Barton Manor School Careers Newsletter –
Contents Introduction
Thank you for reading our Careers Newsletter. We hope that you find this a useful resource to understand how Careers education is a vital aspect of your child’s education
For this first edition of our newsletter this year, we wanted to set out the provision as it currently stands We are in a moment of transition with the government statutory guidance and the Gatsby Benchmarks having been updated ready for implementation in 2025-26. The Gatsby Benchmarks are a set of eight standards for world-class careers guidance in schools, colleges, and further education settings. You can find more information about them here: Gatsby Benchmarks Explained. The Benchmarks were updated to reflect examples of best practice around the UK, many parts of which we have already achieved in previous years
Our mission statement:
Barton Manor School firmly believes that a full and varied careers education is both inspiring and enriching. The school offers all students the exciting opportunities to learn about and reflect upon their future career aspirations and employability skills This is achieved with varied classroom activities, work experience and inspiring external speakers Students learn to become independent, to challenge stereotypes and to aim as high as they can Barton Manor School is committed to fully achieving the updated Gatsby benchmarks by embedding careers education as a key component of the curriculum. The viewpoints of students, parents & carers, teachers and employers matter to us, so regular feedback is sought from all stakeholders. We recognise that every child is different, so apprenticeship, university and job-related pathways are equally valued
Ofsted 2024 comments:
“A palpable sense of ambition is evident in all aspects of school life [ ] Careers education weaves through academic learning. Pupils understand real-world application of classroom learning in industry and they are extremely well informed to make ambitious plans for their future. Pupils benefit enormously from an excellent careers education that provides them with impartial information about next steps in education and employment, including apprenticeships”
Yours sincerely,
Mr R Wilcock Director of MFL and Careers
Barton Manor School Careers Newsletter –
Term 2 2025-26
Careers Programme 2025-26
This is also published on our school website: Careers Advice - Barton Manor School
This is not an exhaustive list and is subject to change. There will also be unique subject-led sessions.
7 Careers Education in individual subjects
VESPA programme – once a fortnight in form time
Unifrog Launch and onboarding
8 Careers Education in individual subjects
VESPA programme – once a fortnight in form time
PAL-compliant vocational talks
Guest speakers from CCCU and UKC
MFL Inspire Lecture – Careers in languages
Careers Education in individual subjects
National Careers week: activities in form time
National Apprenticeship Week: Assemblies with virtual talks and links
Cultural Capital Day 3 – Careers focus:
-Careers escape room
-Careers and your future
-The Big careers quiz
NHS Competition
VESPA programme – once a fortnight in form time
Future Skills questionnaire
Careers Education in individual subjects
National Careers week: activities in form time
National Apprenticeship Week: Assemblies with virtual talks and links
EBP group impartial meetings with students to discuss GCSE options
Cultural Capital Day 3 Careers focused day
-Employee encounter from technical providers and employers
-Unifrog skills
PSHEE on GCSE options and careers
GCSE taster sessions
VESPA programme – once a fortnight in form time
Options Evening – EBP Careers advisor
PAL-compliant vocational talks
Guest speakers from CCCU and UKC Future Skills questionnaire
9
Careers Education in individual subjects
VESPA programme in form time every week
PAL-compliant vocational talks
Guest speakers from CCCU and UKC
MFL Inspire Lecture – Careers in languages
EBP group impartial careers meetings
10 Careers Education in individual subjects
Cultural Capital Day 1 – Planning for Work experience and CV writing
Work experience assembly and letter home to support
VESPA programme in form time every week
PSHEE with work-related theme EBP group impartial careers meetings
Careers Education in individual subjects
National Careers week: activities in form time
National Apprenticeship Week: Assemblies with virtual talks and links
Cultural Capital Day 3&4 Careers focused day
-Employee encounter from technical providers and employers
-Unifrog skills
GCSE taster sessions
EBP group impartial careers meetings
VESPA programme in form time every week
PAL-compliant vocational talks
Guest speakers from CCCU and UKC
Future Skills questionnaire
Careers Education in individual subjects
National Careers week: activities in form time
National Apprenticeship Week: Assemblies with virtual talks and links
MFL Inspire Lecture – Careers in languages
Cultural Capital Day 3&4 – careers focus activities: PAL-compliant talks
VESPA programme in form time every week
PSHEE with work-related theme
EBP group impartial careers meetings
Future Skills questionnaire
Careers Education in individual subjects
PSHEE on Careers Aspirations
VESPA programme – once a fortnight in form time
Department-led talks
Careers fair – Summer 2026
Future Skills questionnaire
Careers Education in individual subjects
VESPA programme – once a fortnight in form time
Department-led talks
Careers fair – Summer 2026
Future Skills questionnaire
Careers and Education in individual subjects
VESPA programme in form time every week
Department-led talks
Careers fair – Summer 2026
Future Skills questionnaire
Cultural Capital Day 5 –Careers focus: looking at preparing for work experience
Employee encounter from technical providers and employers
Enrichment Week – Work experience week.
