Embedding Careers and Apprenticeship Guidance – Park View School

November 27, 2025

Whole-school careers integration

  • Daily Personal Development (PD) sessions: Every morning, students spend 30 minutes in tutor groups working through a carousel of Personal Development topics. Careers and apprenticeships are embedded for all year groups (7–13).
  • Weekly Personal Development lessons: Year 7 and 8 have an additional one-hour PD lesson each week to reinforce key topics.
  • Curriculum integration: All subjects promote apprenticeships within their curriculum, particularly at KS5. This is a whole-school, monitored target.

Sharing apprenticeship vacancies

  • We are a Unifrog school, giving students 24/7 access to resources, including live apprenticeship vacancies.
  • Weekly updates of live apprenticeship vacancies from the North East Combined Authority are shared with Years 11–13.
  • Apprenticeship information is communicated to parents via Classcharts, ensuring quick and effective dissemination.

Tailored support and guidance

  • Post-18 planning: In the summer term, Year 12 students receive guidance on post-18 options. We then create dedicated apprenticeship tutor groups for tailored guidance.
  • Drop-In Careers Hub: students and parents can book appointments to discuss Post-16/18 pathways.
  • 1:1 Interviews: Every Year 11 and Year 13 student has an individual guidance interview focused on next steps. Data from these meetings informs targeted follow-up support.

Employer engagement and events

  • Careers Fair: Held every June for Years 9, 10, and 12, featuring over 50 businesses and providers, including strong apprenticeship representation.
  • Assemblies: Employer contacts deliver 30-minute assemblies on apprenticeships, with flexibility to extend sessions.
  • Mock Interviews: Every Year 11 student participates in a mock interview with a volunteer business ambassador.

Targeted support for vulnerable students

  • We use RONI data to identify students at risk of becoming NEET and involve FE providers and the local authority in intervention plans.
  • The Year 11 pastoral lead takes small groups to local apprenticeship providers and, where appropriate, supports applications to apprenticeship programmes.

National Apprenticeship Week

  • During National Apprenticeship Week, we run dedicated sessions, signpost virtual work experience opportunities, and promote events through Unifrog.

Impact

Our approach ensures that every student receives consistent, high-quality careers guidance with a strong emphasis on apprenticeships. By combining structured curriculum delivery, digital tools, employer engagement, and targeted interventions, we empower students to make informed decisions about their future pathways.
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