Careers education at SWGS operates with a clear underpinning ethos. We aim to:

• Widen students’ horizons about pathways at post-14, 16 and 18 and the careers available to them.
• Ensure that students are supported to pursue the pathway that is right for them.

This means that:

• We have a carefully planned taught careers programme from Years 7 to 13 in line with government guidance. In each year group, students have a half term’s block of careers lessons in PSHE. These are planned by the Careers Leader to ensure continuity and progression.
• All students, parents and teachers have access to Unifrog – a comprehensive, careers platform that helps students make the best choices. We use Unifrog to support all aspects of careers education and guidance.
• Careers are further explored through trips, visits, assemblies and the tutorial curriculum.
• We pay very close attention to ensuring that all students are well-informed about all pathways. We ensure that the Baker Clause is more than fulfilled: typically, students have more than one encounter each year with a technical qualification provider.
• We have a rich extra-curricular careers programme
• We ensure excellent 1:1 support and group careers advice

This is an important part of ensuring that our careers provision remains excellent. We evaluate our careers provision using a wide range of information:

• Regular Compass evaluations against Gatsby benchmarks
• Careful scrutiny of students’ careers journeys, using Compass + and Unifrog software
• Future Skills Questionnaires for all students
• SWGS-designed evaluations for programmes and events, including Student Voice
• Destinations data

The Careers Leader at SWGS is Associate Assistant Headteacher Mrs Annabel Stephens (careers@swgs.wilts.sch.uk). 

Our sixth form team are experts in post-18 provision, including all options related to universities (including Oxbridge, medicine and veterinary science) and degree apprenticeships, and lead our careers programme in this area. We run a two specialist Upgrade programmes: one to support students wishing to apply to Oxbridge and veterinary, medicine and dentistry courses and one to one to support students wishing to move straight into employment and all level of apprenticeships including degree apprenticeships.

The school works with a hugely experienced independent and impartial Careers Advisor who knows the school context extremely well, and who has an MSc in Education:Careers Guidance and a PhD focused on Degree Apprenticeships. She is in school 1.5 days per week and ensures that all students receive impartial careers guidance at key transition points, such as post-16 and post-18 transitions.

Careers education operates in six broad blocks:

1. Taught careers lessons in PSHE lessons – these can be seen in the routemaps below.

2. Regular careers talks through our sixth form provision

3. Extra-curricular events:

All academic departments have excellent relationships with employers and their professional bodies to assist students with their investigations and offering inspiration for the future.

In addition there are:

• Trips (e.g. subject visits; university open days)
• Conferences and Fairs (e.g. Post 18 Conference for Y12, Post 16 providers fair, Appren-T-Fest)
• Engagement with careers through curriculum and subject specific visitors, visits and competitions such as GCHQ and DSTL
• Careers Days: Year 10 have the opportunity to experience a variety of careers on this day; in addition, they take part in the Year 10 Science Day, which gives them the opportunity to work with a variety of employers and apprenticeship providers.

4. Unlimited guidance meetings for KS4 and KS5 students with targeted support for KS3 students.

5. Workplace experiences

• Year 9 students take part in our award-winning Enterprise Day. They work with a local employer for three days, undertaking a workplace project.
• All Year 12 students, in line with the requirements of the 16-19 programme, undertake a week’s work experience. Many students undertake more work experience than this.
• Year 8 students take part in Take Your Child to Work Day

6. Parents’ information evenings

We hold a general parents’ information evening for each year group, where there is careers-focused input. In addition, we hold specific careers presentation evenings for parents/carers at transition points, including:

• Year 9: post-14 options (typically November/December)
• Year 11: post-16 options (typically October)
• Year 12: post-18 options (typically February)
• Year 13: student finance and transition to post-18 (typically March/April)

7. Unifrog

To support our careers education programme, we use Unifrog (unifrog.org) which is an online careers and destinations platform. All our students have access, and parents and carers are encouraged to have their own account to support them in their research and plans.

From the time you start your secondary school career at SWGS, you will be having lessons and activities to introduce you to the world of work. You will have many opportunities to make extensive use of the comprehensive information on Unifrog and we encourage you to use it outside of lessons.

All students in all year groups have a term of lessons.

Year 7 students

Students have a term of careers lessons in PSHE. These will focus on widening horizons about different careers. The students are introduced to Labour Market Information (LMI) and also take part in an activity to create their own Game of Life.

Year 8 students

Year 8 students continue with lessons on LMI. They are taught what it is, and how to use and research it in a very structured way. This builds on the ‘widening horizons’ programme. They also take part in an NHS competition in PSHE lessons where they explore the many jobs within this sector. We consider this is an excellent way of helping students to find out more about employment and the breadth of jobs within one industry.  These activities enable students to find out about  employability skills, share their experiences and use them to consider different organisations, structures and break down potential stereotyping.

