Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance
Hazel Wood High School is fully committed to providing high quality careers education, information, advice and guidance to all students. CEIAG is accorded a high priority in effectively preparing students for the opportunities and challenges of adult working life and is seen as playing an instrumental role in motivating our students to maximise their academic and personal achievement.
There is in place a robust programme of careers education and access to providers for all students in Years 7 to 11, such that all students will leave our school with the skills and knowledge required to support their entry into further and higher education, traineeship or employment.
Students’ families are integral to this and are supported and encouraged to be so through access to information and events throughout the year. Parents and carers are encouraged to read the CEIAG programme of study that is in place (see below) and to feedback their views.
Our programme takes in to account the government’s advice to schools, as outlined in their statutory guidance.
All students take part in a careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) programme that:
- aims to inspire, as well as inform and guide students;
- is developed around the student and their needs;
- is integrated into the students’ experience of the whole curriculum;
- encourages all students to consider possible career choices throughout key stage 3 and 4;
- encourages all students to develop skills that make them ‘work ready’, such as presentation,
- communication, decision making and entrepreneurial skills;
- provides each student with high quality, impartial advice;
- raises aspirations and promotes equality and diversity.
Gatsby Benchmarks
In January 2018 the Government introduced ‘The Gatsby Benchmarks’. The 8 benchmarks focus on improving careers guidance and education for all young people and we use these to measure and assess the impact our Careers programme has on our students.
We regularly assess our progress against these benchmarks and our next scheduled review will take place in October 2024. If you would like any further information on this, please contact our Careers Lead using the contact details below.
Not In Education, Employment or Training (NEET)
The table below illustrates the percentage of our cohort of students who were classed as not in education, employment or training.
| NOT IN EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT OR TRAINING 16-18 | ||
| Academic Year | HWHS % | National Average % |
| 2019/20 | 3.2 | 3.8 |
| 2020/21 | 2.0 | 2.7 |
| 2021/22 | 6.6 | 10.6 |
| 2022/23 | 7.8 | 12 |
CEIAG Programme of Study
Please refer to our Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance Policy, that can be accessed through the drop down menu on the left hand side of this page, which outlines our current programme of study.
Similarly, our Provider Access Policy, which sets out the circumstances in which providers of technical education and apprenticeships will be given access to year 8 to 11 pupils, can also be accessed through the drop down menu on the left hand side of this page.
Students and their families are invited to offer feedback on the CEIAG provision offered by school. They can direct this, or any questions or concerns to school’s identified careers lead:
Careers Lead: Current vacancy - in the interim, please address all enquiries regarding our Careers programme to Mr. Groves (Deputy Headteacher).
Contact number: 0161 797 6543
Email: enquiries@hazelwood.oaklp.co.uk and address for the attention of Mr. Groves.
The careers information published on our website will be reviewed in October 2024.
External Careers Advice - Realistic Choices
Kevin Welch is Hazel Wood High School's Independent Careers Adviser who offers guidance support to students from Years 9 – 11 once a week. All students will receive a personal Careers Guidance interview and action plan with Kevin and will have the option for further advice and support if they need it.
Introduction to Realistic Choices from Kevin Welch:
"I am extremely passionate about supporting and helping young people to make informed realistic choices about their future plans. Choosing a career is not an easy thing to do. I feel that people can be supported through the career’s guidance process to enable them to have an understanding of how their aptitude, skills and qualifications link to their hopes and ambitions.
I completed my Post Graduate Diploma in Careers Guidance in 2003 and began working as a Personal Adviser for the Connexions Service in Bury. I supported young people between the ages of thirteen and twenty five who had a wide variety of different needs.My role progressed to Team Manager which gave me further insight into the careers service wherein I worked closely with various agencies, supported staff and planned and worked on several projects linked to young people.
The variety within my careers work has allowed me to develop a wealth of experience working with young people and adults. I have completed this work in a range of different settings including secondary schools, youth centres, colleges, training providers and SEND provision.
I now manage Realistic Choices which delivers support, advice and guidance to students in the Bury area. My work in schools has included one to one careers guidance, group work, careers events and option choice support."
Realistic Choices' GDPR policy can be found here: GDPR policy
Useful Websites
The National Careers Service provides information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work opportunities. The service offers confidential and impartial advice. This is supported by qualified careers advisers.
The National Careers Service website aims to:
- help you with careers decisions and planning
- support you in reviewing your skills and abilities and develop new goals·
- motivate you to implement your plan of action·
- enable you to make the best use of high quality career related tools.
Careersbox is a free online library of careers related film, news and information. As the preferred digital new media partner to the Institute of Career Guidance, the largest careers body in the UK, Careersbox aim is to deliver a new way for students to explore their skills and career options.
Start is a website created to help 11-24 year olds discover and explore careers they’ll love.It’s built around the Game which uncovers careers matched to their skills, interests and personality.
LifeSkills, created with Barclays, is a free, curriculum-linked programme, developed with teachers to help improve the skills and employability of young people in the UK.
icould has a range of video clips showing real people talking about their jobs and careers.
Careerpilot looks at your choices at 14, 16 and 18, explore different job sectors and how you can study and work at the same time – even to university level.
Success at School is the place for young people to explore careers, get the lowdown on top employers, and search for the latest jobs, courses and advice.
The study guide section within youthspace contains a range of information including help on making options choices in Year 9, post 16 options, and getting into higher education.
HM Government's dedicated website has a whole range of information to help young people decide if Apprenticeships are the right route for them. You can also search for apprenticeship vacancies.