VESPA programme in form time every week
Careers fair – Summer 2026
Future Skills questionnaire
Barton Manor School Careers
Labour Market Information
What is it?
Labour Market Information (LMI) is data and information about the world of work. LMI helps individuals understand which careers are growing, what employers are looking for, and how to prepare for the future job market. It can include:
• Job availability and demand
• Salary expectations
• Skills and qualifications required
• Working conditions and hours
• Future employment trends
Why is LMI so useful for pupils and parents/carers?
• It informs subject choices that align with future career goals
• LMI Supports decisions about post-16 and post-18 pathways (e.g. apprenticeships, university, employment)
• It can raise awareness of emerging industries and local opportunities
• It can help you guide your children with realistic and informed advice
• Understanding LMI can lead to better career planning and improved chances of long-term success.
Where to Access LMI (Canterbury, Kent & UK)
Here are some reliable sources:
Unifrog
• All students in Y7-13 have a Unifrog account for the entirety of their time at school, and have access to an Alumni version once they leave. We have used it since 2020 as our main careers platform
• You can explore over 1,000 career profiles with up-to-date LMI including job growth forecasts, Local job availability and salary data using the Careers Library.
• https://www.unifrog.org [unifrog.org]
Kent and Medway Labour Market Information Hub
Offers local insights into key sectors like health, logistics, agriculture, and renewable energy. Visit Kent LMI Hub [kentprospectus.co.uk]
CXK Labour Market Information
Provides posters and resources using granular data from Lightcast. Explore CXK LMI Resources [cxk.org]
Office for National Statistics (ONS) – Canterbury Profile
Offers detailed employment and unemployment statistics for Canterbury. View ONS Canterbury Data [ons.gov.uk]
Kent County Council Labour Force Profile
Annual report with employment trends, sector breakdowns, and qualification levels. Download PDF [kent.gov.uk]
Barton Manor School Careers Newsletter
SEN support
What is already on offer
• All of our personalised plans for SEN students include opportunities for them to share their future aspirations.
• EHCP meetings – the careers advisor will be invited to these meetings, and if unavailable will pass on support and ideas to the SENCO.
• Students identified as students with special educational needs are prioritised for Careers appointments
• Prior to having external visitors, we link to our website for how to support students with different needs, and we
• SEN students receive support in organising work experience placements.
Future Plans
• All parents of SEN students in KS4 and 5 will be invited to attend a careers update meeting with the Careers Advisor. Invites will be sent out on a termly basis from Term 2 onwards.
• We will be collecting Aspirations data via our Aspirations quiz – this will be used to inform how we provide adapted resources, support and guidance for SEN students.
• We will be collecting data from students using the Future Skills Questionnaire. This will be used to identify gaps for SEN students in understanding.
