Careers Leader: Lucy Kinnear
Email: info.brierley@coopacademies.co.uk
Tel: 0113 323 0073

At Co-op Academy Brierley, we are committed to ensuring all of our students have access to impartial careers advice and a wide range of employers and providers.

Our programme is aligned to the updated Gatsby Benchmarks (2025) and statutory DfE Careers Guidance (May 2025). We aim to inspire pupils, raise aspirations, promote equality of opportunity and support students to make informed decisions about their future.

At Co-op Academy Brierley we will use Gatsby Benchmarks as a framework of best practice to develop and improve our careers provision to ensure that we not only fulfil legal duties of providing opportunities for a range of education and training providers to access all students in Year 7 to year 13 but to also have CEIAG programs that meet the needs of an ever changing cohort.

All of our students are entitled:

1. To find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeships opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point;
2. To hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships
3. To understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses.

These provider encounters will be scheduled during the main academy hours and there will a minimum expectation that our providers will provide :-

• Information about the provider and the approved technical education qualifications or apprenticeships they offer
• Information about the careers to which those technical education qualifications or apprenticeships might lead i.e career routes
• Description of what learning or training with the provider is like, including the opportunity to meet staff and students where possible.
• Opportunities for students to ask questions, including our most vulnerable and those with additional learning needs

Click here to read the full legislation.

We deliver careers education through:

• Bespoke workshops

• Assemblies

• Work visits

• Work experience (including in-school for some pathways)

• Mock interviews

• Immersion/insight days

• Careers fairs and career “safaris”

• Employer encounters and visiting speakers

• FE College visits

• Subject-linked curriculum opportunities

The Gatsby Benchmarks are a framework for school leaders, headteachers, and careers advisors to assess the development of their pupils in employability skills. They also help students track their own progress and identify areas in which they need to continue developing their skills.

1. A stable careers programme

• Assemblies
• Presentations
• PSHE curriculum
• Visits
• Workshops
• Curriculum
• Projects

2. Learning from career and labour market information

• Assemblies
• Google Classroom / website / library / careers bulletin
• Careers themed weeks
• Briefings and publications

3. Addressing the needs of each pupil

• Future Skills Questionairres
• Application and destination information
• Transition meetings
• EHCP and PEP meetings
• Reports
• Referrals

4. Linking curriculum learning to careers

• STEM Careers week
• National Careers week
• Curriculum offer themed weeks

5. Encounters with employers and employees

• World of work day
• Careers Fair
• Visits
• Speakers for Schools
• Apprenticeship and Careers weeks

6. Experiences of workplaces

• Visits
• Employer presentations
• Science Fair
• Business Breakfasts

7. Encounters with further and higher education

• Careers Fair
• Assemblies
• Visits 

8. Personal guidance

• 1:1 Interviews
• Transition meetings and presentations

Please click below to take a look at some guidance around Post 16 and College options

We do not expect Year 11 pupils to be on roll until 2026/27.

After this, we will publish data regarding our learners' destinations. 

Links to various FE colleges

Swarthmore College - https://www.swarthmore.org.uk/ 

Camphill College- https://camphill.ac.uk 

Nacro- https://www.nacro.org.uk/nacro-services/nacro-education/nacro-education-leeds/ 

The Vine- https://leedscitycollege.ac.uk/campuses/the-vine/ 

Pinc College- https://pinccollege.co.uk/yorkshire-creative-learning-studios/ 

Lighthouse future Trust- https://lighthousefuturestrust.org.uk/ 

Leeds College of Building- https://www.lcb.ac.uk/find-a-course/16-18-school-leavers-courses/bridge-builder-programme/

