Careers
At St Michael’s, our careers programme reflects our vision for every pupil, as well as staff and our wider community, to grow in body, mind, and spirit—to flourish as a child of God, and experience the joy of ‘life in all its fullness.’
We are committed to providing high-quality Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) that equips pupils with the knowledge, skills and confidence to make informed decisions about their future. From Year 7 onwards, pupils engage with careers education through Personal and Spiritual Development (PSHE), beginning with raising aspirations and challenging stereotypes, and progressing to exploring pathways, writing personal statements, and understanding labour market information.
Our careers provision is designed to meet the Gatsby Benchmarks and is reviewed annually using the Careers and Enterprise Company Compass Tracker.
These are the eight Gatsby Benchmarks:
|
A stable careers programme |
Learning from Career & Labour Market Information |
Addressing the needs of each pupil |
Linking curriculum learning to Careers |
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Encounters with employers & employees |
Experience of workplaces |
Encounters with further and higher education |
Personal guidance |
Pupils benefit from encounters with a wide range of education and training providers, including colleges, universities, and apprenticeship organisations. Careers fairs for Years 10 and 11 provide valuable exposure to local employers, training providers and further education institutions.
In compliance with Provider Access Legislation, pupils in Year 8 and Year 9 have access to T-Level and apprenticeship providers, which often include talks from our alumni. These sessions offer real-life insights into vocational pathways and help pupils begin to consider their own future options. Through these experiences, we aim to inspire pupils to explore a wide range of careers and to make more informed choices about their future.
In Year 10, pupils receive dedicated careers lessons and taster sessions, delivered by local post-16 providers. Curriculum areas also embed career pathways into subject content, helping pupils see the relevance of their learning to future opportunities. Pupils also undertake work experience in Year 10 for one week which they source themselves. Pupils are supported through lessons and assemblies focused on professional communication, applications and workplace conduct. In September 2025, we are launching a new interview day for Year 10 pupils as part of our Christian Values Enrichment (CVE) programme. This day will include mock interviews with professionals, workshops on CV writing and presentation skills. It is designed to prepare pupils for the world of work, whilst encouraging them to consider how their values shape their ambitions.
We are proud of the depth and quality of experiences offered to our pupils across all years, and the preparation they offer for success in the future, whether in higher education, training or employment.
We are continually looking for ways to develop our CEIAG provision across the school, making adaptations to address the needs of every pupil. We would be delighted to hear from any member of our growing community that would like to share their professional journey with our pupils.
Careers summary at St Michael’s and careers across departments
Contact Details
If you have any questions about careers please contact:
Miss Emma Curtis - Leader in Learning for Careers, Enterprise and Vocational Education.
ecurtis@saint-michaels.lancs.sch.uk