Useful Links for students identified as having special educational needs
• Success at School – straightforward, easy to understand advice and information
• Youth Employment UK – useful for entry level roles – comprehensive job and sector information
• Dyslexia Scotland
• CXK & Partners Launch SEND Provision Map for Kent & Medway
• Kids.org SENDIASS – advice service for parents of SEND young people
• IASK – Helpline and free impartial advice for SEND parents, carers and young people in Kent
Post 16 choices (see here for Kent FE Colleges)
• NASS – membership organisation for non- maintained, independent, and voluntary special schools
• Natspec – membership organisation for SEN further education colleges
• Kent County Council – College, sixth form, employment, and training
• Kent Choices – lists all full time FE College, sixth form as well as short courses, traineeships, employability courses and functional skills training for students with and without SEND.
• Kent County Council – list of post 16 specialist schools and schools with specialist resources
Supported employment and sources of support
Base – national trade association for supported employment – explanation, members, sources of support
The Education People – leading provider of supported employment in Kent (Alicia Moyles, Head of Services – based at KCC). NB EHC not needed for supported internships
DFN Project Search – supported internships/training for work programmes at NHS hospitals (Maidstone and Medway)
Liberty Training – supported internships for students with EHCs
Bemix – offer courses and supported employment
Kent County Council – ways to prepare for an apprenticeship (including traineeships and supported internships)
Ambitious about Autism – leaders in developing supported internships
Apprenticeships care leavers’ bursary policy summary – one off support for care leavers
Buttle UK – can provide financial support for education and training for young people
Entitled To – help to calculate benefit entitlements
Base and Access to Work – travel and other work assistance
Disability Rights UK Guide – apprenticeship guide for people with disabilities
Kent Training and Apprenticeships – supported internships, traineeships, apprenticeships and training.
Barton Manor School
Impartial Careers Appointments
Careers appointments explained:
Students in any year group are entitled to ask for a careers appointment. The EBP service is available to young people through a professionally qualified Personal Advisor.
EBP ensures that personal advisors are prepared for their role to maintain a high standard of guidance and have enhanced DBS checks along with up-to-date safeguarding training Barton Manor dedicated EBP advisers provide independent and impartial advice, and guidance within the School to students as they face decisions about their future
They offer confidential guidance and support to teenagers about careers, education, training and job options, as well as other issues such as health, money, relationships and housing. They also attend parents’ evenings and the sixth form open evening every year.
There are several key ways that students access careers advice through EBP:
• Group appointments with all Year 8 students prior choosing their GCSE options
• Group appointments with all Year 9 and 10 students
• In the future, in Year 11, all students will receive a one-to-one careers appointment, and can request a follow-up.
• Advisors will attend our GCSE options evening.
How can your child prepare for their careers appointments?
1. Understand the Purpose
- Know that the appointment is about exploring interests, strengths, and possible future pathways not making final decisions.
- It’s a chance to ask questions and learn about options.
2. Reflect on Interests and Strengths.Encourage students to think about:
- Subjects they enjoy or do well in.
- Hobbies or activities they like outside school.
- What kind of tasks they find satisfying (e.g., solving problems, helping others, being creative).
3. Bring Questions
Students could prepare questions like:
- What jobs use the subjects I enjoy?
- What qualifications do I need for a career in ___?
- What are apprenticeships or vocational routes?
- How can I find out more about careers?
4. Be Open-Minded
- They don’t need to have a career in mind yet.
- Encourage curiosity and exploration of new ideas.
Barton Manor School Careers Newsletter –
Term 2 2025-26
Apprenticeships support
Apprenticeships are becoming an increasingly popular option for students who don’t want to go to university or sixth form Barton Manor believes that apprenticeships are a very valuable way to achieve a student’s career aspiration. It is important to note that apprenticeships can come and go very quickly, and often can only be applied for in a similar way to a job, that is to say shortly before the job starts It is quite different to a university application for that reason, but a student in Y12/13 can use their personal statement prepared on Unifrog, or a statement they write on Kent Choices in Y11, in order to assist their application process.
Different kinds of apprenticeships
Equivalent to 5 GCSEs grade 9-4
Level 2
•Customer Service Practitioner –Working in retail, call centres, or hospitality.
