Careers Programme
At James Brindley Academy we see careers education as more than guidance. It is about opening doors, raising aspirations and helping every pupil see what is possible for their future. Our Careers Programme is built on the Gatsby Benchmarks and gives pupils the chance to explore real opportunities, connect with employers and gain the confidence to take their next step.
The Careers Team
At James Brindley we have a whole school approach to careers with all staff supporting the delivery of Careers through the Careers Programme and within curriculum areas. In addition, we have a designated Careers team:
| Kevin Biggs – Assistant Principal – Careers Lead Email: biggsk@jamesbrindley.org.uk | Phone: 07714292070 |
| Paula Quiney – Careers Adviser Email: quineyp@jamesbrindley.org.uk |
| Denise Wint – Careers Adviser & Enterprise Engagement Officer Email: wintd@jamesbrindley.org.uk |
| Jackie Plimmer – Enterprise Coordinator Email: Jackie.Plimmer@wmca.org.uk |
Employer Involvement
At James Brindley Academy, we believe every young person deserves a future full of opportunity — but some need a little extra support to get there.
We’re looking to partner with local businesses and employers who share our values of inclusion, aspiration, and opportunity. Whether you can give an hour or develop a long-term partnership, your involvement could change the life of a young person who just needs the right chance.
💼 Could you offer a workplace visit, a talk, a skills session or work experience?
📢 Could your team inspire our pupils through virtual Q&As or project-based learning?
As a special school and alternative provision, many of our young people face additional barriers to employment — but with the right guidance and exposure to the world of work, they can and do thrive.
Join us in making a difference.
Our Vision
James Brindley Academy’s vision states ‘all children and young people have the right to an education that provides them with the skills and opportunity to achieve their potential regardless of their circumstances or medical needs’ and believe that careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) is at the heart of achieving this. We are committed to a considered and well planned programme which incorporates GATSBY benchmarks which is creative, robust yet flexible to meet all pupils’ needs. We support pupils in making well-informed decisions by providing access to differentiated, impartial and independent information and guidance about the range of options and pathways to help them to achieve their goals.
National Quality in Careers Standard
We are thrilled to have achieved the National Quality in Careers Standard awarded by Ixion (Part of the Shaw Trust Group) in November 2021. At James Brindley Academy we recognise the important role school plays in helping students develop their knowledge, skills and experience so they can go out into the world and achieve personal success. This standard has provided a flexible framework that enabled us to audit our work on careers and ensure our students are receiving advice, practical support and experience so they are prepared for the next stage of their education, employment, self-employment or training.
Opportunities and Support
The team are dedicated to ensuring every pupil receives personalised support to plan their next steps. With a commitment to raising aspirations, they provide a wide range of opportunities including external trips, guest speakers and integrated careers weeks. Pupils are equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to succeed in their chosen pathways.
Aims of Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) at James Brindley Academy from Y7 to Y11:
Our Careers Programme Aims
Links to useful websites:
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Measuring the impact of our Careers Programme
The Academy’s progress towards achieving the Gatsby Benchmarks is evaluated termly, using the Careers and Enterprise Compass + tool, and we are proud that we met all eight of the Gatsby Benchmarks by December 2020 and continue to do so.
Careers provision is monitored through regular feedback from pupils, parents, carers, staff, trustees and external partners. This feedback is collected through questionnaires and face to face discussions following key careers activities throughout the academic year. This is analysed by the Careers Lead and careers team with actions fed back to staff via careers team meetings and to the senior leadership team. Key action points will also be included in the Careers Team Action Plan.
The effectiveness of our careers programme is reflected in the number of pupils progressing and sustaining positive destinations such as traineeships, apprenticeships, mainstream and special schools with sixth forms, sixth form colleges, mainstream and specialist further education colleges, employment or voluntary work with training. We follow up young people for 3 years then this destination data is used to assess how successfully pupils make the transition to the next stage and to inform future careers provision at James Brindley. This is analysed by the Careers Lead and careers team with actions fed back to staff via briefings and the senior leadership team. Key action points will also be included in the annual Careers Team Action Plan and the Academy development plan.
The Careers Policy was written and approved by the Executive Leadership Team and is reviewed annually.
The Careers Policy can be found on our Academy Policies page linked here.