'The ways in which the school sets about developing pupils’ character, to ready them for adult life, is highly impressive.' - Ofsted

When Harry Watts Academy first opened in September 2020, we joined the North East Ambition pilot programme to help shape and strengthen careers-related learning for pupils on the Engage and Explore Pathways. This early involvement laid the foundations for a strong Careers and Transition curriculum, and since then we have continued to develop, refine and expand our provision every year, working closely with our Special Advisor from the North East Combined Authority Inclusive Futures: Education, Schools & Careers team. Our Discover pupils also benefit from a structured and progressive careers education offer.

From a young age, pupils on the Engage and Explore Pathways begin forming ideas about their interests and the wider world. At Harry Watts Academy, we help them understand themselves — their skills, preferences and strengths — while introducing them to the people, roles and opportunities they may encounter in their communities. Through the topic ‘My World’, pupils learn about familiar local professions such as postal workers, firefighters and police officers. We ensure that pupils are introduced to a broad range of opportunities in the local area, supported by accessible Labour Market Information (LMI).

On the Engage and Explore Pathways, the focus is not on choosing a future career but on helping pupils discover what they enjoy, what motivates them and how they can develop their personal skills. Independence is a key priority, and pupils take part in daily lessons that build functional communication, classroom roles, routines and essential life skills.

As pupils move into the Discover Pathway, they access a wider range of experiences across the academic year, which may include:

• PSHE lesson presentations

• STEM presentations

• Linking curriculum learning to careers

• Assemblies

• Enrichment lessons

• Career and personal development lessons

• Compass+ planning and tracking for individual pupils

• Careers Week activities

• Visits from employers, employees and business owners

• Visits to workplaces

• Work experience opportunities

• Learning about Labour Market Information (LMI)

To support families, we also host Moving On events for parents from Year 9 onwards, providing guidance on next steps, available pathways and the transition to life after Harry Watts Academy. These events help parents feel informed, confident and supported as they plan for their child’s future.

We are proud that former pupils and alumni return to share their experiences of life beyond Harry Watts Academy. Their insights help current pupils understand what adulthood can look like, celebrate their achievements and see real-life examples of successful transitions.

How Harry Watts Academy measures the impact of the careers programme

Careers related learning is measured against the eight Gatsby Benchmarks. Sir John Holman developed the Gatsby Benchmarks on behalf of the Gatsby Foundation. They define what world-class careers provision in education looks like and they provide a clear framework for organising the careers provision at school or college. At Harry Watts Academy, we take seriously the benchmarks as they are enshrined in statutory guidance and we ensure the implementation of careers related learning.

At Harry Watts Academy, we aim to provide a relevant and engaging careers curriculum, which meets the differing needs and requirements of our learners. This is developed throughout the

learner’s time at Harry Watts and is always supportive of their interests, abilities, strengths and skills. The careers programme is audited against the ‘Gastby Benchmarks’, (see below). We also use the Compass+ toolkit from the Careers & Enterprise Company, which is used to benchmark, manage, track and report on the school’s careers programme.

Careers is integrated into the timetable in all phases; Explore, Engage and Discover. Harry Watts Academy Careers Provision has been, and will continue to be mapped against the ‘Gatsby Charitable Foundation’s Benchmarks’, to ensure a fully developed and continually improving careers provision; they are detailed below.

1. A stable careers programme:

A well-structured and consistent careers program is essential for providing ongoing support and guidance to young people.

2. Learning from career and labour market information:

Students need to be aware of the different career paths available to them and the skills required for different roles.

3. Addressing the needs of each pupil:

Tailoring careers guidance to meet the individual needs of each student is crucial for ensuring that they are supported in making informed decisions.

4. Linking curriculum learning to careers:

Connecting classroom learning to real-world applications and career pathways can help students see the relevance of their studies and motivate them to pursue further education.

5. Encounters with employers and employees:

Providing students with opportunities to meet and interact with employers and employees can help them gain a better understanding of different industries and career options.

6. Experiences of workplaces:

Workplace experiences, such as internships and apprenticeships, can provide students with valuable practical skills and experience.

7. Encounters with further and higher education:

Exposure to different types of further and higher education can help students make informed decisions about their future educational paths.

8. Personal guidance:

Providing students with access to one-on-one personal guidance, such as careers counselling, can help them explore their interests and goals and make informed decisions about their future.

As an education establishment we ensure we use the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks as a foundation when planning our Careers Strategy. The effectiveness of our provision is inspected and audited by the Careers and Enterprise Company using the Compass Careers Benchmark Tool. This tool is used by schools and colleges in England to support the analysis and evaluation of careers activity against the eight benchmarks of best practice (known as the Gatsby Benchmarks). The Careers and Enterprise Company coordinate the audit deadlines. This ensures the development of our careers strategy is ongoing to ensure best practice. Harry Watts Academy is a member of the NE LEP SEND Careers Hub. 

Compass+ is used to measure our progress towards the Gatsby benchmarks. An audit is completed at the end of every term.

Careers Advice and Guidance

Every young person needs high-quality career guidance to make informed decisions about their future. Good career guidance is a necessity for social mobility: those young people without significant social capital or home support to draw upon have the most to gain from high-quality career guidance.

Harry Watts Academy employ ‘Careerwave’ to give independent and impartial career guidance.

Danielle Wilson is our careers advisor and she is a qualified professional and is registered with the Career Development Institute, (see the public ‘Register of Careers Professionals’ at thecdi.net).

Danielle works with our year 8 and 9 pupils in small groups and personalised one-to-one guidance with year 10 students to help develop their understanding of possible opportunities when they leave Harry Watts Academy.

Useful Resources for Parents and Carers

Harry Watts Academy is proud to be teaching Careers and Personal Development in both the primary and secondary parts of our school.

To support the delivery of Careers in school, we now work closely with the North East Combined Authority, who provide guidance and expertise to ensure our careers provision is the best it can be. This partnership strengthens our commitment to helping young people across the region make informed choices about their futures and aligns with the wider strategic priorities for education and skills in the North East.

We are supported by our Special Advisor, James Crowther, who plays a key role in developing our careers programme and helping us identify suitable opportunities for our learners to gain meaningful experiences of workplaces.

Provider Access Policy

Please see individual pathway pages for careers information specific to teach pathway.