Careers

Sturminster Newton High School is committed to ensuring that all young people have access to good and realistic information and guidance about the full range of career pathways available to them.

We aim to ensure that all our students are self-confident, skilled and career-ready.

This will be achieved through a programme of high quality, planned Careers and Work Related Learning activities, advice and guidance which meets the Gatsby Benchmarks for careers advice, namely:

1.. A stable careers programme

2. Learning from career and labour market information

3. Addressing the needs of each pupil

4. Linking curriculum learning to careers

5. Encounters with employers and employees (Access dorsetlep.co.uk)

6. Experiences of workplaces

7. Encounters with further and higher education

8. Personal guidance

In addition, Gatsby Benchmarks are being updated from September 2025:

Gatsby Benchmarks key updates/amendments:

·        Careers at the Heart of Education and Leadership: Careers Guidance is now a whole-institution responsibility, integrated into strategic planning and leadership (Benchmarks 1,2,3,5)

·        Inclusion and Impact: Tailored support for every student, with particular attention to those who are vulnerable, disadvantaged or have SEND (1, 2, 6)

·        Meaningful and Varied Encounters – Moving away from a set period of Work Experiences, students should encounter a greater variety of employer and workplace experiences, including opportunities for preparation and reflection.

 Sturminster Newton High School is a pilot school for this, working closely with Dorset Chamber to expand student encounters (1, 2, 6)

·        Information and Data Use: Enhanced used of data to inform guidance, track aspirations and evaluate long-term outcomes

·        Parent/Carer Engagement now embedded, recognising their influence on career decisions made by students (1, 2)

If you would like to speak to a member of the team either for advice or to offer a talk/visit for our students, please contact the school on careers@mysnhs.net.

To view the policy statement on Careers Guidance, please visit the school policies page

The school’s named career leader is Paul Dodman who can facilitate impartial information advice and guidance for students, supported by the Heads of Year. 

A designated Careers Adviser, Steve Martin conducts face to face interviews to provide students with impartial advice on all aspects of future education, employment and training. 

Students are also able to request individual appointments (with priority going to Years 11, 12 and 13) or may be referred by school staff. 

All students identified on the Dorset Council RONI list and disadvantaged students are seen during key transition points.

Every student will have at least one face to face careers appointment during KS4

The school also works with the Careers and Enterprise Company and its Enterprise Advisor to deliver careers advice and guidance and allows providers of technical education, college course, T-Levels etc. access to the school to inform students regarding the progression routes they offer. 

As an overview, each year group lessons aim to build the importance of considering future plans, building aspiration and challenging negative impressions, with specific reference to - 

Year 7

• Building self-esteem via discussions of students’ own skills and qualities

• Challenging workplace stereotypes

• Set up accounts on CareerPilot and eventually Unifrog

• Outside speakers (e.g. local vet) to begin employer encounters

Year 8:

• Discussing which subjects can lead to which jobs and careers/importance of school subjects

• Explore Job and Career groups and families

• Further Work/research on CareerPilot and Unifrog

• Aspirational Visit to Bournemouth University

• Visit Careers Fair to begin encounters with employers
  

Year 9:

• Research into specific jobs and careers/how to get there

• The importance of choosing the right option subjects (leading into the Options Evening in Spring Term)

• Work with Young Enterprise to deliver the Learn to Earn programme (whole day activities) in March

• Selected students to begin employer visits in line with the new way of delivering Experience of the Workplace
  

Year 10:

• Individual Careers Interviews with Careers Adviser

• Visit Careers Fair to further encounters with employers

• Further research into local job and apprenticeship opportunities

• Outside speakers (e.g. The Army, The NHS) to expand student experiences

• Application process for Work Experience leading to 5 day placement in July

• Mock Interview Day to boost confidence and provide experience

Year 11:

• Individual Careers Interviews with Careers Adviser

• Writing professional personal statements and CVs

• Completing Post 16 Action Plan tailored to suit individual student needs

• Personal interviews to discuss sixth form and future choices

Years 12 and 13:

• Further work experience programme in Year 12 (February)

• UCAS convention visit to increase aspiration

• Visits to Universities (Bournemouth, Southampton, Bath Spa etc and other FE/HE providers

• Individual Careers Interviews with Careers Adviser

• “Dragon’s Den” style entrepreneurial challenge

• Mock interviews/CV building

• Individual help and guidance for UCAS applications including specialist mentors for Medicine applications

In addition, the school aims to promote Careers and Work-related Learning via:

1.  Displays relating to careers in subject areas and the variety of progression routes available to students 

2.  References to careers and employment in lessons and the engagement of guest speakers 

3.  STEM activities and presentations 

4.  Employer links and presentations in assemblies 

5.   Activities to mark National Careers week 

Here are additional sources of information that students, parents and carers are able to access, that may be helpful: