Our Careers Team
- SLT Careers Leader – Lisa Biggar
Contact details – 0161 509 2368
l.biggar@hospitalschool.manchester.sch.uk
Careers Guidance
Manchester Hospital School seeks to maximise the life chances of all of our young people. It is important that we prepare our young people for life beyond school and college. It is vital that every young person, no matter what their background, has a good understanding of both the technical and academic routes available to them post 16. Good career guidance will help young people to raise their aspirations and capitalise on the opportunities available to them.
At Manchester Hospital School we aim to provide an inspirational careers programme that prepares and supports our pupils for the world of work, enabling them to achieve aspirational career outcomes and have the confidence to flourish in an ever-changing careers landscape. We are fully committed to providing pupils with the information, guidance and experiences necessary in order to support them to make informed decisions about their future careers as well and the different options available to them.
The careers programme involves careers education in lessons, visits to universities, colleges and employers as well as careers fairs and employer engagement days. Pupils will also have the opportunity to take part in work experience. Our Careers Curriculum is designed to develop core skills for employability including personalised learning, professional development and preparation for adulthood.
Pupil Careers Entitlement
By the end of year 11, pupils will have had the opportunity to access:
- Individual careers interview and action plan
- Careers events, college and university visits
- Support in writing personal statements/CVs
- Detailed, accurate references
- Where deemed appropriate, opportunities to work with employers undertake work-related learning
- Support and guidance in applying for courses
- Work experience opportunities
How Manchester Hospital School measures and assesses the impact of the careers program
- We seek feedback from pupils, parents/carers and post-16 providers at careers events and visits.
- We Track of pupil post 16 destinations in Year 12 and for 3 years after they leave Manchester Hospital School.
- We review the careers programme each year.
- We complete an internal leadership careers review to evaluate the careers provison and action plan for next year.
Advice for Parents and pupils
Careers Vision
At Manchester Hospital School we aim to provide an inspirational careers programme that prepares and supports our pupils for the world of work, enabling pupils to achieve aspirational career outcomes and having the confidence to flourish in an ever-changing careers landscape. We are fully committed to providing pupils with the information, guidance and experiences necessary in order to support them to make informed decisions about their future careers as well and the different options available to them.
Apprenticeships
Pupils should also consider an apprenticeship as a pathway into employment.
Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study.
As an apprentice you will:
- Work alongside experienced staff
- Gain job-specific skills
- Earn a wage and get holiday pay
- Get time for study related to your role (usually one day a week)
Apprenticeships take 1-5 years to complete depending on their level.
Levels of Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships have equivalent educational levels:
| Name | Level | Equivalent educational level |
| Intermediate | 2 | GCSE |
| Advanced | 3 | A level |
| Higher | 4,5,6 and 7 | Foundation degree and above |
| Degree | 6 and 7 | Bachelor’s or master’s degree |
Some apprenticeships may also give you an additional qualification, such as a diploma.
You can search for apprenticeships here.
Employers
Manchester Hospital School values and encourages the contribution of employers as part of our careers programme. We are
committed to connecting pupils with local employers to increase their knowledge of the world of work and develop their
employability skills. We have links with many local businesses, voluntary organisations and charities. If you are an employer who
would like to support Manchester Hospital School, or would like more information on how you can support our careers programme
please email Lisa Biggar (SLT Careers Lead) l.biggar@hospitalschool.manchester.sch.uk
Gatsby Benchmarks
The eight Gatbsy Benchmarks are the framework for good career guidance developed to support schools in providing pupils with the best possible careers education, information, advice, and guidance which we are implementing at Manchester Hospital School.
