Careers education and work experience
| Key contacts | Careers education programme | Work experience | Management of Provider Access Requests |
The Henry Cort Community College aims to ensure that students are self-confident, skilled and career-informed. This is achieved through a comprehensive programme based on the nationally recognised Gatsby Benchmarks that encompasses Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) and Work Related Learning (WRL) throughout Years 7-11.
Students are entitled to:
- find out about technical education and apprenticeship opportunities as part of a careers programme, which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point
- hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships through assemblies, career events and taster sessions
- understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses
- two mandatory encounters in both years 8-9 and years 10-11
How you can help at home:
Careers Companion and Spark will help your child to connect with their future career potential, develop their employability and help them to explore future career and study options at school or at home.
- Encourage your child to consider what they enjoy about their favourite subjects and how this might link to future careers.
- Encourage them to explore the different options available at KS4, KS5 and post 18.
- Help dispel common misconceptions: that certain jobs are for men or women, that apprenticeships are only for practical vocations link engineering, that they need to wait until they start looking for work before they gain experience of the wider world of work.
- Help them explore the jobs and training opportunities that are available using the links below:
- https://www.sparkcareers.org
- https://bespoke.careercompanion.co.uk/libraries/index
- https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
- https://www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/hampshirefutures/yourfuture
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- Mrs S Hills - Careers Operational Lead
Both can be contacted by emailing careers@henrycort.org. Students can request additional careers appointments at any time here at the college. Students should contact Mrs Hills in the first instance.
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Summary of Careers Education Programme
Careers and work related education is an important part of our wider curriculum. A summary of our Secondary Careers Education Programme offered to all students in all year groups is outlined below. This programme is supported by assemblies, information evening, class-based exercises and a range of other scheduled and occasional activities all designed to ensure students are best prepared for their futures.
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Content linked to Gatsby Benchmarks |
Delivered through |
CDI Framework |
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Year 7 |
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Year 8 |
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Commence the journey – who am I? |
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Year 9 |
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Building Aspirations and exploring career opportunities |
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Year 10 |
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Identifying choices and qualifications. Self- presentation and what employers want |
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Year 11 |
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Seeking help and making plans and applications |
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Employer Connections
We have worked with the following organisations in recent years to support students as they explore and prepare for their futures:
- BAE systems
- BOC Gases
- bmJV
- Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA)
- INEOS Team UK
- and others
Management of Provider Access Requests
Any provider or employer not already working with the college and wishing to request access should contact Mrs S Hills, Transition Manager on 01329 843127 or by completing the Employer Connections Form . Policy for provider access is available from the college and the careers policy is available to view on www.henry-cort.hants.sch.uk/policies.
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Careers Programme Development
We believe that every individual should be prepared for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life, and that this preparation should be an important and distinctive element of the curriculum. Our Careers Education Programme provides students with skills, knowledge, support and experience of the world of work to enable them to make informed career choices and is reviewed regularly in light of national guidance. The college develops provision in line with achieving all 8 of the Gatsby benchmarks and is committed to working towards the Quality in Careers Standard this academic year.
We use Compass+ and our destinations data to evaluate our impact.
Work Experience
As part of our curriculum, all students in Year 10 take part in our Work Experience scheme. This will take place from Monday 23 March to Friday 27 March 2026.
Work experience is considered to be one of the most important part of the Careers programme, and therefore we ask parents to endorse the initiative by enthusing our students and supporting them to find suitable placements.
You may already be aware that the government has stopped all designated funding for students to undertake a Work Experience placement. We do our utmost to keep the cost to parents/carers to a minimum and are re-evaluating our process. Year 10 have extensive support with the process of finding a placement, but the ultimate responsibility lies with them – a good start to the world of work! However, if you require any further information or support with the process, please contact Mrs Hills by emailing her at sac@henrycort.org.