Provider Access Policy
STOWMARKET HIGH SCHOOL
Date Adopted: October 2023 Next Review Date: October 2024
| Policy Prepared by | C. Broxton (Assistant Headteacher) |
| Policy Originally created | September 2022 |
| Responsible Committee | SLT |
| Date approved by committee | Awaiting Approval for 2024 Review |
| Date ratified by School Committee | Not required – School Committee Careers representative has oversight. |
| Annually Reviewed on | October 2024 |
Introduction
This policy statement sets out the school’s arrangements for managing the access of providers to pupils at the school 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.
Pupil Entitlement
All pupils in years 7 -11 are entitled to:
- to find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeships opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point.
- to hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships – through options events, assemblies, group discussions and taster events.
- to understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses.
For pupils of compulsory school age these encounters are mandatory and there will be a minimum of two encounters for pupils during the ‘first key phase’ (year 8 to 9) and two encounters for pupils during the ‘second key phase’ (year 10 to 11).
These provider encounters will be scheduled during the main school hours and the provider will be given a reasonable amount of time to, as a minimum:
- information about the provider and the approved technical education qualifications or apprenticeships that the provider offers.
- information about the careers to which those technical education qualifications or apprenticeships might lead.
- a description of what learning or training with the provider is like
- responses to questions from the pupils about the provider or approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships.
Management of provider access requests
Procedure
A provider wishing to request access should contact Claire Broxton, Careers Leader
Email: c.broxton@stowhigh.com
or our Careers Coordinator, Mrs Mylrea, m.mylrea@stowhigh.com
Telephone: 01449 613541
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.
Proposed event timetable for 2023/24
| Autumn Term | Spring Term | Summer Term | |
| Year 7 | Assemblies, Advice & Slice with External Employers | Assemblies, Employer talks, visits, and engagement. National Apprenticeship Week and National Careers Week Events | Assemblies Advice & Slice with External Employers |
| Year 8 | Assemblies, Advice & Slice with External Employers | Assemblies, Employer talks, visits, and engagement. National Apprenticeship Week and National Careers Week Events | Assemblies, Employer talks, visits, and engagement Advice & Slice with External Employers |
| Year 9 | Assemblies, Advice & Slice with External Employers | Assemblies, KS4 options event with employers, Colleges, and HE providers Employer talks, visits, and engagement National Apprenticeship Week and National Careers Week Events v | No encounters – legislation requires encounters to take place by 28 February if in year 9 |
| Year 10 | Assemblies, Advice & Slice with External Employers. Post-16 provider Assemblies and visits | Assemblies, Work experience preparation Employer talks, visits, and engagement. National Apprenticeship Week and National Careers Week Events | Assemblies, Work experience with employers Careers workshops with employers |
| Year 11 | Assemblies, Next Steps Event with employers, Colleges, and HE providers Advice & Slice with External Employers Post-16 provider Assemblies and visits One to one independent carers guidance | Employer Assemblies Apprenticeship Assemblies Post-16 provider Assemblies and visits National Apprenticeship Week and National Careers Week Events | No encounters – legislation requires encounters to take place by 28 February if in year 11. Confirmation of post-16 education and training destinations for all pupils |
Please speak to our Careers Leader to identify the most suitable opportunity for you.
Premises and facilities
The school will make the main hall, classrooms or private meeting rooms available for discussions between the provider and students, as appropriate to the activity. The school will also make available AV and other specialist equipment to support provider presentations. This will all be discussed and agreed in advance of the visit with the Careers Leader.
Providers are welcome to leave a copy of their prospectus or other relevant course literature at the Careers Office, which is available to all students at lunch and break times.
Approval and review
Approved: Currently Under Review by the School Improvement Board
Next review: October 2024
Signed: Chair of the School Improvement Board
Signed: Ms Lucie Hernandez Head teacher
