Aims
At The Kingsway School, careers education, information, advice and guidance helps students understand their options and make informed decisions about their future. We support students to recognise their strengths, explore academic, technical, vocational and apprenticeship pathways, and prepare for their next steps. We challenge stereotypes, use information about employment opportunities and provide additional support where students face barriers to participation or transition.
School Careers Contact:
Mr K. Bourne – Assistant Headteacher & Careers Lead
k.bourne@kingsway.stockport.sch.uk | 0161 428 7706
Elements of our Careers Programme
Our careers programme supports students from Year 7 to Year 11 as they explore their interests, make subject choices and prepare for education, training and employment. It combines careers learning, contact with providers and employers, and individual support. Academic, technical, vocational and apprenticeship routes are explored impartially.
Careers learning and essential skills
Careers learning takes place through PPE and personal development lessons, tutor time, assemblies and subject teaching. Students explore their strengths, research options and consider the relationship between learning and work. Skills Builder activities within our enhanced personal development offer help participating students develop essential skills through practical tasks and reflection.
Key Stage 3 careers insights and options
We welcome parents, carers, former students and employers who can share their career experiences with students. Hearing about different roles helps students broaden their interests and challenge assumptions about who can pursue particular careers.
Year 9 careers and options activities help students connect their GCSE choices with future pathways. Our programme includes a careers fair bringing together employers and education or training providers. Arrangements for each event are shared with families once confirmed.
Year 10 college taster opportunities
College taster opportunities help students experience a post-16 setting, meet staff and explore subjects and courses. Dates, participating providers and arrangements are shared with the relevant students and families when confirmed.
Post 16 careers evening
Our post-16 careers evening gives students and families opportunities to speak directly with local colleges, employers and apprenticeship or training providers. Students can ask questions, compare pathways and explore the requirements for their next steps. The October 2026 event supported these conversations and informed students’ application planning.
Year 11 provider assemblies
Year 11 students hear from local colleges and sixth forms about courses, entry requirements, applications and student life. Providers contributing to our current assembly programme include Loreto, Xaverian, Aquinas, The Manchester College and Stockport College. Presentations supplied by providers are shared through the Post-16 Resources section where available.
Year 11 applications and personal statements
The TKS Year 11 Application Portal helps school understand students’ intended destinations, which applications they have submitted and where further support is needed. Students can ask questions and submit a draft personal statement for feedback. The portal is a school support and tracking form; it does not submit applications to colleges or training providers.
Students should complete the portal and update school when their plans change. The link is shared through school communications. Anyone needing help accessing it should speak to their form tutor or the Careers Lead.
Tutor time resources include model personal statements and guidance on explaining interests, subject choices and relevant experiences. We are developing further interview preparation using feedback and guidance from providers. Families receive reminders about open events, applications and other important next steps.
Personal careers guidance
Rachel Townley, our careers adviser, meets students in school on Wednesdays during term time. We coordinate Year 11 appointments so that every student has a guidance meeting before leaving school. Where a student already receives guidance through another adviser, staff coordinate the arrangements.
Earlier or additional support is prioritised according to individual need, including SEND, disadvantage, care experience, caring responsibilities, attendance concerns or uncertainty about next steps. Students and families can request support through the form tutor, year team or Careers Lead. We work with the SEND and pastoral teams and relevant external services to support transition.
Greater Manchester Higher Achievers Programme
Selected students take part in Loreto’s Greater Manchester Higher Achievers Programme. The programme provides opportunities to explore academic interests and future study through launch activities and masterclasses. Arrangements for participating students are communicated directly to their families.
Developments for Year 10
We are exploring university visits with Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Salford to help Year 10 students understand higher education and future pathways. Visits remain subject to availability, eligibility, school approval and practical arrangements; dates and places have not yet been confirmed.
We are also developing Year 10 work experience for 2026–27 and discussing the support available with external organisations. Dates, placement arrangements and delivery have not yet been agreed. Families will receive information once the arrangements are confirmed.
Information and feedback
Students can use Unifrog to research pathways and record their interests, skills and experiences. Families can access provider presentations through our website and receive updates through school communications. Please check providers’ own websites for current course details and deadlines.
We review the programme using student and family feedback, participation, guidance and application records, provider feedback and post-16 destinations. Employers interested in talks, workplace visits or future placement opportunities are welcome to contact us.
Mr K Bourne, Assistant Headteacher and Careers Lead
k.bourne@kingsway.stockport.sch.uk | 0161 428 7706
Use this section to explore presentations supplied by local colleges and sixth forms, application guidance and information about your next steps. Check each provider’s website for current entry requirements, open events and application deadlines.
Please click here to view the latest presentations from local sixth form colleges.
The TKS Year 11 Application Portal lets students tell us where they are applying, update their application progress, ask questions and submit a personal statement for feedback. It does not replace an application to a college or training provider. The portal link is shared through school communications; speak to your form tutor or Mr Bourne if you need help accessing it.
