Career Information and Guidance

Welcome to Careers at STMCA

At St Thomas More Catholic Academy, we believe every student is called to fulfil their God-given potential. Through our careers programme, students develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to make informed decisions about their future education, training and careers.

Guided by our Gospel values of Faith, Excellence and Respect, we support students in exploring aspirations, understanding opportunities and preparing for life beyond school through a carefully planned careers programme.

Careers Guidance Policy
Provider Access Policy

Careers Programme

Our careers programme helps students understand the wide range of pathways available after school and sixth form.

Students benefit from:

  • Careers lessons and activities
  • Employer encounters
  • Workplace experiences
  • Careers fairs and workshops
  • University and apprenticeship information
  • Independent careers guidance
  • Personal development opportunities
  • A wide range of enrichment and extra-curricular activities to inspire their future
  • Career links mapped throughout the whole-school curriculum
  • Trips and enrichment activities directly linked to careers

Our programme is designed to ensure all students are prepared for successful futures.

Careers Overview Programme

Unifrog

‘Aspire to be More’

Whether students aspire to university, an apprenticeship, employment or further study, we are here to help them to make informed choices.

At St. Thomas More, we use Unifrog to help us to provide high-quality careers education, information, advice and guidance, ensuring every student has access to impartial information about the full range of academic and technical pathways available to them. Unifrog supports our students in making informed choices and preparing for successful future careers.

Unifrog is an online careers and destinations platform that helps students explore their future options and make informed decisions about their next steps. It brings together information to help students to:

  • Discover careers and pathways
  • Explore apprenticeships and university courses
  • Access labour market information
  • Build employability skills
  • Create CVs and applications
  • Record achievements and experiences
  • Plan their next steps with confidence

How does Unifrog support students?

Through Unifrog, students can:

  • Explore hundreds of different careers and learn about the qualifications, skills and pathways needed to access them.
  • Research university courses, apprenticeships, college courses and training opportunities in the UK and abroad.
  • Complete personality, interests and skills quizzes to help identify careers and pathways that may suit them.
  • Record achievements, skills development, work experience and extracurricular activities.
  • Build CVs, personal statements and application materials.
  • Search for enrichment opportunities, summer schools, volunteering and work experience.
  • Access up-to-date information about labour market trends, salaries and career prospects.
  • Receive guidance and resources linked to careers education delivered in school.

Students can access Unifrog at: www.unifrog.org using their school email account where their profile will be developed throughout their school career from year 7 through to year 13.

 

Please contact Mrs V Kerr for more information: vkerr@stmca.org.uk

How can parents and carers support their child?

We encourage families to explore Unifrog together. Regular conversations about aspirations, interests and future opportunities can have a significant positive impact on students’ confidence and decision-making.

Parents and carers can support students by:

  • Logging into Unifrog together and exploring career interests and future pathways.
  • Discussing careers that match their child’s strengths, interests and aspirations.
  • Looking at entry requirements for different courses, apprenticeships and professions.
  • Encouraging their child to record achievements, experiences and skills development regularly.
  • Using the Unifrog platform to start conversations about future goals and progression routes after school or sixth form.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships offer an exciting opportunity to earn, learn and gain recognised qualifications at the same time.

From Level 2 through to Degree Apprenticeships, students can access high-quality training across a wide range of sectors and professions.

Discover how apprenticeships can provide a direct route into a successful career on Unifrog and www.apprenticeships.gov.uk

Higher Education

Higher education offers students the opportunity to continue learning and develop specialist knowledge and skills.

Whether considering university, degree apprenticeships or other higher-level qualifications, students are supported to explore options, research courses and make informed applications.

Discover higher education routes on Unifrog and Higher education courses: find and apply – GOV.UK

You can search for full-time and part-time courses at:

  • Discover Uni – compare information on courses, including student satisfaction and jobs after study
  • UCAS – search by course name, provider name or location
  • National Careers Service – search by location, type, learning method, hours and qualification level

Labour Market Information (LMI)

Understanding labour market information helps students make informed decisions about future career opportunities.

Explore:

  • Growing industries
  • Employment trends
  • Skills in demand
  • Local and national opportunities
  • Future workforce needs

Knowledge of the labour market helps students plan confidently for their futures. Our students can access local labour market information via Unifrog and Explore LMI data – LMI For All

Gatsby Benchmarks

Our careers programme is aligned to the Gatsby Benchmarks, the national framework for excellent careers guidance.

The benchmarks ensure students receive:

  • High-quality careers education
  • Encounters with employers
  • Experiences of workplaces
  • Personal guidance
  • Information about future pathways

Benchmark 1: A Stable Careers Programme
A planned and progressive careers programme delivered from Year 7 through to Year 13.

Benchmark 2: Learning from Career and Labour Market Information
Students and families access up-to-date information about careers, employment trends and future opportunities.

Benchmark 3: Addressing the Needs of Each Pupil
Careers guidance is tailored to meet the needs and aspirations of every student.

Benchmark 4: Linking Curriculum Learning to Careers
Students explore how subjects connect to future careers and pathways.

Benchmark 5: Encounters with Employers and Employees
Students engage with employers to learn about different industries and occupations.

Benchmark 6: Experiences of Workplaces
Students participate in meaningful workplace experiences and work-related learning.

Benchmark 7: Encounters with Further and Higher Education
Students learn about colleges, sixth forms, apprenticeships, universities and technical pathways.

Benchmark 8: Personal Guidance
Students have access to impartial careers advice from qualified careers professionals.

 

We are committed to continually developing our provision to ensure the best outcomes for all students.

Careers Events

Throughout the year, students participate in a range of careers-related events designed to inspire, inform and prepare them for the future.

Events include:

  • Careers fairs
  • Employer encounters
  • University visits
  • Apprenticeship workshops
  • National Careers Week
  • National Apprenticeship Week
  • WOW Weeks
  • Work experience days/weeks
  • Parents Evening Careers Stall
  • Post-16 provider visits

These experiences help students explore possibilities and raise aspirations.

Meet the Careers Team

Our Careers Team is committed to supporting every student on their journey towards a successful future.

Meet the careers team

Mrs Kerr | Careers Lead Practitioner

BA (Hons), PGCE, Level 6 Careers Leader Contact details: vkerr@stmca.org.uk Telephone: 01782 882900

Mrs A Bradbury | Oversight of CIAG

Assistant Headteacher with oversight of CEIAG Contact details: gmurphy@stmca.org.uk Telephone: 01782 882900

Mr J WEST | Careers ADVISOR

Our Careers advisor who works with students at St Thomas More Catholic Academy through the Local Authority Careers service

BA(Hons), MPhil, Level 6 Careers Guidance, Level 3 Award in Education and Training

Contact details: jwest@stmca.org.uk

Telephone: 01782 882900

 

If you would like information, guidance or support, please get in touch.

 

“Christ is at the heart of all we do.”

Together, we help students grow in Faith, Excellence and Respect while preparing for

the opportunities and challenges of the modern world.