Henshaws College-https://www.henshaws.org.uk/specialist-college/ 

Apprenticeships

https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship 

https://www.ucas.com/apprenticeships-in-the-uk

 https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/apprenticeships

https://allaboutapprenticeships.co.uk/ 

https://amazingapprenticeships.com/ 

https://careerfinder.ucas.com/jobs/apprenticeship/ 

Careers Games 

 https://panjango.com/pages/panjango-online

 https://icould.com/buzz-quiz/ 

Which Animal Are You? In under five minutes, discover:  your strengths and what makes you tick  / what you're like as a boyfriend or girlfriend /  which celebrities share your personality type. There are 16 possible results, each connected to an animal

Online platforms

www.startprofile.com

www.unifrog.org

www.cascaid.co.uk/xello/

www.grofar.com

Labour Market Information (LMI)

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

Leeds

Futuregoals.co.uk

Provide career inspiration to help you make those important next steps to reach your FutureGoals. Creative Industries, Digital, Manufacturing and Engineering, Construction, Professional services and Health and Social Care are all key sectors for Leeds City Region. https://futuregoals.co.uk/careerstarters/ Our way of living has changed quite a lot recently. Now, more than ever, it’s really important to keep our brains active and challenged. Without the daily structures that we’re used to, self-motivation is a really vital skill that we need to nurture and develop.

www.futuregoals.co.uk/remote

FutureGoals Remote tests your communication and planning skills, it develops your creative thinking and challenges you to think outside of the box. You will tackle activities that help you to problem solve, become innovative and step into a range of different career sectors. These resources have been designed to help you learn skills that local employers are looking for such as; communication, planning and research, problem solving, creativity, organisation and self-reflection FutureGoals Remote resources - “Create it!” - 

Other

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/  (provides information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work)

https://www.careersbox.co.uk/     (A great source of up to the minute job profile films)

https://icould.com/     (Career videos to find out about a wide range of careers and opportunities. Take the Buzz Quiz – it’s great fun!)

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/careers-of-the-future   (what does the future hold!)

https://successatschool.org/  

Success at School is the place for young people to explore careers, get the lowdown on top employers, and search for the latest jobs, courses and advice. Get career smart and Register today! Success at school have highlighted some of the different careers that are helping us through the current crisis. 

https://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/  (opportunities if you decide university is not for you)

https://uk.job-applications.com/   (has useful videos, demonstrating how to complete the online applications for many top companies in the UK, as well as providing detailed information on salaries and interviews. Applications forms can be printed off directly from this site.)

http://www.talkingjobs.net/    (An online video player that delivers a series of career case studies)

https://www.skillsbuilder.org/homelearning

Everyone needs eight essential skills to succeed - whatever their path in life. Skills builder provides a range of resources for building these skills in a home setting - all underpinned by the Skills Builder Framework. Resources are available for learners aged 4 to 20+. 

https://www.thewowshow.org/students/

The WOW Show (World of Work) - The WOW Show is a live online channel creating real-life encounters with the world of work to inspire young people about their futures. Have a look at some of the recordings and find out about any careers you are considering for your future. 

https://fledglink.com/

This free app for students aged 13+ allows students to complete a digital CV and matches them with jobs, apprenticeships and other suitable opportunities. 

https://www.speakersforschools.org/experience-2/vwex/

Speakers for schools - virtual work experiences Working with over 50 leading employers across industries, this offers students the chance to apply for interactive, high impact placements, through a safeguarded application portal and platform. During placements, students interact with employers, complete real work projects and work together to gain industry insights and skills. 

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/

Careers in Health Professions – Make a difference with a career in health. Get all the information you need to take the next step in your career. Health professions have been highlighted during the Coronavirus pandemic and demand is expected to increase. There are hundreds of types of careers in health available so it is definitely worth consideration. The NHS employs around 1.5 million people and there are over 350 roles to choose from, not just a doctor or a nurse! You can see a list of the careers available here: stepintothenhs.nhs.uk/careers and you can compare the many varied careers available here: healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/compare-roles 

Parents

https://targetcareers.co.uk/parents-and-teachers

https://careerready.org.uk/parents

https://www.careeralchemy.co.uk/choosing-career-paths.html