Careers
Careers Information
As part of our commitment to careers education, The Castle School will:
Provide students with access to up to date, relevant and impartial careers information, advice and guidance that supports their aspirations and helps prepare them for their next steps
Help students to develop the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions at key transition points and to participate in post 16 education and/or employment
Build career readiness through ensuring students have the skills, knowledge and behaviours required for the world of work
Delivering good careers education is a whole school responsibility. Our careers provision is integrated through Career Lessons and Activities, Enrichment Days, Tutor Time, PSHE and Class Assemblies; helping to ensure key learning outcomes and aims are achieved.
Careers Staff
For further information regarding the school’s Careers Programme, please contact:
Miss Emily Wishart (Careers Lead) ewishart@castle.bep.ac
Mrs Michelle Rolls (Work Experience Coordinator) mrolls@castle.bep.ac
Mr Darryl Simpson (SLT Careers Lead) office@castle.bep.ac
Mr Laurie Morgan (School Governor, focus Careers) office@castle.bep.ac
Careers Programme
Our Careers Programme is delivered through year 7 to year 11. Click here to view the Careers Programme for 2026-2027. Coming soon!
Provider Access Statement
The school is committed to ensuring that all students in Years 8 to 11 have access to information about the range of post 16 education and training opportunities available to them. During their time at school, students will have opportunities to engage with a variety of education and training providers; helping them to make informed choices about their next steps.
Our Provider Access Statement outlines how post 16 learning providers can engage with students in Years 8 to 11.
You can view our Provider Access Statement here.
Gatsby Benchmarks
Our Careers Programme is aligned with the Gatsby Benchmarks. We review and evaluate our careers provision against these benchmarks on a termly basis to ensure that it continues to meet statutory requirements and delivers positive outcomes for all students.
Gatsby Benchmarks
1 A stable careers programme
2 Learning from labour market information
3 Addressing the needs of every pupil
4 Linking curriculum to careers
5 Encounters with employers and employees
6 Experiences of the workplace
7 Encounters with further and higher education
8 Personal guidance
You can learn more about The Gatsby Benchmarks here.
The Castle School works closely with the Somerset Careers Hub and is supported by a Careers and Enterprise Adviser from the Careers and Enterprise Company in the delivery and development of our Careers Programme and the achievement of the Gatsby Benchmarks.
More information about the Careers and Enterprise Company can be accessed here.
Personal Guidance Meetings
All students are seen by a qualified Careers Advisor whilst at school who provides impartial one to one information, advice, and guidance to support them with their career aspirations, future plans and next steps.
Students are seen in years 10/11 for an individual career guidance interview and will receive a copy of their meeting notes in the form of an action plan. Parents/carers are encouraged to support them in completing agreed next steps.
Parents/carers are welcome to attend their child’s careers interview. If you would like to be involved, please contact Miss Wishart at office@castle.bep.ac to arrange a mutually convenient appointment.
Useful Links
Below is a selection of useful websites and online resources to help students and parents/carers explore education, employment and training opportunities. Students and parents/carers are encouraged to explore these resources regularly.
Find an Apprenticeships Service
An online service for students to search and apply for apprenticeship opportunities.
Supported Internships are work based study programmes for young people aged 16 to 24 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) who have and an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan.
Skill Up Somerset offer free, impartial advice and guidance on skills, training and apprenticeship opportunities across Somerset.
The Student Padlet provides regular updates on local opportunities, events and resources to support careers education and planning for future pathways.
The National Careers Service provides confidential information, advice and guidance to help people make decisions about employment, education and training.
Choosing the right subjects to study post 16 can be very important for accessing certain university courses, particularly a Russell Group University. Informed Choices provides guidance to help students make informed decisions about their post 16 options and future progression routes.
Local Further Education & Training Providers
Below is a list of local colleges and training providers that students might wish to consider for post 16 study. We encourage students and parents/carers to visit provider websites and attend open days and information events to explore the facilities, find out more about available courses, entry requirements and progression opportunities.
University Centre Somerset College Group
Labour Market Information (LMI)
Students are encouraged to use Labour Market Information (LMI) to make informed decisions about post 16 education, employment and training.
