Mr Jason Butler                      Mr Ken O'Shaughnessy                 Mrs Alison Tanton-Smith

Tel: 01480 375700 Ext 5710

At Hinchingbrooke, our comprehensive Careers and Pathways Education Programme supports students from Year 7 through to Year 13, aligning with the eight Gatsby Benchmarks of excellent careers guidance. Through a structured programme of careers education, employability skills development, personalised advice, and hands-on workplace and enterprise experiences, we equip our students with the knowledge and confidence to navigate their future pathways. They benefit from a wealth of resources, tailored opportunities, and the support of dedicated staff at every stage of their journey. In recognition of our commitment to high-quality careers education, Hinchingbrooke was awarded the prestigious Quality in Careers Standard in September 2021—the national benchmark for excellence in Careers Education, Information, Advice, and Guidance (CEIAG).

If you want to know more about the Gatsby Benchmarks you can click here

Careers Programme Overview

Hinchingbrooke School is committed to providing a comprehensive, impartial, and effective Careers Education, Information, Advice, and Guidance (CEIAG) programme. Our goal is to support students in making a smooth transition to their next stage—whether that be further education, vocational training, or employment.

Our CEIAG programme equips students and their parents and carers with the knowledge and guidance needed to explore career options and plan for the future. By integrating current Labour Market Information (LMI) with students' interests and aptitudes, we help them make informed decisions. Additionally, the programme fosters essential employability and enterprise skills, preparing students for success in the modern workplace.

Beyond advice, our careers guidance aims to inspire and raise aspirations. Through connections with professionals from our Trust, employer networks, further education colleges, universities, alumni, and other accomplished individuals, we encourage students to expand their horizons and consider a wide range of career possibilities.

From Year 7 to Year 13, all students have access to a structured work-based learning programme. This initiative promotes self-development, career awareness, employability skills, and an understanding of the world of work, ensuring they are well-prepared for their future careers.

Following our Careers Week at Hinchingbrooke School in January 2025 we sent a survey to all of our students and from the 770 replies (pupils from Year 7-13), the person a student was most likely to seek careers advice from was a parent or carer. With that in mind, we want to support you by giving you some guidance with how you can help your child. Below are some suggestions about how you can support your child to explore careers and plan for the future. Also, listed below are a list of useful websites that we have shared with each pupil at Hinchingbrooke School to encourage exploration and aspiration.

1. Start Conversations Early – Talk to your child about their interests, strengths, and aspirations. Encourage them to explore different career paths
2. Encourage Work Experience – Help them find opportunities for work experience, volunteering, or part-time jobs to gain practical skills
3. Research Careers Together – Explore different career options using websites like the National Careers Service, apprenticeship portals, and university prospectuses
4. Attend Career Events – Join school career fairs, open days, and employer talks to help them discover various industries and roles
5. Develop Key Skills – Support them in developing essential employability skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving
6. Encourage Networking – Introduce them to family, friends, or community members who work in industries they are interested in
7. Explore Post-16 & Post-18 Options – Research different pathways, including A-levels, T-levels, apprenticeships, vocational courses, and university degrees
8. Support with Applications – Help them with CV writing, personal statements, and job or apprenticeship applications
9. Promote a Growth Mindset – Encourage resilience and adaptability, reminding them that career paths can change and evolve
10. Stay Informed – Keep up to date with changing job markets, qualifications, and education routes to provide accurate guidance

Useful websites - careers information 

• https://www.ucas.com/
• https://www.russellgroup.ac.uk
• https://www.informedchoices.ac.uk
• https://www.whichuniversity.co.uk
• https://www.whatuni.com/
• https://www.opendays.com
• https://www.unitasterdays.com/

• https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk
• https://www.ucas.com/further-education/apprenticeships-and-traineeships/post-16 apprenticeships
• https://amazingapprenticeships.com
• https://www.ratemyapprenticeship.co.uk/

• https://www.ucas.com/careers-quiz
• https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/skills-assessment
• https://www.career-test.co.uk/
• https://www.youthemployment.org.uk/career-quiz/
• https://www.jobcentreguide.co.uk/best-jobs-for-me-quiz
• https://www.careerexplorer.com/career-test/

We recognise and value the importance of working with local employers to support our career provision at the school. We are extremely keen to establish links with employers who will be able to enrich our students’ education and show them new possibilities within the world of work. We engage with over one hundred different employers through work experience placements for our Year 10 students. We welcome further support from employers specifically those within the law industry.

For next academic year we are seeking employers to support our Careers Carousel, Year 10 work experience, Year 12 work placements and mock interview day. If you can help us with any of these events, please contact our Careers Manager Mr Jason Butler jbutler@hbk.acesmat.uk or click here to complete our online form.

Inspire the Next Generation.

Were you once a student here? Do you remember the people who helped shape your career path? Would you be interested in supporting our current HBK pupils?

We are inviting former students to reconnect with their school and support our current students as they explore their future career options. Whether you have just started your career journey or are an experienced professional, your insights and experiences are invaluable.

There are many ways to get involved:

• Careers Talks & Assemblies – Share your journey and inspire students with real-world advice.
•  Workshops & Industry Insights – Help students develop key skills and understand different career paths.
• Mock Interview Days – Prepare students for the world of work with real-life interview practice.
• Work Experience & Mentoring – Offer opportunities to give students hands-on experience.

If you would like to take part in any of our careers-related activities, please contact Mr Butler, our Careers Manager at jbutler@hbk.acesmat.uk or click here to complete our online form.

We are inviting Parents, Carers and Hinchingbrooke Community to get involved by supporting our current students as they explore their future career options.

There are many ways to get involved:

• Careers Talks & Assemblies – Share your journey and inspire students with real-world advice
•  Workshops & Industry Insights – Help students develop key skills and understand different career paths
• Mock Interview Days – Prepare students for the world of work with real-life interview practic
• Work Experience & Mentoring – Offer opportunities to give students hands-on experience

If you would like to take part in any of our careers-related activities, please contact Mr Butler, our Careers Manager at jbutler@hbk.acesmat.uk or click here to complete our online form.

Parents and carers play a significant role in helping students make informed choices about their study options and decisions about their future careers.

Should you wish to discuss your child’s future please contact their Form Tutor in the first instance, or Mr Butler, our Careers Manager at jbutler@hbk.acesmat.uk

Booking form (coming soon)

Providers Access Policy Statement 

This policy statement sets out the Trust’s arrangements for managing the access of providers to pupils at the schools for the purpose of giving them information about the provider’s education or training offer. This complies with the school’s legal obligations under Section 42B of the Education Act 1997. 

Procedure 

A provider wishing to request access should contact Ken O'Shaughnessy, CEIAG Coordinator,  Email : koshaughnessy@hbk.acesmat.uk

Opportunities for access 

A number of events, integrated into the school careers programme, will offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to pupils and/or their parents/carers: 

Premises and facilities 

The school will make the classrooms, meeting spaces and/or IT resources available for discussions between the provider and students, as appropriate to the activity. 

Monitoring, review, evaluation and development of the CEIAG programme 

Our partnerships are reviewed regularly. The following provision is reviewed by the Careers Co-ordinator and the Vice Principal: 

• Review of all career's events by Careers Leader

• Annual review of and by careers counsellor 

• Developmental activity is identified annually in the SIP

• Feedback on the effectiveness of the Careers programme is sought through student focus groups, parent and questionnaires. Resulting action points then feed into the following years’ planning process to ensure they are addressed. 

• Review of the academy’s adherence to the Gatsby Benchmarks through Compass, an online self-evaluation tool for schools.