Newminster Middle School : Provider Access Policy

Name of School: Provider Access Policy Statement

Ownership:  Newminster Middle School

Introduction

This policy statement sets out the school’s arrangements for managing the access of providers to students at the school for the purpose of giving them information about the provider’s education or training offer. Under Section 42B of the Education Act 1997 we have a duty to provide pupils in Year 8 with access to providers of post-14, post-16 and post-18 education and training.

Rationale

High quality careers education and guidance in school or college is critical to young people’s futures. It helps to prepare them for the workplace by providing a clear understanding of the world of work including the routes to jobs and careers that they might find engaging and rewarding. It supports them to acquire the self-development and career management skills they need to achieve positive employment destinations. This helps students to choose their pathways, improve their life opportunities and contribute to a productive and successful economy.

As the number of apprenticeships rises every year, it becomes increasingly important that all young people have a full understanding of all the options available to them post-16 and post-18 including wider technical education options such as T-Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications.

Commitment

Newminster Middle School  is committed to ensuring there is an opportunity for a range of education and training providers to access students, for the purpose of informing them about approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships.  Newminster Middle School is fully aware of the responsibility to set students on the path that will secure the best outcome which will enable them to progress in education and work and give employers the highly skilled people they need. That means acting impartially, in line with the statutory duty, and not showing bias towards any route, be that academic or technical.

We endeavours to ensure that all students are aware of all routes to higher skills and are able to access information on technical options and apprenticeships (The Department of Education, July 2021: “Baker Clause”: supporting students to understand the full range of education and training options, and the Provider Access Legislation, January 2023).

Aims

Newminster Middle School  policy for Access to other education and training providers has the following aims:

To develop the knowledge and awareness of our students of all career pathways available to them, including technical qualifications and apprenticeships.

To support young people to be able to learn more about opportunities for education and training outside of school before making crucial choices about their future options.

Student entitlement

All students in year seven onwards are entitled to find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeships opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point;  to hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships – through off site visits, enrichment days, the wider curriculum, workshops and dedicated careers days.

Opportunities for access

A number of events, integrated into the school careers programme, will offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to students and/or their parents/carers as necessary. We have a number of themed days and events within the school calendar:-

• Health and wellbeing day
• British Science Day
• Women in Engineering day
• Hopes and dreams day
• Personal Development Programme Careers Unit of Work
• Curriculum specific input

Rules for granting access requests

Access requests will be granted subject to clearing the schools safeguarding procedures and the current provision priorities across all year groups.

A provider, to whom access is given, must deliver an encounter that includes the following:​

• Information about the provider and the approved technical education qualifications or apprenticeships that the provider offers​
• Information about the careers to which those technical education qualifications or apprenticeships might lead​
• A description of what learning or training with the provider is like​
• Responses to questions from the pupils about the provider or approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships.​

Premises and facilities

The school will make either the main hall, classrooms or private meeting rooms available for discussions between the provider and students, as appropriate to the activity. The school will also make available AV and other specialist equipment to support provider presentations. This will all be discussed and agreed in advance of the visit with the Careers Leader or a member of their team. Providers are welcome to leave a copy of their prospectus or other relevant course literature that may be used as a reference point later.

Date updated: January 2023