•Hair Professional – Hairdressing or barbering roles.
•Plumbing and Heating Technician –Basic plumbing skills and installation.
•Hospitality Team Member – Frontof-house or kitchen roles in restaurants and hotels.
Level 5 (Higher Apprenticeships)
Equivalent to 2 A Levels
Equivalent to a Foundation Degree or above
Equivalent
Level 3
•Business Administrator – Officebased roles managing processes and supporting teams.
•Early Years Educator – Working in nurseries or childcare settings.
•IT Technician – Providing technical support and maintaining systems.
•Engineering Technician – Mechanical or electrical engineering roles.
Level 4
•Accounting Technician – Preparing financial statements and managing accounts.
•Software Developer – Coding and developing applications.
•Construction Site Supervisor –Overseeing building projects and managing teams.
•Network Engineer – Designing and maintaining computer networks.
•Operations/Departmental Manager - For those managing teams and projects in business or public sector settings.
•Healthcare Assistant Practitioner - Supporting registered healthcare professionals in hospitals or community care.
•Learning and Skills Teacher - Teaching in further education or training environments.
•Construction Site Manager - Managing large-scale building projects and ensuring compliance with regulations.
•Software Tester - Specializing in testing and quality assurance for software development.
Interested in applying for an apprenticeship?
Make sure you do the following if you are interested in an apprenticeship post-16 (after Year 11) or post-18 (after Year 13):
• Inform your child’s Head of Year and copy in the Careers Lead They will then be added to the Apprenticeship Support Pathway
• Instruct your child to add this information to their Aspirations Survey – coming soon in Term 2
• Prepare a CV on Unifrog
Useful Links
• Guide to apprenticeship applications: LINK
• Guide to apprenticeship interviews: LINK
• Unifrog – click on the pink icon for the directory of apprenticeship on Unifrog.
• Open day guide to degree apprenticeships: LINK
• Search over 14,000 apprenticeships here on the Gov uk website: LINK
Barton Manor School Careers Newsletter –
Unifrog
What is Unifrog?
Unifrog is an online platform for students, teachers and parents It is predominantly a careers and university preparation website which enables easy logging, monitoring and tracking of students’ employability skills, extracurricular interests, as well as their choices for post 16 and post 18 destinations It is used to draft and provide feedback on UCAS statements and write teacher / tutor references Students can also research apprenticeships, MOOCs and other extra and super curricular opportunities
Basic Principles:
-All activities can be recorded and can be explicitly linked to Gatsby Benchmarks
-The platform will fit in very well with tutor time, enrichment days and PSHE
-Everything goes in one place (UCAS, university searches, destination searches, skills/competency uploads, enrichment/extra-curricular activities), reducing teacher workload
-Easy tracking system for staff to track student interests and choices. Teachers can also provide comment-based feedback on CVs and personal statements.
-Unifrog is not limited to sixth form only – this could work for the whole school as part of the whole-school careers programme
Advantages:
-In the current climate, it will be very useful for students to access careers advice and post-16 university advice equally from home and school at all times
-Unifrog can be used by any staff member, so can be used by learning mentors, teacher mentors of PP students, Heads of Year and Senior Leadership team to support and guide students with their future choices
-Students and staff can track progress of completion, with a percentage of completion per student and per form group This can encourage a sense of competition amongst students which can prove a useful motivational tool
-All students can log their skills and reflect on their own competencies, while providing staff with a variety of information concerning their tutees or students within their year group. Teachers can access comprehensive information which students have logged on their profiles to inform conversations and advice over many years
-At Sixth form results from student searches on Unifrog are made relevant to the student because they can enter current or predicted grades, and then achievable options with the specific qualifications are presented
-There is an increasing demand for advice on apprenticeships amongst students, and Unifrog will enable them to explore apprenticeships and log their searches for future reference.
