At the Gateway Academy, we are proud to align our Careers provision to our Academy values. 

Careers Policy 

Our Careers provision is wholly student-centered, so that all of our students have the best possible life chances as a result of being as informed as possible regarding their futures once they leave us.

• Developing Aspiration: Our Careers provision nurtures high aspirations by exposing our students to a range of career paths and opportunities. It inspires them to set ambitious goals for their future, helping them realise their potential to achieve exceptional outcomes in both personal and professional life. We organise visits to employers, colleges and Universities so that our students gain first-hand experience of life beyond Year 11. There are regular assemblies throughout the year in which employers and education providers present on how they can support our students to make the right decision for them.

• Building Responsibility: By encouraging our students to take ownership of their future career choices, our provision instils a sense of responsibility. It teaches them to actively seek opportunities, make informed decisions, and plan their career paths with purpose and accountability. Our students have the chance to visit City law firms, major airports, large-scale transport hubs such as DP World, further and higher education establishments such as Barking Abbey, ARU as well as Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

• Fostering Resilience: We believe that our careers provision equips students with the resilience needed to face challenges in their career journey. By teaching skills such as adaptability and problem-solving in the curriculum, students are better prepared to overcome setbacks and pursue their long-term goals with determination. 

• Cultivating Compassion and Belonging: Our well-rounded careers programme promotes compassion by encouraging students to consider how their future careers can positively impact others. It also helps them feel a sense of belonging by connecting them to wider communities, workplaces, and industries, fostering social and emotional growth.

• Supporting Exceptional Life Chances: Careers advice, advice and information play a vital role in improving life chances by ensuring our students are aware of the full range of pathways available to them, including further and higher education, vocational routes, and apprenticeships. This empowers them to make choices that lead to exceptional career outcomes, financial independence, and personal fulfilment.

We believe that these aims collectively ensure that Gateway students are better prepared to navigate the complexities of the working world and lead successful, meaningful lives.

Year 10 students undertake one week's work experience in the summer term, as well as taking part in a mock interview day so that they are prepared and have the experience of engaging with our external partners in a formal setting.

Students in Year 10 and 11 will attend a career interview by appointment in school, where they will be able to discuss their plans moving forward; whether that be moving onto further education at college or sixth form, choosing an apprenticeship, or any other form of training. 

Our Careers Coordinator Mrs Fuller can be found in the Careers office next to the library. We are always ready to support, inform and impartially advise all students on their next steps, aspirations and future career choices.

The Careers office is open for students to drop in during break times.  We run a 'no appointment needed' to discuss any other support that may be needed, such as college applications, references, CV writing and interview techniques.