Careers Education at Wolverhampton Girls’ High

The world of work is constantly evolving, shaped by technological advancements, emerging industries, and global challenges. Careers today are vastly different from those of previous generations, and adaptability is key to success.

At Wolverhampton Girls' High School, we encourage our students to embrace change, develop transferable skills, and cultivate a mindset of lifelong learning. The modern workplace values creativity, problem-solving, and adaptability, qualities we nurture through our careers programme. Whether students aspire to be pioneers in science, leaders in business, innovators in technology, or trailblazers in the arts, we support them in exploring paths that ignite their passion and drive.

Our Careers Programme supports the ambitions of the WGHS Vision Tree by enabling students to grow in confidence, develop self-awareness, and make informed decisions about their future pathways. Through careers education, encounters with employers, universities and apprenticeship providers, and meaningful workplace experiences, students are encouraged to explore opportunities, broaden their horizons and aspire to fulfil their potential. This reflects our school motto, Ludus Supra Praemium, which emphasises the value of participation and engagement within the school community. We believe that by embracing opportunities, demonstrating courage when faced with new challenges, and learning from experience, students develop the knowledge, skills and character needed to flourish beyond school.

Careers provision across the school and sixth form is carefully mapped against the Department for Education's statutory guidance, Careers Guidance and Access for Education and Training Providers, the eight Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Career Guidance, and the Career Development Institute (CDI) Career Development Framework. Our programme is reviewed annually and informed by student, staff, employer and stakeholder feedback to ensure that careers education remains relevant, ambitious and responsive to the changing needs of learners and the labour market.

Through inspiration, guidance, and opportunity, we empower our students to shape their futures with confidence and ambition, ready to thrive in a world full of possibility.

The Careers Curriculum

Delivered through PSHCE lessons, our careers curriculum is designed to spiral and progress through each key stage, building on knowledge and experiences year by year. Students explore topics such as employability skills, career pathways, labour market information, and decision-making.

Gatsby Benchmarks Referenced:

Benchmark 1: A Stable Careers Programme

Benchmark 3: Addressing the Needs of Each Pupil

Benchmark 4: Linking Curriculum Learning to Careers

Benchmark 2: Learning from Career and Labour Market Information

Our Careers Programme Includes:

Careers and Futures Events – A comprehensive programme of careers-focused events delivered throughout the academic year, including careers fairs, industry insight sessions, employer panels, workshops and guest speakers. These opportunities are carefully integrated within the wider school calendar to enrich students' understanding of future pathways.
Encounters with Employers, Universities and Training Providers – Students benefit from regular engagement with employers, higher education institutions, apprenticeship providers and industry professionals. These encounters broaden aspirations, develop awareness of labour market opportunities and help students understand the skills and qualifications required for future success.
Higher Education and Post-18 Guidance – Sixth Form students receive personalised support throughout the university, apprenticeship and employment application process, including guidance on UCAS applications, personal statements, interviews, admissions tests and progression pathways.

Curriculum Integration – Careers education is embedded across the curriculum, with subject specialists highlighting connections between classroom learning, future study options and career opportunities. This helps students recognise the relevance and value of their learning beyond school.

Parental and Community Engagement – Parents and carers are valued partners in our careers programme and are regularly invited to attend information evenings, progression events and careers activities. We also welcome contributions from our parent and alumnae communities to further enhance students' understanding of the world of work.

Personal Guidance and Career Planning – Students have access to impartial careers information, advice and guidance, enabling them to make informed decisions at key transition points and to confidently plan their future pathways.

Workplace Experiences and Employability Development – Through a range of employer-led activities, leadership opportunities, workplace experiences and enrichment programmes, students develop the skills, attributes and behaviours required to thrive in higher education and employment.

Careers Advice

We provide independent and impartial careers advice and guidance through a qualified Careers Adviser. Students have access to personalised 1:1 guidance meetings at key transition points, including GCSE options, post-16 and post-18 progression decisions.

Our Careers Adviser supports students in setting realistic and ambitious career goals, exploring post-secondary options, and navigating applications for further education, apprenticeships, or employment.

In addition to scheduled appointments, we offer follow-up appointments to our Year 11 students who may benefit from additional support, as well as students from all year groups who may be seeking advice. These sessions provide a flexible and accessible way for students to ask questions or explore their options in a more informal setting.

Gatsby Benchmarks Referenced:

Benchmark 8: Personal Guidance

Benchmark 3: Addressing the Needs of Each Pupil

Benchmark 2: Learning from Career and Labour Market Information

Work Experience

Across Key Stages 3, 4 and 5, students participate in a range of employer encounters, workplace learning activities and careers experiences that enhance their understanding of careers, employability skills and the opportunities available within an evolving world of work.

