Personal Development & Careers Programme

High-quality careers education and guidance helps young people build ambition, make informed choices and develop the skills they need to succeed in further education, training and employment.

At Great Yarmouth Charter Academy, careers is a core part of our wider Personal Development offer. We provide a structured programme of activities across all year groups to help pupils understand their strengths, explore opportunities and make confident choices at key transition points.

This year, pupils benefit from a broad mix of provider encounters, workplace and university experiences, careers assemblies, and personalised guidance—including regular encounters with colleges, sixth forms, employers and higher education partners.

Our Careers Programme in Action (2025–26 Highlights)

Encounters with Further & Higher Education

Across the year, pupils engage with a range of post-16 and higher education partners through assemblies, workshops, interviews and campus experiences, including:

  • University of East Anglia (UEA) outreach and aspiration programmes, including “Get Set” sessions for Year 11, “Next Steps” visits/sessions for Year 8, and targeted programmes such as “Make It Count” for Year 8 and UEA campus visits for Year 9 (“UEA for the Day”).

  • Higher education and STEM-focused experiences such as Future First Year 9 STEM workshops, John Innes Centre biobattery project workshops, and large-scale STEM employer/skills sessions.
  • East Norfolk Sixth Form College (EN6th) engagement, including interviews and events supporting post-16 readiness and decision-making.
  • East Coast College and other local providers supporting Year 11 transition through interviews and post-16 encounters.
Employer Encounters & Sector Experiences

Pupils build employability and “world of work” understanding through employer-linked activities, including Trust sector events and themed encounters such as:

  • Renewable energy sector encounter featuring Sizewell C (Trust Careers Sector Event).
  • Health and care sector encounter (NHS/care/medicine themed Trust Careers Sector Event).
  • Hospitality, catering and tourism sector encounter (Trust Careers Sector Event).
  • Business, finance and law sector encounter (Trust Careers Sector Event).

These experiences support pupils to understand:

  • what different sectors look like in practice
  • the routes into careers (including technical qualifications and apprenticeships)
  • the skills and behaviours employers value most.
Careers Assemblies, Open Events & Pathways Support

Throughout the year, pupils access structured information about pathways and providers through a range of encounters, including:

  • Year 11 post-16 assemblies (e.g., provider presentations such as Access Creative College and other post-16 providers).
  • Guidance-linked events that support progression and aspiration, such as post-16 interview days, and follow-ups for pupils who miss initial interview opportunities.
  • Support for families through key decision points (e.g., Open Evening, Options Evening).
Personal Guidance (Careers Interviews & Targeted Support)

A Level 6 qualified Careers Adviser supports our programme, providing structured guidance across the year, with face-to-face interviews prioritised at key transition points, particularly for Key Stage 4 pupils.

Explore our Great Yarmouth Community Resources - Great Yarmouth Charter Academy for more information about educational materials, wellbeing tips and community programs.

In addition, the calendar includes multiple scheduled post-16 interview days and follow-ups for pupils, ensuring the right support is available for those who need extra help with their next steps.

Work Experience (Year 10)

All Year 10 pupils take part in a one-week work experience placement during the first week of July each year. Work experience is supported by structured preparation and follow-up, including work experience interviews and activities designed to help pupils understand employability skills and reflect on their experiences.

Linking Curriculum Learning to Careers

Across the curriculum, teachers routinely connect learning to real-world applications and future opportunities. In addition, pupils take part in targeted curriculum-linked experiences such as STEM, employer-linked projects and university outreach sessions to deepen understanding of how classroom learning translates into future pathways.

Meeting the Gatsby Benchmarks

Our careers programme is designed to meet the Gatsby Benchmarks as a minimum standard. This includes:

  • A stable careers programme embedded within Personal Development.
  • Encounters with employers and employees, including sector events and employer-linked sessions.
  • Experiences of workplaces, including the Year 10 work experience programme.
  • Encounters with further and higher education, including college interviews and university outreach/campus visits.
  • Personal guidance, including structured interviews and targeted support.
Provider Access (Baker Clause)

We welcome visits and engagement from education and training providers so pupils can learn about the full range of post-16 and post-18 pathways, including technical education and apprenticeships. Our provider access arrangements are published in our Provider Access Policy Statement, which explains:

  • how providers can request access
  • what opportunities are available across the year
  • safeguarding expectations and facilities we can provide.

New Careers Programme 2026-2027

 

Contact Us (Careers)

We welcome enquiries from parents/carers, employers, training providers and education partners who wish to support our careers programme.

Careers Lead: Sean Powell
Telephone: 01493 842061.

Please use the “Email the Careers Lead” link on this page (or contact the school office) to request a visit, offer a workplace encounter, or discuss opportunities to support our pupils.