Labour market information provides valuable insights into local and national career opportunities, including growth sectors, salary expectations and qualification and skill requirements. Students, parents and carers are encouraged to use Learning from Career and Labour Market Information and Careerometer.
Information for Families
Parents and carers play a key role in supporting young people with their career planning and next step preparation. Regular conversations exploring education, employment and training options can help students to feel more informed and confident about their next steps.
The resources below provide valuable information to support discussions at home.
Useful Resources:
Information to help students and their families understand KS4 option choices and how they can link to future education, employment and training
Companies with Apprenticeships
Useful resource listing employers who offer apprenticeship programmes and general information on apprenticeships
Information on the range of pathways available after year 11, including: T Levels, A Levels, Apprenticeships, Foundation Apprenticeships, Supported Internships and Apprenticeships and BTECs
Information on higher education, apprenticeships, employment, gap years and other progression routes available
Resources for Choosing Which Career
Useful websites with tools and activities to help students explore interests, understand job roles and plan for the future
Somerset Careers Hub | Facebook
Follow Somerset Careers Hub on Facebook to view valuable information to help support your child in making informed choices
How Families can help
We value the support that parents and carers can bring to our Careers Programme and offer a range of opportunities to get involved. By sharing your knowledge, experience and insights you can help students to develop a greater understanding of the world of work and the wide range of opportunities available to them.
We welcome support from parents/carers across a range of activities, including:
Careers fairs
Career talks and presentations
Employer led projects and assignments
Workplace visits and tasters
Work experience placements
Mock interviews
Supporting curriculum learning through industry talks
If you would like to support our Careers Programme or find out more about how you can get involved, please contact us at office@castle.bep.co.uk.
Information for Teachers
Subject teachers are highly influential in supporting students to make informed decisions about their future education, employment and training pathways. Careers education should be embedded across all subjects, helping students to understand the relevance of the subject they are learning. By making links between curriculum learning and the world of work, teachers can help to raise aspirations and broaden students’ understanding of the opportunities available to them.
Ways to support:
Connect subject learning to the essential employability skills. Actively practise and aim to develop these skills. Celebrate students that do these things well.
Discuss careers and pathways related to your subject. Talk to your students about their next steps.
Keep up to date with developments in post 16 education, qualifications and workplace training, especially local opportunities.
Talk to students about how employment is changing; careers of the future and those in decline.
Play videos of people from various backgrounds talking about their careers linking to your subject.
Use case studies of successful and/or famous people from a range of backgrounds working in your subject.
Challenge stereotypes of people working and learning in your field.
Invite former students back to your class to talk about working and/or studying in subject.
Make a display about careers and further learning related to your subject.
Link subject learning to the real world and industry so learners understand the connection. Connect with local businesses to make meaningful links between your subject and industry.
Introduce a careers element to trips; for example, by asking adults to explain their job and their pathway into it.
Teachers can find further help and support here.
Information for Employers
Employers play an important role in helping to prepare our students for future employment, education and training. Providing meaningful opportunities for young people to develop their knowledge and understanding of the world of work and career opportunities, alongside the key skills needed for employment, is a priority for the school.
We welcome support from employers across a range of activities, including:
Careers fairs
Career talks and presentations
Employer led projects and assignments
Workplace visits and tasters
Work experience placements
Mock interviews
Supporting curriculum learning through industry talks
If you would like to support our Careers Programme or find out more about how you can get involved, please contact us at office@castle.bep.co.uk.
Information for Alumni
We value the success of our former students and welcome Alumni into the school to support our Careers Programme. If you are a former student and would like to support our Careers Programme or find out more about how you can get involved, please contact us at office@castle.bep.co.uk.
Destination Data
Our student destination data can be viewed here. This data shows the percentage of students staying in education/training or going into employment after key stage 4. The Castle School regularly reviews and evaluates student destination data to develop and improve the impact of our Careers Programme.
Feedback Welcome
Feedback is actively sought from students, parents, carers, employers and teachers following all careers activity. This feedback is evaluated and used to inform and improve our Careers Programme. Please contact us at office@castle.bep.ac if you’d like to give any feedback.