(Please note: The form can only be accessed by students using their Kingsway email address).
Students who are undecided or need additional support should speak to their form tutor, year team or Mr Bourne. School can help them access careers guidance and plan their next steps.
Preparing for the Future
Preparing for the Future is delivered through PPE lessons and tutor time. Students explore their interests, strengths and ambitions, research routes into education and work, and develop the skills to make informed choices. Learning builds from exploring possibilities in Key Stage 3 to preparing for applications and transition in Key Stage 4.
Year 11 tutor-time support includes personal statement resources and application guidance. We are strengthening the links between these activities, provider encounters and individual careers support so that students can use what they learn to plan their next steps.
Careers Programme Benchmarking
Our careers programme helps students understand their options, recognise their strengths and prepare for their next steps. We use the updated Gatsby Benchmarks and the Career Development Institute framework to guide planning and review. These are frameworks for improvement; they do not mean that every benchmark has already been achieved.
Gatsby Benchmarks
- A stable careers programme
A coordinated programme led by Mr K Bourne, combining curriculum learning, provider encounters, personal guidance and support for families.
- Learning from career and labour market information
Unifrog, provider information and careers activities help students explore courses, occupations, entry requirements and changing employment opportunities.
- Addressing the needs of each young person
Application information, student questions and pastoral knowledge help us identify who needs additional support and adapt guidance accordingly.
- Linking curriculum learning to careers
PPE, personal development and subject learning help students connect their knowledge, interests and skills with future pathways.
- Encounters with employers and employees
Careers events and contributions from employers help students understand different jobs and the skills needed for work. We are seeking further employer involvement.
- Experiences of workplaces
We are developing Year 10 work experience for 2026–27. Dates, delivery arrangements and placement support have not yet been confirmed.
- Encounters with further and higher education
College assemblies, taster opportunities and provider events support informed choices. Further Year 10 university visits are being explored.
- Personal guidance
Year 11 careers appointments are coordinated so that every student has a guidance meeting before leaving school, with earlier or additional support according to need.
Read more about the updated Gatsby Benchmarks.
The Careers Development Framework
The CDI framework helps us focus on what students learn from careers activities. Its six learning areas are:
- Grow throughout life
- Explore possibilities
- Manage career
- Create opportunities
- Balance life and work
- See the big picture
We use these areas to help students reflect on their strengths, research options, make decisions and take practical next steps. The emphasis develops as students move from exploring interests in Key Stage 3 to making applications and preparing for transition in Key Stage 4.
Read more about the CDI framework.
Our priorities for 2026 to 2027
- Coordinate Year 11 guidance appointments and prioritise students who need early support.
- Use the TKS Year 11 Application Portal to identify unanswered questions, application progress and requests for personal statement feedback.
- Strengthen application and interview preparation through tutor time and provider resources.
- Develop employer encounters, Year 10 work experience and university visit opportunities.
- Keep families informed about provider events, applications and next steps.
How we review the programme
We review student feedback, participation in activities and guidance appointments, application progress and post-16 destinations. Feedback from families, staff, employers and education providers helps identify what is useful and where support needs to improve. We use these findings to review provision against the Gatsby Benchmarks and to set priorities for further development.
Students, parents, carers, staff and employers can request information or share feedback through the Careers Lead. Students can also speak to their form tutor or year team.
Mr K Bourne, Assistant Headteacher and Careers Lead
k.bourne@kingsway.stockport.sch.uk | 0161 428 7706
Unifrog
Students use Unifrog to research careers, compare education and training routes, and record their interests, skills and experiences. The platform provides information about occupations, entry requirements and labour market opportunities to support informed choices.
Unifrog supports research and planning. Students should check each provider’s own application process and deadlines and submit applications through the route required by that provider. Speak to your form tutor or Mr Bourne if you need help accessing your account.
To login to Unifrog, please click here.
Careerometer
Use the Careerometer to compare information about occupations, including pay, working hours and employment prospects. Figures are indicative and may vary by location, employer and experience. Consider this information alongside current vacancies, provider advice and your own interests.
Speak to the Careers Lead if you need help interpreting it.
Careers contact for employers and providers
We welcome employers, former students, parents, carers and education or training providers who can contribute to our careers programme. Opportunities may include career talks, practical workshops, workplace visits, technical education and apprenticeship information, and support for future work experience placements.
Please contact Mr K Bourne at k.bourne@kingsway.stockport.sch.uk or 0161 428 7706. to discuss your offer. Sessions, facilities, accessibility and safeguarding arrangements will be agreed in advance.
Education and training providers can find further details in our Provider Access Policy.
Information reviewed: October 2026. Next scheduled review: October 2027.
Event dates, application information and programme developments will be updated during the year as required.