-Formalising the process of thinking about qualifications or career paths helps to give students a clear aim and feel that they have more concrete plans, or at least a wider variety of clear options Giving younger students this option will make the advice more impactful, and they can discuss it with parents / carers at home
-Subject teachers log UCAS references and predicted grades for each student, which can be used by Year 13 form tutors to write the final UCAS references
-Unifrog will help to personalise form time sessions, as pupils will only need to research courses relevant to them
Structure of Unifrog
The Unifrog website is structured into various tools for students to explore / complete:
Form time activities Barton Manor School Careers Newsletter – Term 2 2025-26
Through PSHEE and specific careers-related sessions, students build a strong understanding in form time of how to plan for their future. The VESPA (Vision, Effort, Systems, Practice, Attitude) programme is a fiveyear programme based on the following areas:
Year 7 - Vision
• Changes
• What have you achieved?
• Who can you help?
• What influences me?
• Roles that I think are successful
• What are you like?
• Skills
• What are your best skills?
• How do you learn?
• This is me
• What is work?
• Changes in the World of Work
• How creative are you?
Year 10 - Practice
• Exploring Possibilities
Year 8 - Effort
• Your beliefs
• Are school and work so different?
• What do you want from work?
• Job Families
• Can anyone predict the future?
• Being assertive
• Who does the job?
• Are you sure that’s true?
• Budgeting
• How do you make decisions?
• Writing an Action Plan
• Review my learning
• Look ahead
• World of Work - What Employers Want
• World of Work - Work and Lifestyle
• World of Work - Quiz
• World of Work - Legal Limits
• World of Work - Rights at Work
• World of Work - Responsibilities at work
• Application Skills
• Work Experience
• Moving on from Work Experience
• Developing your Personal Sales Pitch
• Managing your Money
• Thinking ahead after you are 16 - Options
• Different Qualifications and their equivalents
• Review my learning
• Look ahead
Year 9 - Systems
• My Network
• Personal Qualities
• Personal Qualities & Jobs
• Skills & Jobs
• Skills for Life and Work
• Tell us why it should be you!
• Learning Styles
• Being Enterprising
• Working Today
• Using reliable information
• Qualifications
• Choosing Options
• Review my learning
• Look ahead
Year 11 - Attitude
• Year Planner
• How are you doing?
• Your skills and interests
• What are you like?
• Different qualifications and their equivalents
• Which way do you go?
• The changing job market
• Personal, Learning & Thinking Skills
• Money matters
• Choices now, choices later?
• Making applications
• Writing a CV
• Writing a Cover Letter
• Preparing for Interviews
• Where have you got so far?
• Review my learning
Cultural Capital Days update
Events so far this year
Year 7 – Students have been introduced to Unifrog on Cultural Capital Day 1, and this will continue on Day 2.
Year 9 – Cultural Capital Day one included a talk from EKC about vocational courses available at College.
Year 10 – Cultural Capital Day One students focused on work experience, CV writing and on using Unifrog.
Future events
Years 7-10– Term 6 will be our next careers event, similar to our Employer Encounter event last year.
Year 7 – In addition to the careers fair, Year 7 will have an introduction to planning for their future and understanding careers education.
Year 8 –Cultural Capital Day 3 will be GCSE taster day in addition to additional speakers throughout the year.
Year 9 – Future careers talks with external speakers will be planned throughout the year’s cultural capital days.
Year 10 – Further work experience preparation is planned for cultural capital day 5. We will also be inviting more speakers to help students understand the world of work.
Year 10 Work Experience Barton Manor School Careers Newsletter –
Term 2 2025-26
We would like to issue an important reminder that we have sent out the letter regarding work experience that will take place between Monday 13th and Friday 17th July 2026 for all Year 10 and 12
It is very important that every student has a work experience placement organised and that the information is provided via the MS Teams form: https://forms office com/e/HU8M2hQQv9 returned as soon as possible but certainly no later than Friday 23 January 2026 This will allow for the relevant Health and Safety checks to be conducted which are a legal requirement and for the placement to be confirmed.
