Futures

Vision and purpose

At Grace College, we believe in human beings’ outstanding potential, creativity and capacity for good as people made in the image of God.  Secondly, we believe that our students’ work should be characterised by the pursuit of excellence as they seek to make the most of the gifts and talents that they have been given. Therefore, we want all students to access the best possible educational and job opportunities for them once they finish Grace College. In order for this to happen, provision in College needs to be exemplary from Year 7 onwards.

This is the vision of Graces ‘Futures Programme’; exemplary provision in careers and higher education advice, learning, networking and experience throughout their time at Grace College providing an outstanding platform from which students can, with appropriate guidance and care, make wise choices for their life after College. The futures programme helps young people to develop the skills, confidence, and knowledge that they need to make well informed, considered choices and plans that enable them to progress into further learning and work.

Futures is one of the five core themes of the Personal Development Curriculum. The curriculum is underpinned by threshold concepts which students encounter through the planned programme of careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG). We are committed to ensuring that the Futures Programme meets the Gatsby Benchmarks so that all students have access to high quality CEIAG.

Aims

Grace College has a statutory requirement when delivering the Future Programme to ensure that information about learning options and careers is presented impartially and that advice promotes the best interests of all students. This policy sets out the Futures Programme and how it is planned, delivered, monitored and reviewed. The Futures Programme aims to:

  • Provide high quality independent and impartial careers advice to all students which raises aspirations and motivates them to consider a broad range of careers to fulfil their potential.
  • Empower young people to plan and manage their own futures
  • Give careers and labour market information and advice that is up to date
  • Respond to the needs of each learner, supporting inclusion, challenging stereotyping and promoting equality of opportunity
  • Provide opportunities to work in partnership with employers to inspire students through real-life contact with the world of work.
  • Provide opportunities to access a range of further and higher education institutions, training providers and others to ensure students are informed of all available pathways including technical education qualifications and apprenticeships
  • Develop enterprise and employability skills including skills for self-employment
  • Support students at key transition points
Our Core Offer

All students at Grace College are entitled to receive high quality careers education, information, advice and guidance delivered through the Futures Programme.

The core offer for all students includes:

  • Access to independent and impartial careers guidance. By the age of 16 all students will have received at least one independent guidance interview and at least one more opportunity by the age of 18.
  • Advice and support tailored to the needs of each student.
  • Activities which seek to challenge stereotypical thinking and raise aspirations.
  • Personal Development sessions that demonstrate the links that the curriculum has to careers including in STEM subjects.
  • Employer encounters through a comprehensive range of guest speaker appearances, which will mean all students have at least one encounter with an employer each year including STEM employers.
  • Experience of the workplace through visits to a range of different industries, which will mean all students have at least one experience by the age of 16 and an additional opportunity by the age of 18.
  • Opportunities to speak with/visit a range of further education, higher education, and training providers.
  • Promotion of local labour market information
  • Parental support and guidance through the website and parental engagement events at key transitions

Grace College Futures and Careers Programme

To see our full Futures Programme please click here

Futures and Careers Contact

Mrs J Greenwood

Assistant Vice Principal – Personal Development and Careers Lead

Email: jgreenwood@gracecollege.org.ukRKirby@gracecollege.org.uk
Phone: 0191 442 2000

Provider Access Statement

A provider wishing to request access should contact
Mrs J Greenwood – Assistant Vice Principal – Personal Development and Careers Lead

Opportunities for access

A number of events, integrated into the College’s Futures programme offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to pupils and/or their parents/carers.

All students are entitled to the following provision in secondary school from Years 8-13:

  • to find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeships opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point;
  • to hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships – through options events, assemblies and group discussions and taster events;
  • to understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses.

The school will make the main hall or suitable classrooms available for discussions between the provider and students, as appropriate to the activity. The school will also make available AV and other specialist equipment to support provider presentations. This will all be discussed and agreed in advance of the visit with Mrs Kirby. Providers are welcome to leave a copy of their prospectus or other relevant course literature at reception. If appropriate, this will be given to the Futures section, in the College library. The College library is available to all students at lunch and break times.

 

Careers Newsletters

2025-26

 

2024-25

    A Breakdown of CIEAG Information you will receive each year. 

    Year 7

    • Careers interviews available 
    • Career talks  
    • Careers education embedded into tutor time focusing on skills and qualities, what is your dream job, revision skills, 
    • Careers learning opportunities in lesson 
    • National Careers week 
    • National apprenticeship week 
    • Access to unifrog  
    Year 8

    • Careers interview available 
    • Careers talks 
    • Careers education embedded into tutor time focusing on skills and qualities, identifying interest, skills for careers, GCSE choices, apprenticeships v’s university 
    • Careers learning opportunities in lesson 
    • National Careers week 
    • National apprenticeship week 
    • Access to unifrog 
    • Options choices support
    Year 9

    • Careers interview available 
    • Careers talks 
    • Careers education embedded into tutor time focusing on skills and qualities, skills for the future, maximizing your potential, CV, what makes a great leader 
    • Careers learning opportunities in lesson 
    • National Careers week 
    • National apprenticeship week 
    • Access to unifrog 
    • Options choices support 
    Year 10
    • Careers interviews available 
    • Career talks  
    • Careers education embedded into tutor time focusing on skills and qualities, communication skills, how to contact an employer 
    • Careers learning opportunities in lesson 
    • National Careers week 
    • National apprenticeship week 
    • Access to unifrog 
    • Careers support at parents evening 
    • Careers Fair 

     

    Year 11

    • Careers interviews available 
    • Career talks  
    • Careers education embedded into tutor time focusing on skills and qualities,  
    • Careers learning opportunities in lesson 
    • National Careers week 
    • National apprenticeship week 
    • Access to unifrog 
    • Careers support at parents evening 
    • Presentations and opportunities to apply for the summer NHS programme 
    • Support to apply for post 16 options 
    • Transition activities for Grace College 6th form 
    • Careers fair 
    • College University visits 
    • Funding information 

    Student

    and Parent Hub

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    Sixth Form

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    The Grace College Curriculum

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    Vision, Mission and Virtues

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