The careers department at Henlow Academy aims to inspire students to make wise and informed choices and plans for their future.
We use the following 8 Gatsby Benchmarks to plan our careers programme:
A Stable Careers Programme
We have a structured careers programme that encompasses all our year groups, which is published on our website. This includes a range of career events, career guidance meetings, encounters with employers and further and higher education establishments, work experience and lessons delivered through our Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) curriculum.
We hold regular meetings with an Enterprise Co-ordinator and Enterprise Advisor from The Careers and Enterprise Company, who support us in delivering and evaluating our careers programme. This is evaluated termly using the Compass Careers Benchmark tool.
Mr Gareth Baxter is our Careers Leader who is based in the Head of Year (HOY) office. Students can visit the HOY office during break and lunchtimes or can contact Mr Gareth Baxter on gbaxter@henlowacademy.org.uk to schedule a meeting. We also have a Careers Advisor from 4YP and Youth Support Services who visit to give careers advice to students.
Feedback on our careers programme is welcomed from pupils, students, parents/carers, teachers, and employers. Please email Mr Baxter with any feedback at gbaxter@henlowacademy.org.uk.
Learning from Career and Labour Market Information
The careers department has built successful working relationships with many local employers, education establishments and apprenticeship providers who attend our careers events to speak with our pupils and students about their careers and pathways available.
Students and parents have access to careers and Labour market information through their individual Unifrog accounts.
The library and resource centre has a well-stocked careers library, which contains books, leaflets and prospectuses on different career paths, higher and further education, apprenticeships and other pathways.
Addressing the Needs of Each Pupil and Student
We aim to do everything we can to inspire and encourage each of our pupils and students to realise their full potential and have happy and successful working lives.
All academic and vocational paths ranging from university and other course options, to jobs, apprenticeships and entrepreneurship are covered fairly and impartially.
The careers department work closely with the SEND department and KS3/4 teams to fully support our pupils and students with additional needs. For example, for Year 10 students who are identified as needing additional support when making their post 16 choices they are given additional careers advice sessions and workshops to help them make choices and apply for their relevant course.
Linking Curriculum Learning to Careers
We offer a timetabled programme of careers education through our Careers curriculum and PSHE curriculum covering a wide range of topics appropriate to each year group. The programme can be found on the careers page.
We work closely with the Head of PSHE, Senior Management, Heads of each year group and teachers and tutors to ensure that careers education is linked to the curriculum wherever possible. For example, posters are displayed within departments showing possible careers linked to each subject.
The careers department encourages links between employers and apprenticeship providers through our curriculum. For example, GCSE music students are involved in creating a piece of music for Shuttleworth Collection. We are always keen to build further links with employers within our curriculum and encourage employers to get in touch via gbaxter@henlowacademy.org.uk.
Encounters with Employers and Employees
All our pupils and students have a careers event each academic year, which includes information on technical pathways and apprenticeships to meet the Provider Access Legislation (PAL) guidelines. Careers events for key decision-making years (9 and 11). Such as the Post 16 fair and GCSE options evening.
We also encourage our parents, carers and alumni and any new employers to participate in these events. If you are interested in attending, please contact Mr Gareth Baxter gbaxter@henlowacademy.org.uk.
Experiences of Workplaces
Year 9 students complete a self organised “Take your child to work day” for one day during April and Year 10 students complete a self-organised work experience placement for a 1-week period in July.
The work experience process involves researching industries, contacting companies, attending interviews/meetings prior to the work experience placement, and completing their work experience placement. Work experience enables pupils to gain increased knowledge of their chosen industry and the workplace, develop their skills in a professional environment and gain additional skills and experience to support further applications.
The careers department works closely with many local employers and organisations to implement work experience schemes and placements.
Encounters with Further and Higher Education
The careers department ensures that encounters with further and higher education are provided at career events. For example, our recent Careers Fairs for all years featured North Herts College, Bedford College and Bedfordshire University. We also invite a variety of further and higher education providers to our Year 10 post 16 fair.
Personal Guidance
Students are able to meet with Mr Gareth Baxter for a careers meeting. In key decision-making years such as Year 9 options and Post 16 decision making, students will also receive extra guidance meetings with 4YP careers advisors, members of the senior leadership team and the pastoral team.
Mr Baxter is available to meet with pupils and students at break and lunch times and by appointment by emailing gbaxter@henlowacademy.org.uk Parents and carers are also encouraged to join in person/remotely.
Next review: January 2026