Year 9 students

Year 9 students have a term’s careers lesson in the second term. In these lessons, students use what they have learned in Year 7 and 8, using their knowledge about careers and LMI, to think about their Year 9 options, how they relate to their potential post-16, post 18 and future career options. Many students will also have 1:1 guidance meetings with the Careers Advisor at this time.  Our Year 9 pupils enjoy taking part in our innovative Enterprise Day project where they are given the opportunity to solve a problem for a local company on a ‘consultancy’ basis. Several companies have used some of the ideas that students have developed.

Year 10 & 11 students

In the last term of Year 10, students have careers lessons in PSHE and re-visit LMI. At this point, using the learning about LMI from Year 8, students use LMI in a structured, but independent way, to explore careers. Students also undertake the Buzz test at this point and, over the summer break, use this to reflect on their potential post-16 options. Students do a workshop to explore employability skills where they learn how to write a CV, apply for jobs, and develop interview skills.

Year 10 students build on their employability skills when they have a mock interview with a representative from a company so that each has an opportunity to write a CV and receive feedback on their CV and interview skills.

We are committed to supporting our Year 11 students in thoroughly exploring the full range of Post-16 opportunities available to them. These include apprenticeships, A-Levels, T-Levels and BTEC Nationals amongst others. These are explored through PSHE, Open Days, meetings with tutors and at least one interview with the Careers Advisor.

In addition, all students have the opportunity to meet many employers and are encouraged to undertake work experience and take up volunteering which often exposes them to the world of work.

Year 12 and 13 students follow a two-year tailor made programme specialising in their needs for post 18 choices.  Whether a student chooses to go onto Higher Education, Apprenticeship or employment each is supported throughout that decision.  Students also use Unifrog to investigate their career options, make the best choices and support applications. We cover employability skills with all students so that they leave South Wilts with a deep understanding of employability competencies and how they can illustrate and develop them.  Alongside this programme, we offer a personal development programme to include study skills, well-being and healthy living, employment opportunities and visits from a variety of speakers from Gap Year opportunities, universities, local employers and ex- students.

Sixth Form students are advised to have at least one interview with the Careers Advisor per year to help them explore their options and choose the right course of action, alongside their regular discussions with their tutors. Many students happily opt for more. Specialist programmes include those for Oxbridge students, Medics, Vets, Dentists and Degree Aprenticeships. Additional help is available for those needing to take admissions tests for the most competitive courses eg. Law, History.  Our students excel at a wide range of post-18 careers and to that end we work with students whatever their needs from completing their university application process (through UCAS), completing an application for employment or apprenticeships, having a gap year or something completely different.

In recent years our students have been accepted onto excellent apprenticeship positions as well as a huge range of courses at a wide range of universities and other specialist higher education establishments.

Summary of sixth form destinations

We aim to ensure that whatever they choose to do, they have firm plans for their future and the skills to excel at whatever they take on.

The careers team, the Heads of Year and the Head of PSHE arrange and deliver careers provision which involves talks (from both internal and external speakers) on post-14 GCSE options, post-16 choices and post-18 career pathways. Also, employers are brought in (eg. an assembly on Eco-design and the range of design and scientific jobs in this fast-growing field); there is support with CV writing, help with researching university courses and applying for different jobs as well as mock interviews. Students are given a taste of essential employment skills when they learn about the importance of organisation, communication and teamwork skills.

The Careers Advisor provides careers advice and guidance to all students and has 1:1 meetings with all Year 11s and all Year 12s. The Careers Leader, Careers Co-ordinator and extended team share responsibility for implementing the Gatsby Benchmarks. They build links with employers, universities and further education providers and arrange for visiting speakers from many different careers backgrounds to come into the school, and for students to visit employers or attend careers events whenever possible. The careers team helps to identify possible links between curriculum learning across all years and support teachers to connect their subject to real-world careers and labour market relevance throughout the curriculum.

Teachers are encouraged to use the extensive resources found on Unifrog.

All elements of careers activities at SWGS are designed to provide good quality, meaningful opportunities for the students to encounter the world of work.

Parents and carers are also welcome to contact school or discuss their child’s career plans during a Parents’ Evening. Alongside opportunities for one-to-one discussions and direct email support via careers@swgs.wilts.sch.uk, the Careers Programme encompasses a broad mixture of initiatives designed to inform both students and parents about diverse career paths, apprenticeship options, and higher education opportunities. The programme is further supported through parent briefings, guest speakers—both internal and external—and a variety of resources to enhance awareness and engagement.

