Empowering Students and Parents with Apprenticeship Vacancy Insights – Highlands School
June 14, 2025
Sourcing vacancies
To keep students informed about current apprenticeship opportunities, we regularly access up-to-date vacancy data from trusted sources such as the National Apprenticeship Service (gov.uk) and our school’s careers platform, Unifrog. We filter and highlight vacancies across a wide range of sectors, tailored to students’ interests, local Labour Market Information, and apprenticeship levels. This helps ensure that students receive relevant, targeted information at key points in their decision-making.
Sharing vacancies
We share this information through several channels. A weekly “Careers Bulletin” features a dedicated ‘Spotlight on Apprenticeships’ section, showcasing high-quality, timely opportunities. These are curated by location, level, and sector. We also post opportunities on digital displays in the sixth form area, making apprenticeship information visible and accessible throughout the day.
Exploring vacancies
In personal guidance sessions, students are supported to explore specific vacancies, reflect on how they align with their academic strengths and goals, and develop tailored application strategies. This individualised approach helps demystify the apprenticeship process and makes the opportunity feel tangible and achievable.
Informing parents and carers
To ensure parents and carers are also informed, we host an annual apprenticeship-focused information evening (online), which explains the structure of apprenticeships, how they compare to university, and what progression routes are available. We also maintain a dedicated ‘Parent/Carer Resources’ page on our school website, which includes helpful links, upcoming events, and guidance on supporting students with apprenticeship applications.
Success
This approach has been successful because it is regular, visible, personalised, and inclusive. It supports students and their families in understanding and navigating the apprenticeship landscape, ensuring they are aware of real, high-quality opportunities and how to pursue them.
