Careers
St Aidan’s Academy Careers Programme
Preparing every student for “life in all its fullness” through high‑quality careers education, guidance and real‑world experiences.
Our Vision for Careers Education
At St Aidan’s Academy, we believe every student deserves a future filled with opportunity. Our careers programme supports pupils from Year 7 to Year 11 to explore their interests, understand the world of work, and make confident, informed decisions about their next steps.
Our programme is fully aligned with the eight Gatsby Benchmarks, ensuring that students receive outstanding careers education that meets national standards.
The Gatsby Benchmarks at St Aidan’s
Our careers programme is built around the Gatsby Benchmarks — the national framework for excellent careers education. Below is how St Aidan’s meets each benchmark in a meaningful, practical way.
1. A Stable Careers Programme
We deliver a structured, sequenced careers programme from Year 7–11. Pupils receive employer encounters, workplace experiences, curriculum-linked careers learning, and personalised guidance. Our programme is reviewed annually with input from pupils, parents, staff and employers.
2. Learning from Career & Labour Market Information
Students and families have access to up‑to‑date labour market information through employer talks, Tees Valley Careers Hub resources, and personalised guidance. Pupils learn about emerging industries, local opportunities, and future skills needs.
3. Addressing the Needs of Each Pupil
Every pupil’s aspirations are captured yearly and used to tailor experiences. SEND pupils receive additional support, and disadvantaged pupils are prioritised for targeted opportunities. Our programme ensures equality of access for all.
4. Linking Curriculum Learning to Careers
Every subject embeds careers learning each term. Staff receive training from employers such as Jacobs Engineering, Amazon and the NHS to help them connect curriculum content to real-world applications and future pathways.
5. Encounters with Employers & Employees
Across KS3 and KS4, pupils meet a wide range of employers through assemblies, workshops, small-group sessions and bespoke experiences. Partners include Cummins, Network Rail, British Airways, Sage, Venterra, Amazon, NHS, Armed Services and many more.
6. Experiences of Workplaces
From Year 7 onwards, pupils take part in workplace visits and hands‑on experiences. These include engineering lines, hospitals, care settings, creative industries, universities, and local businesses. Experiences are matched to pupil aspirations.
7. Encounters with Further & Higher Education
Students meet colleges, sixth forms, universities and apprenticeship providers through presentations, taster days, residentials and information evenings. Providers include QE, Darlington College, Middlesbrough College, Durham Sixth Form, Northern School of Art, Carmel Sixth Form and Oxford University.
8. Personal Guidance
Every Year 11 pupil receives a 1‑to‑1 careers interview with a qualified adviser from Career Wave. Pupils are supported before and after the interview, and parents/carers receive guidance to help their child make informed decisions.
St Aidan’s Academy Careers Journey
Post‑16 Options
Choosing a Post‑16 pathway is an exciting step. At St Aidan’s, pupils and families receive clear guidance to help them understand the full range of options available after GCSEs.
Below is an overview of the main pathways, with additional detail to support decision‑making.
A Levels
A Levels are academic qualifications usually studied over two years. Students typically choose three subjects that match their strengths and future ambitions.
A Levels are ideal for pupils who:
- Enjoy academic study
- Perform well in exams
- Want to progress to university
- Prefer subjects such as sciences, humanities, maths, languages or social sciences
Parents should note:
- Most colleges require grade 5 or above in relevant GCSEs
- Some subjects (e.g., Maths, Sciences) may require grade 6+
Vocational Qualifications
Vocational courses combine classroom learning with practical, hands‑on experience. They suit pupils who prefer coursework, applied learning and industry-focused study.
Vocational courses are ideal for pupils who:
- Prefer practical learning
- Want to develop job‑specific skills
- Are considering apprenticeships or employment
- Want a pathway to university through applied subjects
Examples include:
- Health & Social Care
- Business
- Sport
- Engineering
- Digital Technology
- Childcare
Parents should note:
- Many vocational Level 3 courses are equivalent to A Levels
- Universities accept vocational qualifications for most degree routes.
T Levels
T Levels are two-year technical qualifications designed with employers. Students spend 80% in college and 20% on an industry placement (minimum 45 days).
T Levels are ideal for pupils who:
- Want a blend of classroom learning and real workplace experience
- Are interested in technical or specialist careers
- Prefer structured pathways linked directly to employment
Examples include:
- Health
- Digital Production
- Engineering
- Education & Childcare
- Construction
Parents should note:
- T Levels carry UCAS points and are accepted by universities
- Industry placements help pupils build strong CVs and professional networks
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships combine paid employment with training. Apprentices work for an employer while studying towards a recognised qualification.
Apprenticeships are ideal for pupils who:
- Want to earn while they learn
- Prefer practical, hands‑on experience
- Are ready for the workplace
- Want a direct route into a specific career
Levels include:
- Intermediate (Level 2)
- Advanced (Level 3)
- Higher (Level 4–5)
- Degree Apprenticeships (Level 6–7)
Parents should note:
- Apprenticeships are competitive
- Pupils may need to apply early and attend interviews
Local Colleges & Sixth Forms
This map shows travel times and distances from St Aidan’s to key Post‑16 providers, helping families compare accessibility and options.
College Links
- Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College (QE) https://www.qeliz.ac.uk
- Darlington College https://darlington.ac.uk
- Middlesbrough College https://www.mbro.ac.uk
- Northern School of Art (Middlesbrough) https://northernart.ac.uk (northernart.ac.uk in Bing)
- East Durham College – Houghall Campus https://www.edc.ac.uk
- Durham Sixth Form Centre https://www.durhamsixthformcentre.org.uk (durhamsixthformcentre.org.uk in Bing)
Support for Parents & Carers
We work closely with families to ensure pupils feel confident about their next steps.
Support includes:
- Post‑16 information evenings
- Guidance on applications and deadlines
- Access to careers advisers
- College presentations and taster sessions
- Resources from the Tees Valley Careers Hub
Useful Links
- Tees Valley Careers Hub
- Apprenticeships
- UCAS
- National Careers Service
St Aidan’s Alumni
We are proud of our former students and the diverse paths they have taken.
Coming Soon: Alumni Profiles
We will soon be showcasing:
- University destinations
- Apprenticeship journeys
- Career achievements
- Inspirational stories from former pupils
If you are a former student and would like to be featured, please contact: sacareers@nllt.co.uk
Contact Details of the school's Careers leader
Careers Lead: Mrs. J. MacMurray
SLT Link: Mr. J. Preston-Pacey
Key Information
For Trust and School Policies please click here.
Local Labour Market
When considering future career options it’s important to have a good understanding of the employment prospects within that industry.
Careerometer can be used to explore and compare key information about occupations, help you learn about different occupations and identify potential careers.
It provides access to a selection of UK headline data relating to pay, weekly hours of work and future employment prospects for different occupations, as well as description of the occupation.
Simply type in the title of the job you are interested in and the widget provides a series of options from which you can select the most relevant to you. You can then look up another two occupations and compare. You can also select ‘display the UK average’ and compare the information with the occupation you have selected.
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