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Dixons City Academy

Careers education

At Dixons City Academy, careers education is a core part of ensuring all students are well prepared for their future.

Our careers programme  

Our careers programme aims to provide all students with regular access to employers, expert guidance and workplace experiences to support students in making informed and educated decisions about their next steps. The careers programme is an integral element of the Dixons City curriculum and careers information is interleaved with subject specific content. 

Our commitment to careers provision extends beyond the legal minimum entitlement for students and is underpinned by the Gatsby framework with a commitment to meeting all eight benchmarks. 

Students access a structured and progressive careers programme from Year 7 onwards. This includes:  

  • Careers learning through the curriculum  

  • Dedicated careers sessions, assemblies and events  

  • Encounters with employers and workplaces  

  • Information about further education, higher education and apprenticeships  

  • Access to impartial careers guidance at key transition points  

 
Our programme is aligned to the Gatsby Benchmarks and is designed to support all students, including those with SEND and those at risk of becoming NEET, to achieve positive and sustained destinations. Please see our academy Careers Programme for more details.  

We regularly review and evaluate our careers programme to ensure it is effective, inclusive and meets the needs of our students. This includes feedback from students, parents and staff, alongside destination data and national benchmarking tools.  

 The intended outcomes of our careers programme include: 

  • Students will undertake meaningful work-related experiences 

  • Students will reflect upon and refine their aspirations 

  • Students will increase their knowledge of education, training and career opportunities 

  • Students will develop a clear plan to achieve their goals and realise their potential 

All students have access to Unifrog, our online careers platform, which is used to explore pathways, compare options and build a personalised progression plan. Parents and carers are also able to access Unifrog to support conversations at home. 

Personal guidance and support 

All students receive access to impartial careers guidance, including at least one personal guidance interview with a qualified careers adviser by the end of Year 11. Additional support is provided for students who need it, including those who are disadvantaged, have SEND or are at risk of becoming NEET. 

Independent careers adviser: Karen Hodgson 

Karen Hodgson is an external careers practitioner who works for the Shine team at The Opportunity Centre, a social enterprise committed to providing impartial and high-quality advice and guidance at key transition points. 

Karen meets with students to explore their interests, strengths and aspirations. This is combined with their current attainment to provide tailored guidance on suitable pathways. Students do not need to have a clear career plan prior to their meeting. Following each session, students receive a summary with clear next steps to support their decision-making. 

Equal opportunity 

We are committed to ensuring that all students have equal access to high-quality careers education and experiences. This includes targeted support for students who may face additional barriers, ensuring that every student is able to achieve a positive and sustained destination. 

Provider access (Baker Clause) 

We actively promote a wide range of education and training pathways, including technical education and apprenticeships. 

We are always looking to invite employers and training providers from different sectors to work with our students. If you are interested in supporting careers education at Dixons City Academy, please contact our careers lead. 

Destinations and alumni 

We are committed to supporting all students not only during their time at Dixons City Academy, but also in their transition to post-16 education and beyond. We track student destinations to ensure all students move on to positive and sustained next steps. 

We are proud that many of our former students return to share their experiences with current students. If you are an alumnus of Dixons City Academy and would like to contribute, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Useful resources for students   

Useful resources for parents and carers  

You can find our trust careers policy here.