Our current progress against the Gatsby Benchmarks
| Benchmark | Description |
| 1. A stable careers programme | Every school and college should have an embedded programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by pupils, parents, teachers and employers and other agencies. |
| 2. Learning from career and labour market information | All pupils, parents and carers, teachers and staff who support pupils should have access to good-quality, up-to-date information about future pathways, study options and labour market opportunities. Young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their parents and carers may require different or additional information. All pupils will need the support of an informed adviser to make the best use of available information. |
| 3. Addressing the needs of each young person | Pupils have different careers guidance needs at different stages. Careers programmes should help pupils navigate their concerns about any barriers to career progression. In addition, opportunities should be tailored to the needs of each pupil, including any additional needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged pupils, young people with SEND and those who are absent. |
| 4. Linking curriculum learning to careers | As part of the school’s programme of careers education, all teachers should link curriculum learning with careers. Subject teachers should highlight the progression routes for their subject and the relevance of the knowledge and skills developed in their subject for a wide range of career pathways. |
| 5. Encounters with employers and employees | Every pupil should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment opportunities, including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes, and could include pupils’ own part-time employment where it exists. |
| 6. Experiences of workplaces | Every pupil should have first-hand experiences of workplaces to help their exploration of career opportunities and expand their networks. |
| 7. Encounters with further and higher education | All pupils should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them, including academic, technical and vocational routes. This should incorporate learning in schools, colleges, independent training providers (ITPs), universities and in the workplace. |
| 8. Personal guidance | Every pupil should have opportunities for guidance meetings with a careers adviser, who could be internal (a member of school staff) or external, provided they are trained to an appropriate level. These meetings should be available for all pupils whenever significant study or career choices are being made. They should be expected for all pupils but should be scheduled to meet their individual needs. The careers leader should work closely with the careers adviser, SEND coordinator (SENDCO) and other key staff to ensure personal guidance is effective and embedded in the careers programme. |
Destination Data
| 2025 Year 11 leavers | Next destination |
| 0% | Apprenticeship |
| 0% | Employment |
| 28% | Engagement program to support access to employment or education (NEET) |
| 67% | Further Education |
| 5% | Other education provider |
| 2023 – 2024 Year 11 / 12 leavers | Next destination |
| 3% | Apprenticeship |
| 0% | Employment |
| 26% | Engagement program to support access to employment or education (NEET) |
| 42% | Further Education |
| 29% | Other education provider |
| 2022 – 2023 Year 11 leavers | Next destination |
| 0% | Apprenticeship |
| 5% | Employment |
| 14% | Engagement program to support access to employment or education (NEET) |
| 81% | Further Education |
| 0% | Other education provider |
Labour Market Information
Labour Market Information (LMI) is information about the current economic and employment situation. It includes data on graduate destinations, average starting salaries, current trends in employment sectors and recruitment patterns.
GM Labour Market Information 2023
Useful links for researching careers and labour market information
The National Careers Service website contains a wealth of information about career choices,
including job profiles that outline training pathways, as well as a job matching tool.
GMACS – a tool to research careers and LMI and pathways– this has GMs top careers sectors and
whole wealth of careers information and careers quizzes for pupils
The Careers and Enterprise Company have a whole wealth of LMI and other careers support. This link below can take you to this and also a specific SEBND LMI support booklet.
All the resources, all in one place | CEC Resource Directory
LMI website which also has information about careers and skills for particular careers.
Apprenticeship vacancies are useful as this give an indication of what is available and many searches can be very localised to your school/college. The websites below provide information and search tools.
Careers Programme
Useful Advice and links
National Careers Service
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/
UCAS
A Guide to apprenticeships
https://www.gov.uk/become-apprentice
What are apprenticeships, Traineeships and internships?
https://www.gov.uk/education/apprenticeships-traineeships-and-internships
Careers Advice for Parents (Creating Better Futures).
https://www.careeralchemy.co.uk/job-search.html
What career is right for me?
https://www.whatcareerisrightforme.com/
Careers in the NHS
https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/
GMACS enables pupils to access labour market information, create their own careers plan and access a wealth of GM careers information.
GMACS | Inspire. Explore. Apply
I could is a useful website which links subjects to careers and has videos of people in their roles. It also has a careers quiz to match industries to answers.
National careers service – explore job roles
Careers advice – job profiles, information and resources | National Careers Service
Careers pilot
A website with a wealth of useful careers information at different stages of education
Careerpilot : Plan your future work & study
Careersbox Youtube channel – many careers and job videos with people explaining what they do
Construction careers sites
Welcome | Careers in Construction
Careers In Construction (Construction Jobs List) | Go Construct
Apprenticeship information
Search for an apprenticeship – vacancy site
Provider Access Policy
Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance Policy
