Careers Education at Millgate
At Millgate School, we want every pupil to feel inspired and supported to develop high aspirations and explore a wide range of future options. Our careers programme (Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance – CEIAG) starts in Key Stage 2 and continues through the school. It helps pupils see how what they learn in school connects to life beyond school and supports them to start thinking about future choices in an age-appropriate way.
Our careers programme helps pupils to:
- learn about lots of different jobs and workplaces
- understand how school learning links to the world around them
- build confidence, communication and independence
- start to think about what they might like to do in the future
Our Intent
We aim to:
- Help every pupil believe in themselves and have high aspirations
- introduce pupils to real people, places, and experiences linked to further education and work
- Make sure pupils get the right support to take part and to move on successfully to their next step
- Listen to pupils’ views and include them in planning, especially through EHCP reviews and transition planning
How we deliver Careers in KS2 and KS3
Pupils learn about careers through lessons, themed activities and enrichment opportunities. We adapt activities so they are accessible, meaningful and appropriate for each pupil, supported by staff and (where helpful) visitors and external partners.
Some pupils may need extra help to access careers learning. We provide additional support where needed—for example, for pupils who are finding school difficult, have lower attendance, attend alternative provision, or who may benefit from more personalised guidance.
Key Stage 2 (KS2) Careers Programme (Years 5–6)
In KS2, pupils are introduced to the world of work in simple, age-appropriate ways. We help them notice their strengths, build confidence and understand that what they learn in school can lead to lots of different future possibilities.
What pupils will experience in KS2
- Careers through Discovery days: making links between classroom learning and real jobs
- Aspirations: talking about “what I’m good at” and “what I might like to be”
- Themed days and enrichment: activities that connect learning to real-life roles and responsibilities
- Eco School opportunities: building responsibility and introducing “green” jobs and caring for the environment
- Our community: learning about jobs and services that help people locally
Skills pupils will develop
- Working with others and communicating well
- Being more independent and responsible
- Talking confidently about what they enjoy and what they are good at
- Beginning to understand that there are many different types of jobs
Key Stage 3 (KS3) Careers Programme (Years 7–9)
In KS3, pupils build on what they learned in KS2 and explore future pathways in more depth. We focus on careers awareness, personal development and preparation for the next stages of education and life beyond school.
What pupils will experience in KS3
- Preparing for Adulthood and Personal Development lesson: independence, community learning and future planning
- Careers through learning in other subjects: linking subjects and topics to different roles and workplaces
- Eco School opportunities: teamwork, responsibility and learning linked to sustainability
- Careers visitors and activities (where appropriate): meeting visitors and learning about jobs and training routes
- Understanding post-16 options: gradual, supported awareness of what education and training can look like after school
Skills pupils will develop
- Understanding their own strengths, interests and support needs
- Positive habits for learning and future work (punctuality, resilience, teamwork)
- Communication and social interaction skills
- Early goal-setting and supported decision-making
Targeted Support and Inclusion
Alongside the main careers programme for all pupils, we also offer extra support for pupils who may benefit from it. This support may include:
- Extra 1:1 guidance and support
- Personalised planning and next-step goals
- Additional transition support and parent/carer involvement
- Extra employer or education encounters (where appropriate)
We use information such as attendance, progress, safeguarding, EHCP reviews and transition planning to make sure the right support is in place.
How we evaluate impact
We regularly review our careers programme to make sure it works well for our pupils. We listen to feedback from pupils, parents/carers, staff and partners, and use this to keep improving what we offer. We also use the Compass+ Toolkit to support evaluation.
Parents & Carers
Parents and carers play an important role in helping pupils build confidence, raise aspirations and understand the world of work. You do not need expert careers knowledge to help—little and often conversations, encouragement and celebrating strengths can make a real difference.
- Talk about your child’s interests, strengths and what they enjoy learning at school.
- Share examples of different jobs (including jobs in your family and community) and the skills they use.
- Encourage positive routines that support employability skills, such as punctuality, organisation and resilience.
- Support your child to take part in school events, visits and visitors linked to careers (where appropriate).
- If your child has additional needs, share any goals and concerns with the school so we can plan the right support and next steps together.
If you have any questions about careers learning at Millgate, or would like to get involved, please contact us using the details below. We also welcome parent/carer volunteers who can share their job or training experiences as part of planned careers activities (subject to school safeguarding procedures).
Key Contacts
Careers Leader: Mr Zuber Ibrahim
Phone: 0116 2704922
Email: zibrahim@millgate.discoverytrust.org