Strategic Intent for Careers and Employability Education

Our intent for Careers Education at Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School is intrinsically informed by our Core Christian values and our desire for pupils grow to become ‘open-minded global citizens of the future’, ready for a fast-paced and interconnected world of work in the 21st Century.

Pupils at Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School begin to engage in learning and exploration about future careers as early as Year 5. Through our PSHE provision called Jigsaw PSHE, pupils in all years undertake a module entitled ‘Dreams and Goals’. In this module, pupils learn about and discuss both the skills and knowledge required for future employment, and also have opportunities to reflect on their own personal ambitions, interests and areas of strength.

Additional opportunities are arranged throughout the year to meet the needs and enhance the personal development of groups or individuals. Working with FE and industry providers to deliver STEM workshops, visiting local high-skill local employers and arranging ‘Challenge Day’ activities are examples of how all pupils have opportunities to learn about and begin to prepare for the future world of work. We also take special care to ensure that our most vulnerable pupils have opportunities to engage with the world of work, having arranged visits or informal job shadowing to local employers of interest or significance in pupils’ lives as well as visits to local colleges to explore a variety of post 16 study options. Vulnerable pupils are further supported with their transition to their next phase of education with enhanced visit arrangements and with personalised support from the SENDCo in course selection. When pupils progress into Year 9 at the Kings of Wessex Academy, they will continue their Careers Education, learning more about the specific requirements for their profession of interest and having valuable opportunities to complete work experience in their chosen field. Further details of this provision can be found under ‘Employability’ at https://www.kowessex.co.uk/employability-at-kings/

Further guidance related to the statutory arrangements for Careers Education at KS3 and above can be found by following this link https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/careers-guidance-provision-for-young-people-in-schools

For more information please contact:

Roberta Adair
Careers and Employability Lead

roberta.adair@hughsexey.org.uk

01934 712211

Jessica Piggott
Primary Careers Lead

FAQ about Careers and Employability Education at Hugh Sexey

What are the intended outcomes for pupils’ knowledge and understanding by the end of KS3?

Through the HSMS Careers & Employability Learning Objectives, pupils progressively develop their understanding of themselves, the world of work, future pathways and the skills required for success in education, employment and training. Careers education is embedded throughout the curriculum and pastoral programme from Year 5 to Year 8, aligned to the Career Development Institute (CDI) Framework, including careers learning delivered through Jigsaw PSHE units such as Dreams and Goals.
Pupils use the Unifrog platform to explore their interests, strengths and skills, investigate a wide range of careers and occupations, and understand the qualifications, pathways and access routes associated with different opportunities.
Pupils develop an understanding of local and national labour market information and are equipped to make informed decisions about future education, training and employment pathways.

Reference: HSMS Careers Learning Objectives (2025–26)
https://hughsexey.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2026/06/Careers-Objective-2025-26.pdf

How does the school offer pupils work experience? How are they prepared for this? What activities do they need to do whilst on work experience? How is this followed up afterwards?

Pupils gain experience of the workplace through our annual Careers Challenge Day, employer and employee guest speakers, workshop presenters, workplace visits and virtual work experience opportunities delivered through the Careers & Enterprise Company’s Springpod platform. HSMS is also a regular host for Year 10 and Year 12 work experience students from local secondary schools and colleges, providing younger pupils with opportunities to learn from and interact with students undertaking placements.
Prior to these experiences, pupils explore different career sectors, develop employability skills, learn about workplace expectations and identify questions they would like to ask employers and industry professionals. Through the school’s weekly pastoral programme, pupils also engage with ‘Job of the Week’ features, regularly exploring a wide range of careers, the qualifications and skills required for them, and the pathways available into different professions.
Following each experience, pupils reflect on what they have learned about careers, pathways and employability skills, record outcomes through careers activities and Unifrog, and use these reflections to inform future education and career planning.

What additional support does the school give disadvantaged pupils?

Disadvantaged pupils are carefully tracked through Compass+ to ensure they access careers guidance, employer encounters, workplace experiences and progression opportunities.
Specific careers and employability opportunities are curated to match the interests and aspirations of disadvantaged pupils, including targeted visits, employer encounters and experiences such as visits to specialist providers including Cannington College and additional access to events such as the Kings of Wessex Careers Fair.
Pupils receive enhanced transition support for their next educational phase, with personalised guidance and planning to help remove barriers and promote successful progression into further education, training and employment.

How are parents engaged and involved in decisions about their children’s future?

Parents and carers receive regular careers information through the school’s weekly newsletter, including careers updates, labour market information, information about education and training pathways, local open days, employer events and opportunities to support their child’s future planning.
Families are encouraged to discuss aspirations, option choices and future pathways with their children and can seek advice and guidance from the Careers Leader.
Parents and carers are actively invited to contribute to careers activities, employer panels and Careers Challenge Day, sharing their experiences and helping pupils gain first-hand insight into different industries and professions.

What role does the school’s careers service play?

