Careers Guidance

OADV Careers Guidance 2025-2026

At Oasis Academy Don Valley, we believe that careers education is not only the key to the future success of our students, but has the power to be truly transformational in their lives.  To ensure that our careers education programme has the impact desired by the Academy it is fully integrated into our curriculum.  This means that skills for work readiness are delivered through all curriculum areas, from Year 7 onwards.  All members of staff are able to offer advice about the relevance of their subject specialisms in terms of jobs and careers pathways, in addition to being trained in the options available for Post-16 Education, from T Levels to A Levels and Apprenticeships. The real life applications of in-class knowledge and skills are made obvious to our students, reflecting our belief that skills for the world of work need to sit at the centre of a robust careers education programme.  

Students will benefit from a carefully tailored program that meets their careers and guidance needs from Year 7 through to Year 11. To help us do this we will link our careers guidance to the Gatsby Benchmarks which have been explicitly referenced throughout the DfE’s Careers Strategy (December 2017) and the new Statuary Guidance for careers (January 2018).

These 8 benchmarks are outlined below.

1. A stable careers programme
2. Learning from career and labour market information
3. Addressing the needs of each student
4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
5. Encounters with employers and employees
6. Experiences of workplaces
7. Encounters with further and higher education
8. Personal guidance

Through Advisory Time and the Academy’s Cultural and Character programme core skills for employability including, problem solving, personal organisation and communication are delivered.  Throughout their time at the Academy all students will have be given the opportunity to attend visits to different University’s, attend careers events and workshops before opting for GCSEs. Through the Enterprise Advisor Network we will work to bridge the gap between the worlds of work and education, working in partnership with local employers and businesses to enrich the curriculum and careers provision. In addition to this there will be access to Careers Fairs, Employer Engagement Events and a comprehensive calendar of visits from representatives of business and industry.

All young people are required by law to continue in education or training until they are 18 and we are committed to ensuring that they are able to progress to the most appropriate post 16 option, which might be at a sixth form or FE college, apprenticeship or traineeship. To this end we will work closely with local providers to ensure that students are directed towards the most relevant qualification for their skills and aspirations.  Every student will receive individual careers interviews and guidance, in addition to support writing CVs and Personal Statements. Opportunities to work with employers and under-take work related learning will be made available to pupils, and all will receive support and guidance in applying for post-16 courses, including apprenticeships. · Additional support for students with special educational needs and disabilities or who may face barriers to making progress post 16 will be provided.

Provision will be reviewed -termly as our Careers Provision is established. Review dates for 2026 will be as follows: 

·         Thursday 30^th April 

·         Thursday 17^th July 

Please click here to read: OCL Careers Guidance Policy

 

Please click here to access OADVs Careers Accessibilty Policy 2025-26

Please click here to access Provider Access guidnace for all Career Providers 2025-26