Exploring futures with careers and aspirations

At The Derby High School, students are offered comprehensive advice and a wide range of opportunities to develop their awareness of future careers. We want all our pupils to aim high and reach their full potential.

Careers Team

The designated Careers Lead for The Derby High School is:
Mr P. Kerr – Students’ Aspirations Lead

To speak to someone about careers, please use the contact details below:
Email: pkerr@thederbyhighschool.co.uk

For our latest CEIAG Policy, please visit our Policies Page

Our Careers Offer

The aim of our Careers Offer at The Derby High School is to provide a comprehensive and ambitious programme where all students are given opportunities to prepare for their transition to further education, training, and the world of work.

We aim to:

Raise aspirations and improve social mobility.
Develop employability skills.
Enhance knowledge of labour market information (LMI).
Provide access to all available career pathways.

Students will experience a range of encounters tailored to their individual needs and circumstances. These include encounters with workplaces and employers, insights into further and higher education establishments, and opportunities for personal guidance. Careers education and the raising of students’ aspirations is a key school priority and forms part of the School Development Plan.

A key part of our vision is to facilitate face-to-face employer engagement. We believe the most useful careers information is best delivered by people currently working in industry. We strive to provide meaningful encounters so that students can hear from a wide range of role models and life stories.

Through our R-Time programme, we aim to promote the skills all students need to succeed as adults.

The Derby High School adheres to the Careers Strategy and Statutory Guidance implemented in September 2025, alongside the updated Gatsby Benchmarks. We are working towards achieving all eight Gatsby Benchmarks in full.

The Current Picture

Careers education is delivered to all students as part of a well-researched, planned, and implemented Personal Development Curriculum.

Labour Market Information (LMI) is used to inform:

Employer engagement opportunities
FE and HE partnerships
Curriculum design

Students are taught through the Personal Development: World of Work curriculum how to navigate LMI, focusing on qualifications, income, and growth sectors.

Careers is embedded into the curriculum through several strands. Students regularly explore careers linked to subjects, transferable skills, and the real-world applications of their studies. Assembly presentations and workshops support Apprenticeships Week and National Careers Week.

Planning and coordination are led by the Students’ Aspirations Lead and shared with subject teams to ensure students hear a broad range of voices. Partnerships with FE and HE providers extend beyond the local area to facilitate subject-based engagement.

All students visit an FE provider before the end of Year 10, and there are regular opportunities for engagement through visits and career fairs.

Most departments facilitate employer engagement events as part of planned Career Weeks, with the aim that all curriculum areas provide such opportunities. These are centrally tracked to ensure equity of access for all students.

Engagement with FE, HE, and employers is a fundamental part of the careers programme.

Student Support

Students’ needs are supported through a range of tailored initiatives, including:

Individualised support for students with SEND and EAL
Mentoring for students at risk of becoming NEET into Year 12
Diversity and equality role model events with HE and employers
Advocacy and brokering of opportunities to ensure all students have secure post-16 pathways

The number of students who become NEET after leaving the academy has reduced year on year, with a 12% reduction since 2019.
In January 2024, the reported NEET figure was 6.5%, compared to the national average of 5%.

Assessing Impact

We measure and assess the impact of our careers programme through:

Leading a GMCA cluster group within the local authority
Supporting and piloting the Equalex initiative across GMCA
Destination tracking in collaboration with the local authority and Connexions
Student, parent, and staff voice
Partner feedback and collaboration
Website analytics review
External accreditation