Please get in touch with Mr Wilcock and Mr Attrill (HOY 10) if you require any support, or if you have any questions
It is essential that both students and their parents / carers sign and return the code of conduct to school either as a physical copy, or via email No student will be permitted to go on placement until this document is received Thank you to those who have already done so
There is some useful advice on the National Careers Service website here: How to get work experience | National Careers Service
You can also use Unifrog in order to build a CV that can be downloaded and sent to employers Year 10 in particular will receive cultural capital day support sessions to help them prepare for the placement.
Some of the most important FAQs:
What can students do for a placement, and what can they not do?
• Students can engage in a wide range of placements, including but not limited to working at a primary school, working in a bookshop, working in a local business, or shadowing a professional. If you are uncertain if a placement is appropriate or not, please email Mr Wilcock and Mrs Glace.
• Virtual placements can be valuable, and some students work with a company over Teams or Skype. Please let us know what the placement would involve, and we can review it.
• Examples of inappropriate activities include reviewing films on an online blog or recording videos for a personal social media account.
• The placement needs to offer them the chance to experience a professional work environment, even if it is virtual, that they otherwise couldn’t experience.
What if my child cannot find a placement?
• This is not uncommon as places for some opportunities can be competitive.
• We recommend that students look to their friends and family circle.
• This can help because the student is already known to friends and family, and it can be easier to secure a placement this way.
How will my child be kept safe on their placement?
• The safety and wellbeing of our students is our number one priority, and this is why we conduct health and safety checks with an external company.
• Employers are contacted to provide details about the nature of the work students will be required to do.
• This is verified externally via EBP who have extensive experience in ensuring student safety during work experience placements across Barton Court Academy Trust.
Barton Manor School
Questions or a suggestion?
If you would like to ask a question, request for information or support for your child, or want to make a suggestion for improvement, please complete this survey: LINK
We review the careers provision continually, and we listen to student voice From Term 1 student voice the
How we use student voice
We believe that student voice is vital in order to improve the provision, and personalise careers education for individuals We always hope that students will come with suggestions rather than criticisms, and it is our job to guide them to help them understand the strengths of what we do, and how it could be improved
Here are some example areas of how we have used student voice across the trust in Careers education:
• More advice on apprenticeships
As a result of this feedback, we will plan apprenticeship information sessions for all year groups and supply more links via Teams / form time and in assemblies
• More information on qualifications required to achieve different jobs
Students will be guided to find this information on Unifrog. We will also use a new Aspirations Survey in order to collect data on student interests and then direct specific groups to specific qualifications needed to achieve their careers aims.
The information provided by students in this survey can be updated frequently in case their ideas evolve or change over time
• More variety in VESPA.
Further consultation with students on preferred activities will take place. We also will share the VESPA programme overview with students to show there is very little repetition in topics.
Barton Manor School Careers Newsletter –
Useful Links
Unifrog
WWW.UNIFROG.ORG
Barton Manor School Careers Platform
Barton Manor Careers Platform
Skills for Careers – Parent Advice and Resources
Practical guidance on supporting your child with career and education decisions, including training options and financial help.
Visit Skills for Careers
Talking Futures
Resources to help parents have meaningful career conversations with their children, including tips on apprenticeships, T-levels, and post-16 options.
Visit Talking Futures
Youth Employment UK – Careers Advice for Parents
Expert advice on pathways like apprenticeships, BTECs, and T-levels, plus downloadable resources and podcasts for parents.
Visit Youth Employment UK
National Careers Service – Help a Young Person Make Career Choices
Official government advice for parents and carers to support young people with education and career decisions. Visit National Careers Service
Careermag for Parents (Careermap)
Free magazine with articles on UCAS, apprenticeships, T-levels, and sector-specific career insights. Visit Careermag
The Parents’ Guide to (CEC Resource Directory)
Guides and checklists to help parents support their child’s choices at 16 and 18, including university and apprenticeship routes.
Visit The Parents’ Guide to Careerpilot – Parent Zone
Useful links and resources for parents on careers, apprenticeships, and higher education. Visit Careerpilot Parent Zone