We find that parents can play a pivotal role in the careers education of their children. Parents can have their own log in to Unifrog (the careers platform) to support their children with discovering careers information and opportunities available to them.

Listed below a number of websites you may find useful. Here you will find many useful links to all career matters.

Click here for 6^th form destinations

Click here for Careers Policy

Click here for information on the Gatsby Benchmarks

Click here for Labour Market Information

We are always keen to hear from parents if you can support the students in any of the following ways: mock interviews, talking to small groups about your work, Sixth Form volunteering, Sixth Form work experience (over one week in July), hosting small groups in your workplace to experience the world of work, or posting a real-life posing a real-life enterprise challenge to the students for them to troubleshoot and deliver a solution. Such initiatives are proven to enhance the students’ knowledge and experience of careers and employment. Please contact Mrs Stephens at careers@swgs.wilts.sch.uk if you feel you could help.  

We have a very strong careers programme delivered through specialist lessons, subject lessons, 1:1 guidance sessions, talks, visits and dedicated resources. The careers programme includes labour market information and guidance on apprenticeships, higher and further education. The programme is designed to increase students’ understanding of the world of work, the diverse range of options available to them and prepare them for those opportunities.

We are always keen to hear from employers if you can support the students in any of the following ways:

1. Mock Interviews – Helping students practice and build confidence for real-world interviews
2. Career Talks – Speaking to small groups about your profession and career journey
3. Sixth Form Volunteering – Offering volunteering opportunities to older students.
4. Sixth Form Work Experience – Hosting students for a one-week placement in July.
5. Workplace Visits for small groups – Providing students with insight into the working world.
6. Enterprise Challenges – Presenting real-life business problems for students to solve collaboratively.

Additionally, the collaboration with the Salisbury Careers Alliance is a great way to strengthen ties between education and industry, benefiting both students and local businesses.

Such initiatives are proven to enhance the students’ knowledge and experience of careers and employment. In addition, links made in the past, have developed into professional careers for the ex-SWGS student – benefitting both them and the employer.

Please contact Mrs Stephens if you would like to talk through how to develop careers links with SWGS at careers@swgs.wilts.sch.uk.

www.amazingapprenticeships.com

Experts in the field of apprenticeships and technical education. Resources for students and parents packed with apprenticeship opportunities and information, advice and guidance.

www.workwiltshire.co.uk/
Labour Market Information and job opportunities available in Wiltshire

www.notgoingtouni.co.uk
Excellent information covering alternatives to university

www.nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk
National Careers Service – 0800 100 900

https://careerfinder.ucas.com/jobs/apprenticeship/
Section on UCAS for prospective apprentices

www.nextstepssw.ac.uk
A detailed guide explaining how apprenticeships work, things to consider and details on the application process.

www.ucas.ac.uk
The official information on undergraduate courses. The UCAS website also has a section for parents and guardians where you can get a variety of information and can sign up for a newsletter. It is worth registering.

www.ukcoursefinder.com
An online questionnaire linking students interest to degree subject areas.

www.www.discoveruni.gov.uk
Impartial information and guidance on choosing a university course.

www.push.co.uk
Independent guide to university

www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk
Compare different universities using university league tables.

www.university.which.co.uk
The Which guide to university with the ability to filter by expected grades, location, subject interests etc.

www.unitasterdays.com
Impartial guides for students and parents about university including very useful subject guide videos.

www.stepintothenhs.nhs.uk
Information on all careers in the NHS

www.themedicportal.com
Information on applying for medicine

www.fulbright.org.uk/
Information on studying in the USA

www.studyineurope.eu
Information on course taught in English but taken in Europe

www.ucas.com/conservatoires
Information on performance based higher education courses

www.london.ac.uk
Subject taster days at London universities

http://www.uniq.ox.ac.uk
Summer Schools at Oxford University

www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/year12summerschools
Summer Schools at Cambridge University

SWGS welcomes apprenticeship and technical providers to SWGS. In 2024-25, students had multiple opportunities to work with, and listen to, apprenticeship and technical providers. These included (amongst others):

• Andover/Sparsholt College
• ASK (Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge)
• The British Army
• The Royal Air Force
• DSTL
• GCHQ
• Salisbury Apprenticeships Fair
• Wiltshire College
• Peter Symonds

If you would like to come to SWGS to give a presentation or to talk to students, please contact Mrs Stephens via careers@swgs.wilts.sch.uk.

For more information about provider access legislation, please review our Provider Access Policy on the policies page.

* The provider access policy was informally referred to as the Baker Clause policy.