Careers Guidance
Careers Guidance at St Martin’s School
"Good career guidance helps inspire students towards further study and enables them to make informed decisions whenever choices are open to them. It helps them to understand enough about the world of work to know what skills and qualifications they need to succeed. It is critical for social mobility because it helps open students’ eyes to careers, they may not have considered."
Sir John Holman, Senior Adviser to the Gatsby Foundation
Our Careers Programme
At St Martin’s School, we believe that every student should have the opportunity to explore their interests, discover their potential and develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to make informed decisions about their future.
Our Careers and Employability Programme is designed to provide students with meaningful encounters with employers, further and higher education providers, and the wider world of work. Through a combination of classroom learning, personal guidance, workplace experiences and enrichment opportunities, we aim to broaden students’ aspirations and equip them to make successful transitions into further education, higher education, apprenticeships and employment.
Our programme is regularly reviewed and developed in line with the Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Career Guidance and the Department for Education's statutory careers guidance.
Careers Policy and Provider Access
Please see our Careers Policy including Provider Access Statement which outlines our commitment to providing high-quality careers education and ensuring that students have access to a broad range of opportunities.
The Gatsby Benchmarks
The eight Gatsby Benchmarks provide the framework for high-quality careers provision in schools and colleges. At St Martin’s, they underpin the development and delivery of our Careers Programme.
- A stable careers programme.
- Learning from career and labour market information.
- Addressing the needs of each student.
- Linking curriculum learning to careers.
- Encounters with employers and employees.
- Experiences of workplaces.
- Encounters with further and higher education.
- Personal guidance.
Further information about the Gatsby Benchmarks can be found on the Gatsby Foundation website.
Our latest Gatsby Benchmark Report (July 2026) is available here: [Gatsby Benchmark Reporting – July 2026].
Our Careers Curriculum: A Severn-Year Journey
Our Careers Curriculum has been designed as a seven-year journey, beginning when students join St Martin’s in Year 7 and continuing throughout their time in the school and Sixth Form.
Our aim is to ensure that every student develops an understanding of the opportunities available to them, both locally and nationally. We want students to recognise the connection between their education, qualifications, skills and future employment opportunities, enabling them to make choices that lead to fulfilling and successful careers.
Careers education is embedded throughout school life and delivered through:
- PSHE lessons and dedicated careers schemes of work.
- Assemblies and careers-focused presentations.
- Employer encounters and industry-led workshops.
- Work experience and workplace visits.
- Further and higher education encounters.
- Careers and Aspirations Week during the Summer Term.
- Personalised one-to-one careers guidance.
- Enrichment opportunities, networking events and external programmes.
Key Stage 3: Exploring Possibilities (Years 7–9)
During Key Stage 3, students begin to explore their interests, strengths and aspirations while developing an understanding of the world of work.
Year 7 students are encouraged to think about their ambitions, identify their personal strengths and begin exploring the wide range of careers available to them. They also develop an initial awareness of the local labour market and have opportunities to meet employers and learn about different industries.
As students progress through Key Stage 3, they are encouraged to consider how their interests and abilities relate to future careers and the importance of the subjects and skills they are developing.
Year 9 marks an important transition as students make their GCSE subject choices and begin to consider the opportunities available to them at Post-16, including St Martin’s Sixth Form and other local education and training providers.
Students are introduced to Unifrog, our online careers platform, where they can:
- Explore thousands of careers and subject profiles.
- Complete personality and interests-based quizzes.
- Research different education, training and employment pathways.
- Record their achievements, skills and extracurricular activities.
- Begin building a portfolio to support future applications.
Parents and carers are encouraged to create their own Unifrog account, enabling them to support their child’s exploration and engage with the resources available. Visit Unifrog.
Key Stage 4: Developing Skills and Making Decisions (Years 10–11)
Key Stage 4 provides students with opportunities to develop their employability skills, gain practical experience and make informed decisions about their next steps.
Year 10 students take part in a dedicated CV-writing workshop delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) during the Autumn Term. This enables them to develop a professional CV and understand how to present their skills, achievements and experiences effectively.
