Careers
We provide access to the right information on career choices at the right time so that our students can make appropriate and well informed choices about their future. We work with various tools and partners to fully prepare our students for the next stage in their further education and employment. Students at Matthew Arnold are guided through their time at Matthew Arnold to enable them to make informed and ambitious decisions about their future careers. Careers is an integral part of the school curriculum and students gain a range of experiences, education, and guidance during their time at Matthew Arnold to enable them to make good decisions about their future careers. The school is working towards the Gatsby Benchmarks.
Destination data for Matthew Arnold is highly positive at both Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 with students making progression onto some outstanding universities and careers with our figures regularly being higher than both the Oxfordshire and National figures.
CAREERS POLICY AND STAFF
Careers Officer: Miss Catherine Bailey careers@maschool.org.uk/01865 862232.
NEWSLETTER
Updated monthly
CAREERS ACTIVITIES AT MATTHEW ARNOLD SCHOOL
CAREERS DETECTIVE - YEAR 7
In Year 7, students take part in a Careers Detective activity to learn more about the different kinds of jobs that exist, particularly those that are available in the local area. A variety of employers come in to talk to classes, representing industries ranging from health care to construction, the RAF to computing. The representatives spend 10-15 minutes with a class, giving students the opportunity to ask questions about their job, what it's like, their route/qualifications needed. Students then use this information to guess what the representative's job is.
INTRODUCTION TO OPTIONS - YEAR 8
In Year 8, students are introduced to one or more post-16 options, to encourage them to start thinking about their future pathways. This includes a talk from an apprenticeship provider.
MEETING COLLEGES AND EMPLOYERS - YEAR 9
In Year 9, students attend Careers Fest, a careers fair hosted by OxLEP which includes representatives from over 70 local employers and colleges. In previous years this has included; Rebellion, Ignite Sport, Abingdon and Witney College, BMW, Oxford International College of Beauty, alongside many others.
CAREERS EDUCATION, INFORMATION, ADVICE AND GUIDENCE (CEIAG) DAY - YEAR 10
In Year 10, students take part in a careers education day where they explore the changing working world, preparing for work experience, and enterprise skills. They also receive a a talk from an apprenticeship provider.
CEIAG DAY - YEAR 11
In Year 11, students take part in a further careers education day where they are encouraged to explore their options in more depth and make a plan for post-GCSEs. To enable them to do so, we invite over 40 colleges, employers and training providers into school to allow for in-depth conversations which allow students to discover what their next steps will be. The full list of organisations invited to the Careers Fair can be found in our Careers Education Policy, though we aim to expand this list each year.
CAREERS ADVICE AND GUIDANCE AT MATTHEW ARNOLD SCHOOL
UNIFROG
Matthew Arnold is a UNIFROG school for students from year 7 to year 13. UNIFROG is the leading careers advice platform for schools and allows students to undertake extensive research for careers including university, apprenticeships, and employers.
It also allows students to record their employability skills and competencies which are key to allowing students to evidence their suitability for employment and universities as well as:
- Exploring Pathways – personality quizzes, career, and subject profiles
- Recording – self-reflection about extracurricular activities and key employability skills
- Opportunities – search tools showing live vacancies/courses/placements for apprenticeships, universities (in the UK), FE, and much more
- Applications – tools to help students build applications for a range of pathways (e.g. CVs and personal statements)
There is a presentation from UNIFROG here for parents/carers which explains how the platform works. Parents can also access the site and codes will be sent to parents/carers at various points so they can work with students on their careers.
MENTORING
Students will also have the opportunity to develop and plan their career options at key points in Year 9 when choosing options, in Year 10 when planning work experience, and also in Year 11 when choosing their pathway at end of Year 11. Sixth form students also work closely with their tutors to develop their plans for after sixth including their personal statements.
OPTIONS AT POST 16 AND POST 18
Students have a range of options at 16 and 18 and can pursue several pathways to different careers.
APPRENTICESHIPS
An apprenticeship is a real job where you learn, gain experience, and get paid. You’re an employee with a contract of employment and holiday leave. By the end of an apprenticeship, you’ll have the right skills and knowledge needed for your chosen career. It can take between one and 6 years to complete an apprenticeship depending on which one you choose, what level it is, and your previous experience. It’s funded from contributions made by the government and your employer. Find out how to become an apprentice, what apprenticeships are available and which employers offer them here. Students can sign up for an apprenticeship account at the Government apprenticeship vacancy site here. You can also find lots of information at Amazing Apprenticeships.
