Careers at Solihull Academy 

Careers education and support is a key component of our provision and Personal Development Offer. We use the Gatsby Benchmarks to inform our practice and to assess our impact. We follow up with our school leavers through the following year and continue to support those who need it.  

Success at Post 16 is a key driver for our school and we work together to prevent students from becoming NEET. (Not in Education, Employment or Training) 

• Careers education takes a variety of forms in our setting.  
• Careers are explored as part of the PSHE curriculum and during form times.  
• Half Termly Careers weeks ensure students consider the relevant skills and opportunities linked to their timetabled subjects.  
• Students have access to careers guidance from both our inhouse level 6 careers lead and staff from Skills for Success.  
• Throughout the year opportunities for employer encounters are calendared and students are carefully selected to ensure they have access to meaningful experiences which will broaden their horizons and develop their employability skills.  
• At Key Stage 4 individualised curriculums are carefully considered through student interviews and consultation with families. Preparation for next steps is an essential factor for consideration during this process.  
• Opportunities to work towards vocational qualifications with other providers, supported by our staff, are arranged on a case-by-case basis.  
• Work Experience placements are also considered on a case-by-case basis and our staff support students and families to make the most of these opportunities.  
• We are informed by labour market information and local context.

During the 25/26 Academic Year we had a wide range of Careers Activities, some of our highlights were:

Padel Careers -Solihull Academy teamed up with a number of professionals from a range of industries to take part in a unique careers networking event that brings together business and education in a fresh and engaging way.  

This was an opportunity to connect employers with young people, share their career journeys, raise aspirations and help students gain a real understanding of the opportunities available beyond school. 

We were extremely grateful to Pure Padel for their support with this event, our students gained a lot from it.  

Balfour Vinci - We have been working with Balfour for the past 2 years now offering a wider range of careers talks, work placement opportunities and CV workshops. They have provided us with many powerful opportunities to help students outside of the classroom and we are very grateful for the positive experiences they have given so many of our students.   

Balfour Beatty – Girls Empowerment events -Women in Construction  
This was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the wide range of roles available at Balfour and highlight the importance of representation, diversity, and inclusion in shaping the future of construction.  

Through open discussions and career talks and challenges Balfour aimed to empower our students.  At Balfour Beatty, they believe that early engagement and real-world exposure are key to unlocking potential and inspiring the next generation of changemakers. We are very appreciative of all their support.

Key Contact – Matt Gregor, Careers Lead  mgregor@sa.sapmat.org.uk 

If students, parents, carers or employers would like more information about our careers programme please contact Matt Gregor or the school office. 

Careers Information Advice and Guidance PolicySolihull Academy Careers Strategy

Provider Access Policy SAPMAT

Options after Year 11

At the end of Year 11 you need to think carefully about which best meets your needs, and consider which type of institution and type of study and learning would best suit you.  The following information might help with your decision:

Sixth Form

If you decide you would like to study at sixth form. Sixth forms tend to mainly offer A levels, although some also offer BTECs too. The atmosphere in Sixth Form could be more relaxed than the one you’re used to in school but it will still be structured. There may be free periods when you have no timetabled lessons. You’ll be given more responsibility though, so you’ll be expected to get on with homework or do further study in your free time, without a teacher checking up on you.

Even though you don’t have a taught lesson every period, you may still be expected to attend for the full school day.  And school uniform may not necessarily be a thing of the past! You could still be asked to wear it or follow a dress code. Most sixth forms are also mixed gender just like other colleges, even if the school it’s attached to is an all-boys or all-girls school.

Sixth forms often have strict entry requirements and so you should always check what these are and if you are likely to meet them.

College

It’s likely that you’ll find the atmosphere at a further education college different from that of school. It will probably be more laid back, you’ll be able to wear your own clothes, be in charge of your own time when you’re not in lessons, and maybe even call your tutors by their first names.

You’ll still be expected to stick to a timetable and attend lessons, but you might not have to stay in college during your free periods. You’ll be given a lot of independence and expected to manage your own time. Everyone is different - would this way of working suit you? Think about that when you decide what kind of environment will inspire you.

Colleges tend to specialise more in vocational and practical courses and not all colleges offer A levels. They also have a much more varied body of students that can include full and part time students, day release students as well as school leavers and adults. There are a number of colleges around Solihull and Birmingham and you can find out more about them by looking at their websites:

• Solihull College
• Warwickshire College
• Stratford-upon-Avon College
• University College, Birmingham
• Birmingham Metropolitan College
• South & City College

Sixth Form College

Sixth Form Colleges fall halfway between sixth forms and colleges. They tend to be bigger than sixth forms but smaller than colleges, but will offer both BTECs and A levels. Their students are all aged 16 – 19. The nearest sixth form college is Solihull Sixth Form College. 

 Apprenticeships

A levels or BTEC?

If you decide to stay in education after year 11 you will have the choice of studying A levels or BTECS Often people don’t fully understand the difference between the two, but the points below might help you decide which is the best for you.

A levels

• When you do A levels you will need to choose a combination of three or four subjects
• A levels tend to be in more traditional subjects such as history, maths or science etc.
• Assessment in A levels tends to be very heavily exam based and your final grade can be determined by your performance in an exam after two years, so you need to be sure that you are good at doing exams.
• A levels are mostly offered in sixth forms, although some but not all colleges offer them.
• You will generally need to have achieved a grade B at GCSE in any A level subjects you wish to study, but you should always check with individual colleges or sixth forms

BTECs      

• When you study BTECs, you will specialise in one subject and this would take up as much time as doing three A levels
• BTECs tend to be in vocational areas such as engineering, catering and health and social care etc.
• BTECs use continuous assessment, and so the work you produce over your course affects your final marks
• There are some exams in BTECs, but not big ones
• BTECs are mostly offered in colleges
• Entry grades for BTECs tend to be lower than A levelsYou can use BTECs to apply to university and they can lead on to degree courses.

  Getting a Job

  Fewer and fewer school leavers take this option up straight from school, but if you decide you would like this, any job you apply for will need to include training and qualifications. Often this will include day release. The best way to go about finding a job is:

• Use local papers to look for job adverts

• Use internet job sites to search for vacancies

• Register with employment agencies who can help you find a job (could be good for finding a short term job, but not so great for long term jobs and careers)

• Visit local job centres or use their website (often these jobs are for 18 year olds though)

  General Careers Information

  The following career websites are good for helping you decide on a career, researching jobs, producing a CV and covering letter and much more.

  To approach employers direct to ask if they have any vacancies.
• National Careers Service
• All About Careers
• ICould
• Career Camel
• Careers Box
• Not Going to Uni