Careers and Further Education
At Hartford Church of England High School, our Careers and Further Education programme is rooted in our Christian mission and our HART values, Happy, Achieving, Ready and Together, guided by Caritas et Veritas (love and truth).
We believe that careers education should not be an add-on, but an integral part of our wider curriculum. Our aim is that every student from Years 7 to 11 has meaningful access to high quality information, advice and guidance so they can make well-informed decisions about post-16 pathways, training, apprenticeships or employment.
Hartford maintains strong links with employers, apprenticeship providers, further education colleges and universities. External providers are welcomed to engage with students through talks, assemblies, workshops or our careers fairs.
Our programme is structured around the Gatsby Benchmarks, ensuring that our careers offer is rigorous, coherent and consistent.
If you are a provider interested in partnering with our school to support our careers work, please contact our Careers Lead, Zena Philippou (zphilippou@hartfordhigh.co.uk) to discuss how you can contribute.
How We Measure Impact
We use a range of tools to measure the impact of our careers education programme. These include:
- KS4 destination measures
- Student, Staff and Parent Voice
- Feedback from visiting employers
- Review of the Y10 work experience
- Compass Plus free digital tool provided by The Careers & Enterprise Company that helps schools, colleges, and training providers evaluate, manage, and report on their careers education provision
Help and Advice
Careers Advice in School
We are proud to work in partnership with MPloy Solutions, who provide our students with high-quality careers advice and guidance. A dedicated advisor from MPloy visits us weekly, offering personalised support to help students explore future pathways, make informed choices, and prepare for life beyond school.
If your child would like to make an appointment, they can do so by:
- asking their tutor
- speaking to Ms Philippou (Careers Lead)
- emailing careersadvisor@hartfordhigh.co.uk
As a parent you are more than welcome to make contact with our Careers Advisor directly using careersadvisor@hartfordhigh.co.uk.
Careers Support at Home
Year 7 - Exploration
- Encourage curiosity about different jobs and industries.
- Support broad subject engagement and hobbies.
- Promote extra-curricular activities to build skills.
Year 8 - Self-Awareness
- Identify strengths, interests, and skills.
- Explore careers through simple research or talking to professionals.
- Encourage goal-setting and participation in skill-building activities.
Year 9 - Options
- Support GCSE or equivalent subject choices aligned with interests.
- Attend school options events and discuss potential career paths.
- Foster independent decision-making.
Year 10 - Work Experience
- Help find and prepare for work experience placements.
- Discuss workplace skills like teamwork and communication.
- Reflect on experiences and keep a record of achievements.
Year 11 - Post-16 Pathways
- Research sixth forms, colleges, apprenticeships, and vocational routes.
- Attend open days, help with applications, and prep for interviews.
- Encourage independence while providing guidance and emotional support.
Other Support Tools
We've gathered the best tools, quizzes, and resources to help you explore your future options whether you're thinking about jobs, apprenticeships, university, or just curious about what careers might suit you.
Which jobs would suit my personality?
What can I do with my subject?
Videos of people talking about their jobsHow much could I earn in my town?
Careers Quizzes
Careers in science - what's yours?
What STEM career is your perfect match?
What could I do in the NHS?Looking after people quiz
What sort of Engineer are you?
Post-16 Career Pathways
When students leave Hartford at the end of Year 11, there are a number of different routes they can take depending on their interests, skills and ambitions:
1. Further Education (FE)
- A-Levels
- Academic qualifications usually studied over two years.
- Students typically choose three to four subjects.
- Best suited for those who enjoy classroom-based learning and may want to go to university.
T-Levels
- New qualifications equivalent to 3 A-Levels.
- Blend of classroom learning and a substantial industry placement (around 45 days).
- Focused on specific career areas such as digital, health, engineering or childcare.
Vocational Courses (BTECs, Cambridge Nationals, etc.)
- Practical, career-focused qualifications.
- Often assessed through coursework and projects, with some exams.
- Good for students who prefer applied learning linked to a specific sector, e.g. business, sport, performing arts or health & social care.
2. Apprenticeships
Combine paid work with training and study, from intermediate to degree level. Students earn while they learn, gaining practical skills and nationally recognised qualifications.
3. Employment with Training
Entering the workplace after GCSEs while continuing to gain recognised training (e.g. NVQs).
4. Traineeships / Study Programmes
Shorter courses designed to build workplace skills, confidence and employability for students not yet ready for an apprenticeship or employment.
5. Higher Education (after FE or apprenticeships)
University or higher-level professional training for those wanting to specialise further.
The list below reflects some of the post-16 destinations of our students:
- Cheshire College - South & West
- Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts
- Priestley College
- Reaseheath College
- Sir John Deane's Sixth Form College
- University of Liverpool Mathematics School
- Warrington & Vale Royal College
For more support regarding Further Education please use the links below:
Apprenticeships - where to find one
Work Experience
At Hartford Church of England High School, all Year 10 students have the opportunity to take part in a work experience placement. This takes place during the Summer Term, when students spend a week in employment to develop valuable insights, practical skills and confidence. The experience helps them make informed choices about their future and inspires them to explore the opportunities available beyond school.
Students are supported in finding their own placements, with clear guidance provided through assemblies and information shared with both students and parents via Changing Education.
Through our active involvement in The Pledge Partnership, we also benefit from strong links with a wide range of employers across different sectors, ensuring that students have access to meaningful opportunities that reflect their interests and aspirations.
Careers Curriculum
Throughout the Year
Students can experience Careers through the following routes:
- Entering our volunteer programme
- Personal Development and Leadership Opportunities to enhance workplace skills such as volunteering at Open Evening, Buddying, Sports Partnership Leaders
- Attending our Careers Fair in January
- Visiting the Careers section of our library
- Looking at our bespoke careers displays for each subject area
Students also experience Careers through:
- Activities Week in which students have the opportunity to learn from various employers as well as work experience opportunities. For example: entering the world of a construction simulator, entering space in a space dome, learning how to build bridges.
- Each subject, in every topic, starts with a careers based focus.
As well as this there is a bespoke curriculum for each year group:
Year 7 - Exploration and Self-Awareness
- Understanding personal qualities, skills, and interests.
- Learning what ambition and success mean personally.
- Considering dream jobs and employer-valued skills.
Year 8 - Pathways and Broadening Horizons
- Looking at career trends and stereotypes.
- Understanding employability, interpersonal skills, and entrepreneurship.
- Recognising challenges and rewards of work.
Year 9 - Gathering Information, Options and Decision-Making
- Exploring pathways after school and how to take control of career journeys.
- Exploring available options at the end of Key Stage 3.
- Understanding how to use Labour Market Information
- Learning about careers fairs and meeting external providers.
- In activities week planning for work experience
- Half termly review on workplace essential skills
Year 10 - Exploring Pathways and Building Employability
- Workplace Preparation - Learn about employability skills, workplace expectations, and professional behaviours.
- Reflection & Next Steps - After placements, log experiences and skills gained on Unifrog to support future applications and personal statements.
- A day at a post 16 establishment
- An information assembly from colleges
- Students are also invited to speak post 16 providers during lunchtime drop ins.
- Half termly review on workplace essential skills
Year 11 - Decision-Making and Future Readiness
Theme: Pathways, opportunities, and preparing for next steps
- Post-16 Pathways: Explore A-Levels, BTECs, apprenticeships, and T-Levels
- How to apply for college and making the best impression.
- Careers sessions are delivered through post-16 specialists and a careers advisor. Additionally, there is a careers fair open to Year 11.
- Half termly reflection on workplace essential skills.