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Careers
“A Hillside High School pupil is a confident, employable and well informed individual who is well prepared for their futures and their next steps in our ever changing world.”
At Hillside High School, we have the highest aspirations for all our pupils. We are committed to providing a high‑quality Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) programme that enables pupils to understand the full range of opportunities available to them, make informed decisions, and progress successfully onto ambitious Post‑16 pathways.
Our careers provision fully meets the requirements of the Gatsby Benchmarks, the Baker Clause, and the updated Provider Access Legislation (PAL). We ensure all pupils have meaningful access to a wide range of education and training providers, including local colleges, sixth forms, apprenticeship providers and universities, who regularly work with us throughout the academic year.
Linking closely to our school ethos – “Excellence in the heart of the community” – pupils begin their career journey in Year 7, following a coherent and progressive programme of careers learning that builds aspiration and prepares them for confident transitions at every stage.
We strongly believe in the value of real‑world experiences. Pupils in KS3 engage with modern, meaningful workplace encounters in line with EqualEx work experience guidance. Pupils in Year 10 undertake a two‑week work experience placement, developing essential employability skills and gaining invaluable insight into the world of work (see our Work Experience page for further information).
We are extremely proud of our pupils’ Post‑16 destinations, including sixth form, college, apprenticeships and employment with training. Hillside High School consistently achieves strong sustained destination outcomes, reflecting the high quality of careers guidance and the ambition of our young people.
Our Careers Programme
Below is an overview of our CEIAG offer for each year group:
Year 7
- Enterprise competition
- Skills and Careers Fair
- Careers learning through the Personal Development programme
- Careers learning embedded in every subject area
- Subject-based careers trips and events
- Access to the careers library (break/lunch)
- One‑to‑one careers appointment (upon request, Risk of NEET, LAC)
Year 8
- Enterprise competition
- Apprenticeship performance
- Skills and Careers Fair
- Careers learning through Personal Development
- Careers learning in all subjects
- Subject-based careers events
- Careers library access
- One‑to‑one careers appointment (upon request, Risk of NEET, LAC)
Year 9
- Enterprise competition
- Apprenticeship performance
- Skills and Careers Fair
- Careers learning through Personal Development
- Careers learning in all subjects
- Subject-based careers events
- Workplace visits
- Careers library access
- One‑to‑one options interview (SLT/Governors)
- One‑to‑one careers appointment (upon request, Risk of NEET, LAC)
Year 10
- Skills and Careers Fair
- Careers learning through Personal Development
- Careers in all subject areas (termly focus)
- Subject-based careers events and workplace visits
- Two‑week work experience
- One‑to‑one careers appointment (Risk of NEET, LAC, or on request)
- Apprenticeship Week assembly and workshop
- University visit (HPA)
- University assembly
- Mock interviews
- CV building and application workshop (PD Drop Down Day)
- Visits to Sefton 6th Form and Hugh Baird College
Year 11
- One‑to‑one careers interview with a qualified careers adviser
- Optional parental careers appointment
- College and apprenticeship provider representation at key events
- Apprenticeship and college workshops
- College assembly programme
- Careers learning through Personal Development
- College and University Fair
- Application form workshop
- Careers learning in subject areas
- Subject-based careers visits
- Skills and Careers Fair
Measuring and Assessing Impact
We are committed to ensuring our CEIAG programme is effective, ambitious, and continually improving.
Monitoring Strategy
We monitor the success of our programme through:
- Regular observation of CEIAG learning in Personal Development lessons.
- Annual Curriculum Intent presentations, where Subject Leaders demonstrate how careers learning is embedded across their subjects (supporting Gatsby Benchmark 4).
- Learning walks and book reviews that check for evidence of careers integration.
- Subject reviews, where Subject Leaders evaluate the impact of careers learning on pupil knowledge, aspiration and understanding.
- Tracking and analysis of pupil engagement, provider encounters, and workplace experiences.
- GATSBY Benchmark Evaluations.
- Peer to Peer school reviews.
Evaluation Strategy
We evaluate our CEIAG provision through:
- Whole‑school careers surveys for pupils at multiple points throughout the year.
- Event‑specific post‑event evaluations completed by pupils.
- Pupil voice activities with small focus groups.
- Staff evaluations after each event.
- Feedback surveys for employers, apprenticeship providers, colleges and universities.
- Parent and carer feedback.
- Analysis of Post‑16 destination data and long‑term sustained destinations.
This comprehensive approach ensures our careers programme remains high‑quality, inclusive and responsive to pupil need.
Information for Key Stakeholders
Information for Pupils
Our careers room, located in the library, is open daily at break and lunch for research and guidance. You will explore careers through the Personal Development curriculum, employer encounters, trips, talks and events.
Useful websites:
- https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk
- https://www.careersbox.co.uk
- https://targetcareers.co.uk
If you would like a one-to-one careers appointment, speak to your form tutor.
Information for Parents & Carers
Please encourage your child to use the school’s careers room for research and guidance. Pupils can request a careers appointment at any time via their form tutor.
Our weekly newsletter highlights upcoming careers events, trips and opportunities.
Useful websites:
- https://www.careersadviceforparents.org
- https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk
- https://www.careersbox.co.uk
- https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk
Information for Teachers
Helpful resources for linking careers to your subject:
- https://icould.com/resources
- https://www.pearson.com/uk/educators/secondary-educators/resources/resources-for-careers-teachers.html
- https://www.channel4learning.com/sites/lifestuff/content/teachers/workit/handzon/aims.html
Ideas to embed CEIAG:
- Use short video clips (CareersBox) as lesson starters
- Discuss relevant career links during topics
- Set research-based homework tasks
- Invite employer guest speakers into lessons
Information for Employers & Providers
We welcome partnerships with employers, colleges, universities and training providers. Opportunities to support our pupils include:
- Careers fairs
- Mock interviews
- Options interviews
- Guest talks or assemblies
- Contributing to curriculum learning
- Workplace visits and workshops
- Work experience placements (KS3 micro‑experience & Year 10 two‑week placement)
- Representation at parents’ evenings and careers events
To get involved, please contact:
Mr Haygarth – Careers Leader
d.haygarth@hillsidehigh.co.uk
