Highfield School Provider Access Policy

Contents

1. Aims
2. Statutory Requirements
3. Student Entitlement
4. Management of Provider Access Requests
5. Previous Providers
6. Pupil Destinations
7. Complaints
8. Links to Other Policies
9. Monitoring Arrangements

1. Aims

This policy statement aims to set out our school’s arrangements for managing the access of education and training providers to students for the purpose of giving them information about their offer. It sets out:

• Procedures in relation to requests for access
• The grounds for granting and refusing requests for access
• Details of premises or facilities to be provided to a person who is given access

All students at Highfield are encouraged how to learn and think for themselves to raise their aspirations for a better future.

2. Statutory requirements

Schools are required to ensure that there is an opportunity for a range of education and training providers to access students in years 8 to 13 for the purposes of informing them about approved technical education, qualifications or apprenticeships.

Schools must provide a minimum of 6 encounters with technical education or training providers to all pupils in years 8 to 13 (see more detail in section 2.1 below).

Schools must also have a policy statement that outlines the circumstances in which education and training providers will be given access to these students.

This is outlined in section 42B of the Education Act 1997, the Skills and Post-16 Act 2022 and on page 43 of guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) on careers guidance and access for education and training providers.

This policy shows how our school complies with these requirements.

2.1 The 6 encounters schools must offer to all pupils in years 8 to 13

Schools must offer:

• 2 encounters for pupils during the ‘first key phase’ (year 8 or 9)
  • All pupils must attend
  • Encounters can take place any time during year 8, and between 1 September and 28 February during year 9
• 2 encounters for pupils during the ‘second key phase’ (year 10 or 11)
  • All pupils must attend
  • Encounters can take place any time during year 10, and between 1 September and 28 February during year 11
• 2 encounters for pupils during the ‘third key phase’ (year 12 or 13)
  • Pupils can choose to attend
  • Encounters can take place any time during year 12, and between 1 September and 28 February during year 13

These encounters must happen for a reasonable period of time during the standard school day. Schools can continue to provide complementary experiences, but encounters outside of school hours won’t count towards these requirements. Some pupils may benefit from online encounters if they feel less comfortable with face-to-face encounters

Schools must ask each provider to provide the following information as a minimum:

• Information about the provider and the approved qualifications or apprenticeships they offer
• Information about what careers those qualifications and apprenticeships can lead to
• What learning or training with the provider is like
• Answers to any questions from pupils

2.2 Meaningful provider encounters

Our school is committed to providing meaningful encounters to all pupils.

1 encounter is defined as 1 meeting/session between pupils and 1 provider.

Meaningful live online engagement is also an option at our school.

3. Student entitlement

All students in years 8 to 13 at Highfield School are entitled to:

• Find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities as part of our careers programme, which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point
• Hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships, e.g. through activities and events such as options events, assemblies and taster events
• Understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses

4. Management of provider access requests

4.1 Procedure

Any provider seeking access should refer to the opportunities for access below. They should submit in writing a request outlining the specific opportunity they wish to access and why this would be appropriate for students at Highfield School. This should be sent to the Assistant Head Teacher responsible for the pathway within school.

• Semi-formal Anna Bates
• Formal Jude Hickey
• Post 16 Provision Amanda Sheppard

Granting and refusing access

The Careers curriculum and where the provider offer would most complement this.

• The school’s duty to remain impartial
• Advice, if required, from Targeted Information Advice and Guidance (TIAG)

While the school reserves the right to grant or deny access, Highfield School will always seek to provide the broadest offer possible to students. If denied access the provider will receive a response, in writing, confirming the decision around why access is deemed unsuitable at this time.

4.2 Opportunities for access

A number of events, integrated into our careers programme, will offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to students and/or their parents/carers. In the following table we have provided some examples of the opportunities

Please contact our Careers Leader Caroline Randall on 01924 264240 or crandall@highfield.wakefield.sch.uk to identify the most suitable opportunity for you.

4.3 Granting and refusing access

When considering provider applications for access the following will be considered:

• The reputability of the provider
• The needs and aspirations of the pupils attending the event
• The safeguarding duty of the school

4.4 Safeguarding

Our school’s policy on Safeguarding sets out Highfield School’s approach to allowing providers and visitors into school to talk to our students.

Education and training providers will be expected to adhere to this policy.

These events will run in line with any measures related to public health incidents, including COVID-19.

4.5 Premises and facilities

When providers are granted access, they may request equipment by contacting Pam Pickles, School Business Manager. The location of the event will dictate the availability of equipment. The school will make an appropriate room available for discussions between the provider/visitor and students as necessary for the activity. The school will also make available Technical equipment to support presentations. This will be discussed and agreed in advance of the visit with the Careers Leader and/or Assistant Head of Pathway.

At Assemblies or workshops- a room will be booked within school, audio-visual equipment (plasma screen) will be made available and technical support can be on hand. At larger event, providers will get a station to base themselves on with access to electricity but the school will be unable to provide audio visual equipment to large numbers of providers.

Providers are able to leave a small number of prospectus within school for reference. These will be located within the School library and Post 16 common area for students to access.

5. Previous providers

In previous terms/years we have invited the following providers from the local area to

speak to our pupils:

• NCS
• Engie
• McDonalds (virtually)
• Bank of England (virtually)

6. Pupil destinations

Last year, our year 11 pupils moved to a range of providers in the local area after school:

Last year, our Post 16 leavers moved to a range of providers in the local area after school:

7. Complaints

Any complaints related to provider access can be raised following the school complaints procedure or directly with The Careers & Enterprise Company via provideraccess@careersandenterprise.co.uk

8. Links to other policies

Curriculum Policy for Careers

Equal Opportunities Policy

Special Educational Needs and Disability

9. Monitoring arrangements

The school’s arrangements for managing the access of education and training providers to students is monitored by Judith Hickey Assistant Headteacher (formal) and Amanda Sheppard Assistant Headteacher (Post 16) on an annual basis.

At every review, the policy will be approved by the Headteacher.