Careers Information

Careers Information

Aspirations Coordinator: Miss Talbot

Contact Details:

Telephone Number: 0151 477 8710

Email Address: admin@kirkbyhighschool.net

Review Date: September 2026

Careers Policy Statement

At Kirkby High School, we have a full-time, Level 6 qualified Careers Adviser, Mr Butler, who provides impartial careers advice and guidance to students across all year groups. Mr Butler supports our young people with work experience, post-16 applications, option choices, and both individual and group careers guidance, helping them to make informed decisions about their future. Through a wide range of events, activities, employer encounters and inspirational talks, we aim to raise aspirations, broaden horizons and help every student discover the opportunities available to them.

Our careers curriculum begins in Year 7, where students are encouraged to consider their skills and personality to better understand the options they might choose in the future. This is delivered through PD lessons and extended form time, where students explore the concepts of careers, jobs and what it means to be employed. Students are also invited to attend university workshops and have access to local employers at our annual Careers Fair, giving all students the opportunity to raise and maintain aspirations as they begin their journey at KHS. All students receive careers-related learning through careers in the curriculum, highlighting potential job and career pathways linked to each subject they study, and access to careers advice with Mr Butler. As new opportunities arise, students also have access to employer workshops, encounters and visits, such as #StepIntoTheNHSDay.

In Year 8, students are given the opportunity to speak to a variety of experts, including employers, apprenticeship providers, college staff and universities, during our Careers Fair. All Year 8 students take part in the 8 for 8 Challenge, which includes careers advice and 1:1 support sessions, enabling them to engage with careers and begin planning their post-16 pathways. Students are invited to take part in Chemical Engineering Industry Day delivered by DiscoverChemGen, where they gain first-hand experience of careers within the industry through practical activities and engagement with professionals. We hope that by the end of Year 8, students will have a detailed understanding of the breadth of careers available to them and the skills employers are looking for. This is supplemented by further work undertaken during extended form time about life in higher education.

In Year 9, students make their GCSE subject choices, and we encourage them to reflect carefully on their opportunities through a comprehensive options programme supported by apprenticeship providers, universities and colleges. Every student is offered an individual meeting with a member of the Senior Leadership Team to discuss their options and aspirations. Through our annual Careers Fair, students also have the opportunity to meet representatives from local colleges and training providers, providing impartial guidance on their post-16 options. A variety of colleges attend our Parents' Evening to support both students and parents in making informed GCSE choices. As further opportunities arise, students also benefit from employer workshops, encounters and visits, including visits to Adlib, LIPA and subject-specific career-related experiences.

In Year 10, our focus shifts to developing aspirations and striving for achievement. Alongside the annual Careers Fair, students have opportunities to engage with representatives from a range of colleges, universities and apprenticeship providers, helping them to understand the different pathways available. All students are given 1:1 support from Mr Butler and supported in completing a work experience placement, providing a valuable opportunity to experience the world of work first-hand. We encourage students to secure their own placements, helping to develop resilience, confidence and aspiration. A structured six-week programme of PD lessons prepares students for their placements, and employer feedback is consistently positive, with students also gaining valuable labour market information (LMI). Later in the year, students visit two local colleges, WLC and KCC, allowing them to experience post-16 education and make informed decisions about their next steps.

In Year 11, students are offered a minimum of three 1:1 interview with our Careers Adviser, Mr Butler, to discuss their plans for life after Kirkby High School. All students are encouraged to submit at least three applications for post-16 pathways, supported by visits from further education providers during lunchtime and Mr Butler's weekly Application Club, held every Monday after school. These opportunities help students map out their career goals and understand the different routes available to achieve them. Higher education providers also attend Parents' Evenings to support students and parents in making informed post-16 decisions. Throughout Year 11, form time and PD sessions focus on post-16 options and the application process, with staff providing support throughout. Colleges and apprenticeship providers also deliver assemblies to ensure all students receive a broad range of information to help them make well-informed choices.

