At Oakbrook, our ethos of Valuing Differences, Nurturing Growth underpins the way we prepare pupils for their next steps in life. Careers education is not a one-off event but an ongoing journey that helps our young people develop the confidence, skills and knowledge they need for adulthood. We aim to raise aspirations, broaden horizons, and ensure every pupil is supported to make informed, ambitious choices.

Our careers programme is carefully structured to meet the expectations of the Gatsby Benchmarks and the national framework for Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG). This means pupils are given access to high-quality labour market information, links between curriculum learning and careers, meaningful encounters with employers and education providers, and individualised personal guidance. Our programme is inclusive and flexible, designed to address the needs of every pupil with SEND, and is reviewed annually to ensure it remains effective and relevant. Details about our Careers Programme can be found HERE.

The programme is led by Mrs N. Pye, our Careers Lead, who coordinates and monitors delivery across the school. We also work in partnership with trained and impartial advisors who provide one-to-one guidance for our pupils. This combination of in-school leadership and external expertise ensures that our pupils benefit from consistent, personalised support.

To support decision-making at home as well as in school, every pupil and their parent or carer has a lifetime login to the Morrisby platform. Morrisby is an award-winning online tool that helps students discover their strengths, explore potential pathways, and plan for their future. This shared access allows families to engage in careers exploration together, fostering collaborative and informed planning for the next stage of education, training or employment.

Our approach is inclusive and collaborative: we work closely with parents and carers, employers, education providers and local partners to provide real experiences and advice that are meaningful and accessible. Feedback from pupils, families and staff informs regular reviews so that we continue to strengthen and improve our provision. Further details can be found in our CEIAG Policy.

At Oakbrook, careers education is about much more than preparing for employment. It is about helping every young person to discover their strengths, make positive choices, and take confident steps towards their future.

Oakbrook School welcomes visits from education, training, and apprenticeship providers. We offer opportunities for all pupils in Years 8–11 to learn about technical education and apprenticeships, including at least four provider encounters across Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. These encounters take place during the regular school day.