Careers Information for Parents

Our careers programme

OBA is committed to meeting the eight Gatsby Benchmarks which are the national standard for what makes an effective programme of careers education and guidance. These benchmarks are:

  1. A stable careers programme
  2. Learning from career and labour market information
  3. Addressing the needs of each pupil
  4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
  5. Encounters with employers and employees
  6. Experiences of workplaces
  7. Encounters with further and higher education
  8. Personal guidance

Furthermore, OBA is committed to meeting the requirements of the new Provider Access Legislation which entitles students to encounters with providers of approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships. Students will receive two such encounters in each key stage.

Each year group will receive a minimum entitlement of careers education and guidance each year (outlined below) but OBA endeavours to provide as many additional activities and experiences as possible. Many opportunities become available during the year and teachers will also make clear links between their subjects and careers throughout the year, so it is not possible to list absolutely everything here. However, each student can expect:

Year 7

  • At least one meaningful encounter with an employer
  • Visiting speakers in assemblies

Year 8

  • At least one meaningful encounter with an employer
  • A careers project, delivered as part of the Lessons for Life curriculum.
  • Visiting speakers in assemblies

Year 9

  • At least one meaningful encounter with an employer
  • A careers project, delivered as part of the Lessons for Life curriculum.
  • Access to careers and labour market information through the Unifrog online service
  • Visiting speakers in assemblies
  • Extended off-timetable careers activity day (this has previously been delivered by Young Enterprise)
  • Careers advisor present at options evening
  • Biannual careers convention, featuring visitors from local and national employers, training and apprenticeship providers, and a range of further education and higher education providers

Year 10

  • At least one meaningful encounter with an employer
  • Work experience
  • Access to careers and labour market information through the Unifrog online service
  • Visiting speakers in assemblies
  • A visit to a university
  • Careers input from Shaping Futures University Outreach
  • Careers content delivered through the Lessons for Life curriculum
  • Access to our careers advisors

Year 11

  • At least one meaningful encounter with an employer
  • One-to-one careers advice with a qualified careers advisor
  • Access to careers and labour market information through the Unifrog online service
  • Visiting speakers in assemblies
  • Biannual careers convention, featuring visitors from local and national employers, training and apprenticeship providers, and a range of further education and higher education providers
  • Careers content delivered through the Lessons for Life curriculum

Year 12

  • At least one meaningful encounter with an employer
  • Work experience
  • One-to-one careers advice with an independent qualified careers advisor
  • Access to careers and labour market information through the Unifrog online service
  • Visiting speakers in assemblies
  • Biannual careers convention, featuring visitors from local and national employers, training and apprenticeship providers, and a range of further education and higher education providers
  • Careers sessions delivered as part of the Personal Development curriculum
  • Attendance at the UCAS and Apprenticeships Convention at which takes place at a university campus
  • The opportunity to visit at least one more university campus, for those considering applying to university
  • Support through the UCAS process, for those applying to university, including a visit to the UCAS conference

Year 13

  • At least one meaningful encounter with an employer
  • Access to careers and labour market information through the Unifrog online service
  • Visiting speakers in assemblies
  • Biannual careers convention, featuring visitors from local and national employers, training and apprenticeship providers, and a range of further education and higher education providers
  • Careers sessions delivered as part of the Personal Development curriculum
  • Support through the UCAS process, for those applying to university

All careers encounters will be logged on the online service Unifrog, which students can access to track their experiences and progress. If your son/daughter cannot log onto Unifrog, please contact Mr Oakes.

Assessing the impact of careers education at OBA

The impact of our careers provision will be assessed in a number of ways, including student, staff, employer and parent surveys and through an assessment for the Quality in Careers Standard. OBA was awarded this prestigious quality mark in July 2021 and reaccredited in 2023. OBA will be assessed for reaccreditation again in July 2025.

This page was updated September 2024 and will be updated again no later than September 2024