Careers Advice

Careers Information

Airedale Academy is committed to providing high quality careers education advice and guidance which supports learners in developing an awareness of their skills, talents and areas of interest. We endeavour to help students with their career paths, supporting them to make informed choices about their future. Students are given information about the full range of options including apprenticeships, T Levels, A Levels and vocational courses.

Information, advice and guidance is offered to students at key transition points including in Year 9 when making Key Stage 4 Option Choices.  Parents and carers are invited to Options Evening before final choices are made.

Students are further supported in plans for when they leave school during Year 10 and 11 with information and advice around their Post 16 options. They also have the benefit of attending college taster days prior to making applications.

6th Form Students are able to explore and research Post 18 options though completion of the Progression Module. Visiting speakers come to school to give information on topics such as student finance and those that choose to apply to university are supported with this process. Information about apprenticeships and employment pathways is delivered alongside help with making applications. Pupils have the opportunity to attend subject specific taster days and the higher education events e.g. UCAS HE Fair.

A wider programme of activities from Year 7 – 11 includes the school careers fair, mock interviews, enterprise days, assemblies with speakers from different industries and careers lessons during drop down days.

At Airedale Academy we are keen to raise aspirations for our students to consider Higher Education as a possibility for them. Over the last couple of years, through Go Higher West Yorkshire funding, students took part in a wide range of opportunities such as university visits, taster days, enterprise activities and projects with local employers.

Previously, some of our students in Year 9 & 10 have participated in trips to University of Huddersfield, University of Hull, Sheffield Hallam University and Leeds City College / University Centre.  These experiences have given them all an insight into Higher Education and student life, encouraging them to aim high!

As a school we are continually building links with businesses in the local area to inform and inspire our students about job opportunities.

We are fortunate to have an Enterprise Adviser, Jane Walton supporting us with our careers programme in school. Jane’s expertise is in supporting others to become self employed and she has been to school to talk to Year 9 about running your own business.

Locally and nationally there continues to be a demand for people with skills and knowledge in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).  STEM Careers are promoted widely through a range of activities in school.

The Careers programme at Airedale is evaluated annually. Evaluation and planning for our Careers Programme is based on achieving the Gatsby Benchmarks which outline good practice for schools.

Gatsby Benchmarks Explained

Please see the downloads at the end of this page for or more detailed information on our CEIAG Programme linked to Gatsby Benchmarks.

We also welcome contacts from employers, colleges, universities and training providers.  Further information can be found here through our Provider Access Policy, linked below as well.

Careers Staff

The Careers Leader in school is Mr Roberson and the Careers Lead is Mrs Sergeant.

If you wish to get in touch please contact the school direct on 01977 664555 or email info@aa.castlefordtrust.co.uk

 

Further Careers Information

Student Destinations

Summary of Destinations

All students are supported to make applications and secure a place Post 16.
Below is a summary of destinations data for recent school leavers.  All of those In Learning progressed to college, 6th form or an apprenticeship.

2023:

  • In Learning (Employment, Education or Training)  96%
  • NEET 3.4%

2024:

  • In Learning (Education, Employment or Training    94.3%
  • NEET  5.7 %

Destinations for our students include the following:

  • Airedale Academy 6th Form
  • NEW College Pontefract
  • Wakefield College
  • Leeds City College
  • Askham Bryan College

 

Information for Students

OPTIONS AFTER YEAR 11 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (1)

Resources

Wakefield Prospectus

The Wakefield Prospectus site is the central application website for a number of local colleges.  Please note that any colleges and 6th forms not on the site have links on their websites for direct applications.

Exploring Career Ideas?  Here are some useful websites to get you started.

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Career Pilot

A great place to start for information about your option choices, apprenticeships, university, jobs and careers.

UCAS

Use this website for information about Higher Education and University Courses. Please note that applications for Further Education have now been moved to the Wakefield Prospectus Website.

Apprenticeships

The National Apprenticeships website; this is where you can find out more about apprenticeships and also search and apply for apprenticeships with local businesses.

National Apprenticeship 

Yorkshire Apprenticeship Service

This website brings together information on apprenticeships and vacancies from across our region all into once place.

Jobs, Opportunities & Growing Industries in Yorkshire

Future Goals is a new website with information about exciting opportunities and growing industries in our region. These include Construction, Manufacturing & Engineering, Health and Social Care, Creative Industries, Digital and Financial and Professional Services.

Jobs of the Future

Thinking outside the box booklet

Help Within School

Year 11 students will be seen for guidance both in small groups and one to one, however any student in school can request an appointment with the school Careers Adviser, Jo Sergeant.  She is available in school four days a week based in the Careers Office next to classroom U20.

Appointments can be requested in person or through a member of staff e.g. Form Tutor or Head of Year who can make a referral.

Parents & carers who would like to book an appointment for their child can do so by contacting the Academy office.

Information for Parents & Carers

Helpful Links & Advice

At Airedale Academy we recognise that parents / carers also need information and advice to help support their children through the process of making choices about their future.

Events such as our annual Careers Fair and Year 11 Progression Evening are open to parents / carers and we actively encourage parents to attend! In addition to this there is a Careers Adviser present at key parental consultation events.

Appointments can be made available with the school careers adviser on request.  Please contact the school office in the first instance via email info@aa.castlefordtrust.co.uk.

Here are some additional websites with information about Post 16 choices, apprenticeships, university, making job applications etc.

 Parents Advice for Career Conversations – Talking Futures

Another website which has information aimed at parents / carers is Career Pilot Career Pilot.  See the Parent Zone section Parent Zone!

Download a copy of the school Parents & Carers Careers Information and Support Booklet Here

Here is some additional information about employment sectors in our region and jobs of the future.

Jobs of the Future Booklet

Thinking outside the box booklet 

 

This information will be reviewed July 2025

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