop your interview skills.
- Improve your confidence.
YOU WILL RECEIVE:
- Year 7-9 mini teaches.
- Year 10 and 11 dedicated Career lesson.
- Drop down-day activities linked to employers and training providers such as Careers Fairs and Industry workshops.
- Careers through our subject curriculum.
- Help with preparation for the world of work, such as how to search for jobs, CV writing, Modern day work preparation and mock interview practice.
- Access to the careers section in the academy library and the careers office– information is available in books, leaflets and on a computer – ask for help.
- Access to Unifrog to further support at home and in school from year 7.
- One-to-one interviews with the Careers Advisor.
- Careers based assemblies to celebrate national careers events.
- Trips to visit Universities, Work Places and Training Providers.
YOU CAN EXPECT TO BE:
- Treated equally with others.
- Given career information and advice that is up to date and impartial.
- Treated with respect by visitors to the academy who are part of the careers programme.
- Given extra help if you have special needs.
- Given mentoring and support for those who need it most and at risk of becoming NEET to help build the confidence and character needed to ensure a successful career.
STUDENT ACCESS TO CAREERS EDUCATION, INFORMATION, ADVICE AND GUIDANCE
Careers education is provided for all students and provision is made to allow all students to access the curriculum. Students are encouraged to follow career paths that suit their interests, skills and strengths with the absence of stereotypes. All students are provided with the same opportunities and diversity is celebrated. The Careers Programme offers a well balanced diet of provision, including careers education sessions, careers guidance activities (group work and individual interviews), information and research activities, work related learning and individual learning activities, as well as organised drop-down days with external providers and visits to local industries and businesses. Furthermore careers lessons are also part of the school's Life skills and Character Education Programme. More details of which can be found in the policies and programmes sections of this page.
We have direct links with the Doncaster Careers Hub (Mrs Julie Hussay and Mrs Danielle Timms), Polypipe, the Academies Business Enterprise Adviser (Ms Leah Ryder and Jazz Jones) and are supported by a wide range of other local employers as seen on our employer page.
At Sir Thomas Wharton we are proud to be recognised for our excellence in careers guidance and advice. The Academy achieved The Quality in Careers Standard in 2023, demonstrating the success and quality of provision available, and will be undergoing new accreditation in academic year 2026.
YEAR 7
“You don’t need to know what career you want in Year 7 — you just need to start discovering what you could become. Every career you explore opens a door to your future.”
YEAR 8
“Year 7 helped to discover the possibilities; Year 8 is a chance to explore them further. The more you learn about careers, the better you understand your strengths, your interests, and the future you could create.”
YEAR 9
“You’ve discovered what’s out there. Now discover how to get there. Explore the careers that inspire you, the skills you’ll need and the pathways that can turn your ambitions into a future.”
YEAR 10
“You’ve discovered what’s out there. Now discover how to get there by developing hands on experience of the standards and expectations in the world of work, which can turn your ambitions into a future.”
YEAR 11
“From Year 7 to Year 11, every experience, skill and lesson has helped shape your future. Now, with greater knowledge of yourself and the world of work, you are ready to make informed choices about your Post-16 pathway and take your next step towards a career you can be proud of.”
YEAR 12
" So you have started to narrow down those interests. Year 12 is about discovering your direction in more detail, learning from old skills and developing new ones whilst taking confident steps towards your future through a 2nd work experience block.”
YEAR 13
“Year 13 is about turning your ambition into action, empowering students to make informed choices and confidently take their next steps beyond sixth form.”
RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT PROVISION
Our range of activities include:
- Access to a range of careers providers to deliver specific sessions and assemblies to the students.
- Access to a Careers Hub to share good practice allows easy contact with local businesses in order to build relationships and support local growth.
- Subscription to Unifrog for all years to support knowledge, learning and expansion of natural curiosity.
- Opportunity for students to encounter a range of business structures, both local and national.
- Use of a fully embedded RONI system tracker to ensure all students are given equal opportunity to access careers provision.
- The compass tool enables the Academy to track against the Gatsby Benchmarks, ensuring a high-quality provision is available across all year groups that is fit for purpose.
-
Regular contact with a Local Authority Careers Consultants.
-
A full time fully qualified Careers Advisor for specialist targeted support.
- Access to the most up-to-date Careers Lead training and accreditation.
- A wide range of student events.
CONTACT US
The Careers Manager, alongside the Associate Principal, are responsible for the effective deployment of those resources. If you would like to speak to a member of the Careers team, please call (01709) 864100 ext 6997 or alternatively, email e.pickering@stwacademy.com