In the Spring Term, students participate in a 30-minute individual mock interview with an employer. They receive personalised feedback on their interview technique, communication skills and responses, helping them to develop confidence and prepare for future recruitment processes.
During the Summer Term, students complete a week-long Work Experience placement. This is an invaluable opportunity to experience the workplace first-hand, develop transferable skills and gain a greater understanding of a career or industry that interests them.
Students are also encouraged to explore virtual work experience opportunities through Springpod and other programmes promoted via email with parents.
Throughout Key Stage 4, students have access to individual careers guidance appointments with the school's Careers Adviser. These meetings provide personalised support to help students explore their options, identify suitable pathways and plan their next steps. Careers discussions and agreed actions are recorded on Unifrog.
Year 11 students receive additional support as they prepare for their Post-16 transition. This includes guidance with applications to St Martin’s Sixth Form and at least two other further education or training providers, ensuring that students have considered a range of suitable options.
Students can also attend our Breakfast Networking sessions, which take place before the start of the school day. These sessions provide opportunities to meet employers from a variety of industries, ask questions and gain first-hand insight into different careers and employment pathways.
Key Stage 5: Preparing for Life Beyond Sixth Form (Years 12–13)
Our careers provision continues throughout the Sixth Form, with a strong emphasis on preparing students for their chosen next steps, whether that is university, an apprenticeship, further training or employment.
Students benefit from further opportunities to meet employers, explore different industries, participate in work experience and access individual careers guidance.
Future Fridays are a key part of our Sixth Form careers programme. These timetabled sessions take place on a fortnightly basis and provide students with opportunities to meet employers, university representatives, apprenticeship providers and other external organisations.
Through these encounters, students can explore different career pathways, develop their understanding of specific industries and gain valuable insights from people with direct experience of the workplace.
Year 13 students receive tailored support throughout the university application process, including guidance with their UCAS applications, personal statements and preparation for university interviews where appropriate.
Students considering apprenticeships or direct employment are supported with CV development, application writing and interview preparation. Practice interview workshops and employer encounters help students develop the confidence and skills required to take their next steps successfully.
Our aim is for every student to leave St Martin’s with a clear understanding of their options and the confidence to pursue a pathway that reflects their interests, strengths and aspirations.
Support for Students
Students can access support and guidance from the Careers Team throughout their time at St Martin’s.
Appointments can be arranged by email or by visiting the Careers Office during break or lunchtime. Students are encouraged to seek advice whenever they are considering their options, researching a particular career or preparing for an important transition.
Information for Parents and Carers
We recognise that parents and carers play an important role in helping young people make informed decisions about their futures.
Every year group benefits from a programme of age-appropriate careers activities designed to develop students’ confidence, aspirations and understanding of the opportunities available to them.
We encourage parents and carers to take an active interest in their child's careers journey by discussing future aspirations, exploring different pathways together and supporting them to make the most of the opportunities available at St Martin’s.
Parents and carers can also support their child's careers exploration through our Unifrog platform, which provides access to careers information, subject research and guidance on further education, higher education and employment pathways.
Further information for pupils and parents/carers:
Paths to Careers: a Parent's Guide
Working with Employers and External Partners
We are always keen to develop relationships with employers, businesses, universities, colleges, training providers and other organisations that can help broaden our students' understanding of the world of work.
There are many ways to support our Careers Programme, including:
- Delivering a careers talk or industry presentation.
- Taking part in a Breakfast Networking session.
- Supporting mock interviews and employability workshops.
- Offering work experience placements.
- Hosting workplace visits.
- Providing insight into apprenticeships, graduate opportunities and different career pathways.
If you would like to support our students or become involved in the Careers Programme, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Contact the Careers Team
Our Careers Lead, Mrs Alex Frappell, oversees the development and delivery of the Careers Programme at St Martin's School.
For careers enquiries, guidance or opportunities to work with the school, please contact:
Mrs Alex Frappell
Careers and Aspiration Lead
Telephone: 01277 238300
Email: afrappell@st-martins.essex.sch.uk
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/alex-frappell