In Year 10, all students undertake a week-long work experience placement as part of our annual Celebration Week programme. Students are responsible for securing their own placements and recording the details through the Changing Education App, enabling the necessary health and safety processes to be completed. Prior to the placement, students take part in preparation activities through PSHCE lessons to help them make the most of the experience.

In Year 12, students also participate in a week-long work experience placement during Celebration Week. Students are encouraged to select a placement that aligns with their future aspirations, interests and post-18 pathways, enabling them to gain valuable insight into their chosen field.

Following the placement, students take part in a structured review session to reflect on their experiences, identify the skills they have developed and consider how these can support their future education and career goals.

Gatsby Benchmarks Referenced:

Benchmark 5: Encounters with Employers and Employees

Benchmark 6: Experiences of Workplaces

Benchmark 3: Addressing the Needs of Each Pupil

Benchmark 8: Personal Guidance (through preparation and reflection activities)

Alumni and Professional Speaker Programme

We are proud of the achievements of our alumni and value the contributions of employers, universities and industry professionals who help enrich our careers programme. Through our structured Alumni and Professional Speaker Programme, students have opportunities to engage with individuals from a wide range of sectors and career pathways, helping them to develop a deeper understanding of future opportunities and the skills required for success.

The programme provides meaningful encounters with professionals through curriculum-linked talks, workshops and enrichment activities. Speakers may include former students, employers, university representatives, apprenticeship providers and industry specialists, enabling students to hear first-hand about career journeys, workplace experiences and progression routes. During the 2026-27 academic year, we will further develop this provision through the launch of a fortnightly Alumni and Professional Speaker Programme, providing regular opportunities for students to engage with professionals from a wide range of industries and sectors.

Examples of opportunities include:

Career talks and Q&A sessions

Subject-specific professional speakers

University and apprenticeship provider presentations

Alumni networking opportunities

Industry insight events

Mock interviews and mentoring

Workplace and employer engagement activities

This programme enables students to encounter a diverse range of career pathways whilst providing inspiring role models and authentic insight into higher education, training and employment opportunities.

Gatsby Benchmarks Referenced:

Benchmark 4: Linking Curriculum Learning to Careers

Benchmark 5: Encounters with Employers and Employees

Benchmark 7: Encounters with Further and Higher Education

Benchmark 3: Addressing the Needs of Each Pupil

Our Partnerships

We are proud to be an active member of the Black Country Careers Hub, part of The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) national network, which supports schools and colleges in delivering high-quality careers education aligned to the Gatsby Benchmarks and statutory guidance.

Through this partnership, we benefit from regional labour market intelligence, employer networks, best practice sharing and strategic support to continuously strengthen our careers provision.

We work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders, including employers, universities, apprenticeship providers, professional organisations and alumni, to provide meaningful encounters that inspire students, broaden aspirations and develop an understanding of the pathways available beyond school. These partnerships help ensure our programme remains relevant, ambitious and responsive to the evolving world of work and the skills required for future success.

Gatsby Benchmarks Referenced:

Benchmark 1: A Stable Careers Programme

Benchmark 5: Encounters with Employers and Employees

Benchmark 7: Encounters with Further and Higher Education

Benchmark 2: Learning from Career and Labour Market Information

Measuring Impact

The impact of our careers programme is evaluated throughout the academic year to ensure that students receive high-quality, meaningful and impartial careers education. Evaluation informs the ongoing development of the programme and supports our commitment to continuous improvement.

We use a range of measures, including:

Student voice and feedback surveys

Parent and carer feedback

Analysis of post-16 and post-18 destination data

Employer, university and partner evaluations

Gatsby Benchmark assessment and Compass+ reporting

Monitoring participation in careers, enrichment and employer-engagement activities

Annual evaluation and strategic review by the Careers Leader and Senior Leadership Team

Regular reporting to governors as part of the school's quality assurance processes

By reviewing both quantitative and qualitative evidence, we ensure that our careers programme continues to meet the needs of our students and prepares them effectively for their next steps in education, employment and training.

Gatsby Benchmarks Referenced:

Benchmark 1: A Stable Careers Programme

Benchmark 3: Addressing the Needs of Each Pupil

Statutory Information

Wolverhampton Girls' High School is committed to fulfilling all statutory responsibilities relating to careers education, information, advice and guidance. Our careers programme is delivered in accordance with the Department for Education's statutory guidance, Careers Guidance and Access for Education and Training Providers, and the requirements of the Provider Access Legislation (PAL).

Students in Years 7-13 benefit from a planned programme of careers learning and a range of encounters with education and training providers, including further education colleges, universities, apprenticeship providers and employers. These encounters support informed decision-making and ensure that students are aware of the full range of academic and technical pathways available to them.

Careers Lead: Mrs A Pettit

Careers 1:1 adviser: Mr S

Enterprise coordinator: Mrs J Murray

Year 10 Work Experience Coordinator: Miss G Rowe

Year 12 Work Experience Coordinator: Mrs A-M Morton