Careers provision is led by the school’s Level 6 qualified Careers Leader, who coordinates careers education, employer engagement, labour market information, Gatsby Benchmark delivery and the wider Careers & Employability Programme across the school.
Pupils are supported to use Unifrog to record careers activities, reflect on employer encounters, explore pathways and research education, training and employment opportunities. The programme also includes participation in national careers initiatives, employer encounters, workplace experiences and transition-focused activities.
The careers service coordinates a progressive Year 5–8 Careers & Employability Programme, working closely with the Wessex Learning Trust Employability Programme and Trust Employability Lead. While the school does not currently employ a Level 7 qualified Careers Adviser on site, pupils and families can access informal careers information and support through the Careers Leader. Where impartial Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG) from a qualified careers professional is requested, this can be arranged through the school. Requests should be directed to Mrs Adair, who will coordinate access to an appropriately qualified adviser.

Post-16 Choices

How does the school support pupils with post-16 choices?

Pupils use Unifrog to research post-16 providers, compare courses and pathways, explore labour market information and investigate progression routes into further education, apprenticeships and employment.
Careers activities, employer encounters, guidance interviews and transition events help pupils understand entry requirements and future opportunities.
Pupils are supported to identify pathways that match their aspirations, interests, strengths and career goals.

How does the school support pupils to transition to their next stage of education or training?

The vast majority of pupils transition automatically from Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School to Kings of Wessex Academy at the end of Year 8. The school works closely with Kings of Wessex to ensure a well-planned and supportive transition process, including information sharing, transition events and pastoral support.
Pupils are prepared for their next educational phase through a progressive programme of transition activities. In Year 7, pupils attend two taster days at Kings of Wessex Academy, enabling them to experience a secondary school environment and explore option subjects ahead of making GCSE option choices during Year 8.
Although post-16 decisions are made at a later stage, pupils are introduced to a wide range of future pathways through careers education, employer encounters, visits, labour market information and awareness-raising activities, helping them develop an understanding of the opportunities available beyond secondary school.

How are disadvantaged pupils and their families are supported to help pupils access post-16 education.

Disadvantaged pupils receive personalised guidance and enhanced transition planning to ensure they understand all available progression routes and opportunities.
The school’s SENDCo has undertaken additional professional development focused on careers, transitions and pathways for young people with SEND, enabling more personalised advice and support for pupils and families with additional needs.
The school proactively identifies and removes barriers to participation through targeted employability experiences, additional careers events, and close collaboration with families, external agencies and receiving providers.

Additional Context

Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School delivers a progressive Careers & Employability Programme from Year 5 to Year 8, aligned to the Career Development Institute (CDI) Framework and the Gatsby Benchmarks.
Careers education is not confined to a single year group or event. Pupils engage with careers and employability learning throughout Years 5–8 through curriculum lessons, Jigsaw PSHE, pastoral activities, Unifrog, employer encounters, workplace experiences, National Careers Week activities and Careers Challenge Day.
Careers learning is embedded across the curriculum, including within Jigsaw PSHE units such as Dreams and Goals, ensuring pupils regularly explore aspirations, personal strengths, future pathways and employability skills.
Pupils use Unifrog throughout Years 7–8 to record careers activities, reflect on employer encounters, explore their interests and strengths, investigate occupations and pathways, and develop an understanding of future education, training and employment opportunities.
The school is an active participant in the Wessex Learning Trust Employability Programme, benefiting from a coordinated Trust-wide approach and support from the Trust Employability Lead.
Careers provision is led by a Level 6 qualified Careers Leader and is regularly reviewed and quality assured through Compass+ evaluation and support from the school’s Careers & Enterprise Company Enterprise Coordinator.
Hugh Sexey Middle School was recognised as a finalist for Best Careers-Focused Secondary School in Somerset (2025), reflecting the strength of its careers and employability provision.
The school celebrates key national careers initiatives, including National Careers Week, and provides Year 8 pupils with opportunities to visit post-16 providers and engage with transition-focused careers activities in preparation for their next educational phase.

Employers & Training Providers

At Hugh Sexey Middle School we are busy growing your employees of the future. We welcome the help of local businesses to raise the career aspirations of our students, develop their employability skills and learn more about the exciting industries in Somerset.

We welcome Training Providers and employers to come into school and talk to our students. Please see our Provider Access Legislation Policy for events and contact details

How Employers and Training Providers Can Help Our Students

· Book to attend our Careers Day which we run each summer

· Give a short careers talk about your company, apprenticeship scheme, your role and career path and answer students’ questions.

· We aim where possible to bring the careers and workplace application into curriculum lessons. We welcome links with employers who can contribute to a specific subject department by either allowing students to visit their company on a school trip, or come into school to deliver an aspect of subject curriculum to a class.

If you are able to assist or would like to find out more information about the work of our Careers department, please email our Careers Leader Roberta Adair roberta.adair@hughsexey.org.uk

Follow this link to our PAL statements https://hughsexey.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2026/06/Provider-Access-Statement-Feb-2026.pd

Careers Resources for Parents & Students

Follow the links below to find out more

Post 16 Routes.

Post 18 Routes.

Companies With Apprenticeships.

Choosing Options.

Resources for Choosing Which Career.

Home – Somerset Careers Hub

Padlet for Students & Parents/Carers

Somerset Current Careers Opportunities

Year 8 parents/carers are reminded that the January Parent’s Evening is an opportunity to discuss your child’s GCSE option choices with their subject teachers. Booking is through our SchoolCloud portal SchoolCloud – Hugh Sexey C of E Middle School