Careers Guidance and Enrichment

Oasis Academy Hadley has a stable, structured careers programme. A Careers, Work Experience and Enrichment Coordinator was appointed in 2022 with the responsibility for managing the provision of careers education across the phases of our academy. 

The careers programme is evaluated regularly with feedback from parents, teachers, and employers.

Every year group gets at least one day of Careers Education as part of our Life Days. This is stage-specific so that it takes account of where our students are on the path to career success. Our focus throughout the academy is in giving every student the opportunity to attend a world-class university. While this is not the choice for every student, we know that this focus sets us apart as a first class provider of careers education and demonstrates our commitment to academic excellence. Students at Oasis Academy Hadley are being prepared to enter a competitive labour market with all the advantages we can give them

Parents and students have access to good quality information about future study options and career opportunities. Parents are also encouraged to access and explore options on Academic Review Days, Results Days and our main reception is open for information to inform and support their children's decisions.

At Oasis Academy Hadley, we acknowledge that pupils have differing needs at different stages of their careers guidance. Opportunities for advice and support is tailored to the needs of each pupil. Our careers programme looks to embed equality and diversity considerations throughout it's delivery, actively challenging stereotypical thinking and raising pupil aspirations.

We also deliver careers education programmes tailored to the needs of young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). For Y11 students in our Alternative Academy Provision (AAP), we ensure that the young person can move on into suitable education, or employment alongside part-time study or training.  All our careers events are open to these students, but they often go on additional trips or have employer visits in addition to this, as a means of catering for their specific needs.

Teachers at Oasis Academy Hadley embed careers information into lessons by teaching about relevant career pathways and job roles within lessons. 

For example, Maths teachers highlight the relevance of numeracy within careers such as Architecture, Games Design, Accountancy, Engineering and many more. English teachers highlight how literacy skills are required across a wide range of careers such as Journalism, Law, Blogging, Creative Writing, Publishing and many more.

Pupils receive multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This is delivered through a range of enrichment opportunities including visiting speakers and lessons, mentoring, enterprise/charitable schemes, virtual events and trips to workplaces.

Our aim is that from Year 7 to Year 13, all students should participate in at least one encounter with an employer or employee to learn about what work is like or what it takes to be successful in the workplace.

Students are given the opportunity of first-hand experience of a workplace through work visits and work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities, and expand their networks.

In Year 12, students choose a work experience placement. Additional to this, students are encouraged to participate in virtual work experience with many opportunities being shared with students via bulletins, teams and e-mail.

All secondary pupils are made aware of the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them. This includes both academic and vocational routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace. By the end of year 11, each pupil will have received an opportunity to explore what it is like to learn in a range of educational environments, including sixth form, college, university and apprenticeship providers.

By the end of year 13, all pupils who are considering applying for university will have had at least two visits to universities to meet staff and pupils. Any students considering applying for apprenticeships after sixth form are provided with advice and guidance on how to achieve this. Training providers are encouraged to send apprenticeship opportunities to the school, that are forwarded to students so that they can apply if interested

Every year 11 pupil receives an interview with a careers advisor. This is repeated again in Y13.