Measuring Success

To ensure a successful careers curriculum, we review our programme annually every autumn Term. Additionally, we will measure the success of our careers programme against the Gatsby Benchmarks, a nationwide framework of guidelines that define the best careers provision in secondary schools.

Access Arrangements

Aspiration Evenings

The upcoming Progress and Aspiration Evenings for Years Eight, Nine, Ten and Eleven will be attended by a variety of colleges, apprenticeship information providers and Universities including:

• Knowlsey Community College

• Winstanley College

• Carmel College

• ASK – Apprenticeship information provider.

• West Lancs College

• Liverpool Hope University

• LIPA

• All-Saints Sixth Form

• Careers Connect – Labor Market information provider.

This is a great opportunity to help learn more information about the range of options available to your child.

Useful Links

Provider Access Policy

CIEAG Careers Policy 2025-26

Gatsby Benchmarks

Careers Connect

Home Page - BeMore

Information for Parents

https://investin.org/pages/parent-events?mc_cid=32f4493b14&mc_eid=cdc8272373

Employers

If you are an employer and would be interested in supporting our school, we would love to hear from you. Please use the contact details above to get in touch.

School and College Open Evenings

Remember, you can apply to as many colleges and 6th forms as you want and delay making a decision about which one to go to, until you have your GCSE results. Some may have closing dates in spring but you should apply before Christmas anyway.

List includes sixth forms and colleges around Liverpool and nearby.

City of Liverpool College – tbc

www.liv-coll.ac.uk

Tel: 0151 252 3000

• Vauxhall Road campus - Construction and building services, Engineering, Motor Vehicle, Apprenticeships

• LEX campus - Health and Social Care, Childcare and Early Years, Sport and Uniformed Public Services, English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL)

• Arts Centre campus - Performing Arts, Music and Media, Fashion, Art and Design, Photography, Digital Academy

• Clarence Street campus - Sixth Form, A Levels and BTECs, GCSE programmes, Access to Higher Education

• Duke Street campus - Hair, Beauty and Aesthetics, Catering, Bakery and Hospitality, Travel and Tourism, Retail

• Vauxhall Road campus - Construction and building services, Engineering, Motor Vehicle, Apprenticeships

• LEX campus - Health and Social Care, Childcare and Early Years, Sport and Uniformed Public Services, English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL)

• Arts Centre campus - Performing Arts, Music and Media, Fashion, Art and Design, Photography, Digital Academy

• Clarence Street campus - Sixth Form, A Levels and BTECs, GCSE programmes, Access to Higher Education

• Duke Street campus - Hair, Beauty and Aesthetics, Catering, Bakery and Hospitality, Travel and Tourism, Retail

Keep an eye on the below table which details the upcoming college open days.

College Open Events 2026-2027

Careers, Employment and Apprenticeships

National

https://www.lmiforall.org.uk/

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/ - reliable information on lots of careers and jobs, navigate to explore careers section

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ - reliable information – navigate to job profiles, amongst other useful areas.

https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship - National Apprenticeship Service – search for apprenticeships.

https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/ - Apprenticeship information

https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/gor/2092957699/report.aspx

Local (Merseyside and Knowsley)

https://www.knowsleyinfo.co.uk/knowsley-local-offer-send/16-25-year-olds-becoming-adult – Knowsley local offer for Young people with SEND/EHCP’s

https://www.knowsley.gov.uk/education-and-schools/post-16-options - Knowsley MBC Post 16 options information

https://lcrbemore.co.uk/ - The Liverpool City Region Be More portal is an award-winning UCAS-style apprenticeship and careers portal. It seeks to remove some of the barriers which prevent people from taking on apprenticeships and additional training. It brings together opportunities from across Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, and Wirral to create a fairer, stronger, cleaner City Region where nobody is left behind.

https://www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/growing-our-economy

https://growthplatform.org/sectors/

Destination Data