APPRENTICESHIPS STATISTICS
APPRENTICESHIPS VS. UNIVERSITY
This short video should help you understand whether apprenticeships or university might be better for you:
University vs Apprenticeship: what's right for my child?
HOW TO FIND AN APPRENTICESHIP
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Look up apprenticeships on the Success at School website.
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Use the government's Find An Apprenticeship website.
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Check local government websites, such as Oxfordshire County Council.
APPRENTICESHIP VACANCIES
T-LEVELS
T Levels are new courses which follow GCSEs and are equivalent to 3 A-levels. These 2-year courses have been developed in collaboration with employers and businesses so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work, further training, or study. T Levels offer students a mixture of classroom learning and ‘on-the-job’ experience during an industry placement of approximately 45 days. T Levels are one of the main choices for students after GCSE. We do not currently offer T levels at Matthew Arnold. For more information visit T Levels | The Next Level Qualification.
LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION (LMI)
Labour Market Information effectively describes the world of work – ranging from descriptions of different careers, their entry routes, promotional prospects, salaries paid, skills and qualifications needed, etc. Crucially for young people, LMI also covers future demand – what kinds of jobs will be in demand after leaving school and what kinds of skills will be needed? It is important for students to have access to LMI so they can see what roles are available, what qualifications are needed, how much they can earn, and what the progression routes are, amongst other things. Students and parents and carers can see LMI data for a wide range of career options supplied by the National Careers Service here.
USEFUL LINKS TO HELP CAREERS PLANNING
Resources, support, and list of apprenticeship opportunities.
Helps young people develop the skills they need to succeed in future careers.
Useful careers information provided by Oxfordshire County Council for young people aged 8 – 19, including job and apprenticeship vacancies in Oxfordshire.
Aimed at people of all ages, this website will help you get the advice you need for future skills, careers, and work and life choices. There is a helpline available too: 0800 100 900 that will call you back if on a mobile.
Website for school and college leavers that lists apprenticeship and employment opportunities
Explore your career options and see where your degree could take you.
Useful careers information provided by Oxfordshire County Council for young people aged 8 – 19, including job and apprenticeship vacancies in Oxfordshire.
http://www.russellgroup.ac.uk/informed-choices
Website for helping students choose the right A- Levels, especially if you plan to go on to university.
Explore careers, get the lowdown on top employers and search for jobs, courses, and advice.
Helping Your Child Begin Their Career Journey
A handy guide for Parents and carers to help your child to begin their career journey.
Help and advice on a range of study and career questions.
Lots of useful information from employers. Find out what skills and qualities employers are looking for, get ideas on how to develop and demonstrate your skills, and learn how to impress at an interview.
The website for researching university courses, entry requirements, writing personal statements and more. Now also includes information on options after GCSEs
WORK EXPERIENCE
At Matthew Arnold students have the opportunity to undertake two periods of work experience, one week in both Year 10 and Year 12.
YEAR 10 WORK EXPERIENCE
Year 10 work experience is about giving students a general introduction to the workplace and experience of what it is like to be at work. It enables students to understand how school subjects can be applied in the world of work and to develop and practice employability skills.
One clear benefit is how the experience builds self-confidence in students and gives them a renewed focus on their curriculum subjects.
With regard to future career paths, it can be used to confirm choices before students decide on post-16 courses, but it is mainly a chance to engage with employers and learn new skills. For some students work experience in Year 10 has led to part-time work or apprenticeship opportunities.
Students source their own placements and the placements are administered on the UNIFROG platform.
The work experience week for Year 10 is 17th-21st March 2025.
YEAR 12 WORK EXPERIENCE
Year 12 students also have the opportunity to undertake a period of work experience. Students benefit from this as it allows them to gather experience of a career they intend to pursue but also gather evidence of their interest in specific career fields if they are considering them.
It is especially helpful for students who wish to pursue careers in vocational careers such as medicine; nursing; veterinary science, dentistry, and teaching.
Students source their own placements and the placements are administered on the UNIFROG platform.
Students can undertake placements virtually as well as in person and we understand that for some careers the placement may not take place in the week assigned by the school.
The work experience week for Year 12 is 7th-11th July 2025.
NEXT REVIEW OF INFORMATION DUE
July 2025
