Aspire Academy is committed to ensuring our students have the best possible chances of success when they leave the Academy, either at the end of Year 11 or when reintegrated back to a mainstream school.
As part of this commitment, we have, and encourage, high aspirations for all of our students, particularly around the futures, and their opportunities post-16. We believe all of our students can succeed after Aspire, either in further education, volunteering, apprenticeships / traineeships or work with accredited training. We pride ourselves on offering 1-2-1 support to all of our students to ensure they are able to flourish when they leave us. Our current rate of NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) is 4.3% (2022-23) and our participation rate is 84.9%.
Link: Provider Access Statement
Link: Careers Strategy 2024-25
At Aspire we aim to meet all of the Gatsby benchmarks set out as part of the national careers agenda:
We have an overriding strategy for careers provision, which is outlined here. Our Provider Access Statement is linked here: Provider Access Statement
Our provision in school includes a number of different aspects including:
The programme is regularly evaluated as a whole, with feedback from students, parents / carers and providers and data analysis around destinations.
Good quality careers education and guidance will help you develop the knowledge, confidence and skills you need to make well-informed career choices.
Deciding what to do in the future can be difficult. With many different options, qualifications and courses to choose from it can be hard to decide. Some people have a clear idea of what they want to do and how to achieve it but not everyone is like this.
Everyone is different but it is important to start thinking about the future. Think about what your skills are and what you are good at. You will do this during PSHE lessons delivered throughout the year and within the wider curriculum, like within your vocational lessons.
Your Study
At Key Stage 3, you will study PSHE which includes a focus on thinking about your future and careers. These lessons and experiences will help you build life skills essential for preparing for working life. You will also experience vocational subjects to see what you enjoy doing and help you make decisions about what you want to study in Year 10. You will work with the external providers – such as the Royal Navy – on skills building days and activities and have an opportunity to meet people from different companies and workplaces. You will also be able to attend careers fairs and find out more about what providers are out there that you can attend.
At Key Stage 4, you will continue to have access to our PSHE programme which will look at working life and careers. You will have opportunities to write CVs, complete Mock Interviews and complete career research in specific sessions delivered to you during the year. You will also have a practical vocation to study and will look at career options and preparation for working life, including the opportunity to visit or be visited by employers and workers from that area. You will have the opportunity to work with a mentor to focus on your future and receive additional guidance and support. All year 10 students have the opportunity to complete a work experience placement or gain some work based experience in-house.
In Year 11, you will have access to 1:1 careers advice with Connexions and our onsite Transition Mentor. You will be supported in making applications to College / apprenticeships and the interview and acceptance process. As an academy we will continue to track, support and find solutions where required right the way through your first year away from Aspire. For those students with EHCPs, you will receive support in planning for your future as part of your Annual Reviews, starting in Year 9.
By law, all students at the Academy are entitled to impartial information, advice and guidance. If you would like an appointment, please see Mrs Boyton, or speak to your tutor who can contact Mrs Charles or Mrs Taylor for a Connexions appointment.
You can also call the National Careers Service on 0800 100 900 or web-chat here. This service is open 7 days a week, 8am to 10pm. There is also a Hull base for the National Careers Service within Hull Central Library.
Hull students can call Connexions, or see them independently. Details can be found here.
East Riding students, please click here for additional support, help and advice.
There are various websites that can give you some idea of careers that may be suitable for you.
Further Education providers
Aspire offers a range of support and opportunities for students, which both advises and prepares them for post-16. In addition, we offer on-going support after our students leave in year 11. This support can include helping students attend their first few days to overcome any anxiety or concerns about a new setting. It can also be used to help broker a different course or pathway if a student is not enjoying their current course. Aspire recognises that things do not always work out as expected but we are committed to ensuring that all students are settled in an appropriate post-16 provision, of choice, by the November following their departure in Year 11.
At Key Stage 3, PSHE and our rotational programme of Personal Development sessions, ensures all students access information about careers, aspirations and the local labour market. Students will also take part in skills building sessions with the Royal Navy and have the opportunity to meet some providers for post-16
At Key Stage 4, PSHE and our rotational programme of Personal Development sessions, ensures all students access information about careers, aspirations and the local labour market. In addition, all students move onto a curriculum incorporating work-based vocational qualifications, alongside traditional GCSE subjects. We aim to ensure all year 10 students have the opportunity to complete a work experience placement, either within school, or externally.
Year 11 have access to 1:1 careers advice with Connexions and our onsite Careers Officer. They are supported in applications and the interview and acceptance process. Aspire continues to track, support and find solutions where required right the way through their first year away from Aspire. For those students with EHCPs, this process starts in Year 9 as part of the section 4 Annual Review transition planning.
As a parent / carer, having regular conversations with your child about their aspirations or goals is really helpful in guiding them in a particular career direction. There is lots of support available within the Academy and you are welcome to contact Mrs Boyton, Mrs Baker or your child’s tutor if you require any further information or wish to discuss options further. We will run at least two opportunities to come into the Academy during the year to meet with providers and Connexions so that you can ask questions, or get further information, around your child’s choices.
Link: The Parents Guide to National Careers Week 2023
Aspire Academy works closely with employers in the local area to support our students. This includes facilitating visits to workplaces and inviting employers in, in person or virtually, to speak, and work with, to student groups. We firmly believe that working with the local community helps raise aspirations and develops mutually beneficial links.
If you would like to work with Aspire, or visit our students, please contact Mrs C Boyton / Ms S Williams at the Academy (c.boyton@asp.hslt.academy / s.williams2@asp.hslt.academy)
We welcome opportunities for our students to meet with all providers in the local area, including FE Colleges, Sixth Form Colleges and Training Providers. We are happy for any organisation to visit our students and hold a number of small careers fairs during the year. Equally, we are also happy to bring individuals or groups to look around provisions on offer. Our Transition Mentor works closely with providers to ensure that students make a successful move into post-16. This support continues into the term after our Year 11 students leave us. Please note our Provider Access Statement is within our CEIAG Policy linked above.
If you would like to visit Aspire, or have our students access your provision, please contact Mrs C Boyton / Ms S Williams at the Academy (c.boyton@asp.hslt.academy / s.williams2@asp.hslt.academy)
Aspire Academy believes that all teachers and support staff underpin good Careers Education. Our tutors provide pastoral support that helps shape young people’s aspirations and desires. Our administration teams help build the wider skills needed to enable our young people to access post-16 provision, such as travel training and budgeting. Some of our teachers deliver specific lessons in the curriculum targeted at CEIAG, including KS3 and through our extensive vocational programme. All our teaching staff deliver elements of Careers within their subjects such as diversity, self-reflection and personal presentation.
Should you wish to contact the lead for Careers Information, Education, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) within Aspire, please contact:
Arrange an appointment in school with Ms Charles (Connexions) or Mrs Baker.
You can call 0800 100 900 or webchat with someone from the national careers service, 7 days a week, 8am to 10pm.
There is a Hull base for the National Careers Service within Hull Central Library.
Hull students can also call Connexions, or see them independently. Details can be found here:
East Riding students, please click here for additional support, help and advice.
Browse Careers Information
The best way to start is by talking about it to teachers, tutors, advisers and family! What ideas do you have? What ideas do they have? What are your interests? Then try following these links to allow you to search and browse for careers and further education opportunities:
Further Education providers
Online information
