Careers and Guidance
Our Careers Programme opens a world of opportunities, rooted in the values of respect, courage, and the belief that every pupil can flourish. We encourage curiosity and ambition, helping students grow in confidence as they explore their future pathways. Through high‑quality, impartial guidance and meaningful experiences, we empower pupils to make informed choices and step forward with courage toward a future where they can truly thrive.
Pupils benefit from expert careers support from staff, visiting professionals, and specialist providers, including:
- Talks and mock interviews with university and industry speakers
- Guidance from training and apprenticeship providers
- One-to-one support from our Careers Advisor
- A tutor programme developing key employability skills
- Strong links with South Birmingham businesses, alumni, and parents
- Annual Careers and mini UCAS Fairs with universities and employers across the West Midlands
We recognise that trips and visits to universities, exhibitions, and workplaces play a vital role in broadening horizons. Throughout their time at KNGS, pupils are encouraged to take part in diverse experiences that help them explore and understand potential future pathways.
Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) is an integral part of life at KNGS. From Year 7 through to Year 13, pupils take part in a wide range of activities designed to inspire curiosity and ambition—from university visits to Q&A sessions with employers across different sectors.
Our careers provision is continually reviewed and developed to meet national standards. It is mapped against the Department for Education’s Careers Guidance and Access for Education and Training Providers (Statutory Guidance 2018), aligned with the eight Gatsby Benchmarks, and further developed through the CDI Framework for Careers, Employability and Enterprise Education. We also work closely with the West Midlands Careers Hub to ensure our provision remains current and impactful.
Every school is encouraged to use the Gatsby Benchmarks to strengthen careers provision, focusing on employer engagement, personal guidance, and experiences of the workplace. These benchmarks are:
- A stable careers programme
- Learning from career and labour market information
- Addressing the needs of each student
- Linking curriculum learning to careers
- Encounters with employers and employees
- Experiences of workplaces
- Encounters with further and higher education
- Personal guidance
Provider Access Legislation and How to Contact
Our Provider Access Policy sets out how we ensure pupils in Years 7 to 13 have meaningful encounters with a wide range of education, training, and apprenticeship providers. In line with statutory requirements, all pupils in Years 8 to 13 are entitled to a minimum of six encounters with technical education or training providers:
- Two encounters for pupils during year 8 or year 9 that are mandatory for pupils to attend
- Two encounters for pupils during 10 or year 11 that are mandatory for all pupils to attend
- Two encounters for pupils during year 12 or year 13 that are mandatory for the school to put on but optional for pupils to attend
These encounters help pupils understand the full range of technical pathways available, including apprenticeships, T Levels, and Higher Technical Qualifications. Our partnerships with Cadbury College and University College Birmingham further support this work.
The legislation also requires schools to give colleges and training providers access to speak with pupils about non‑academic routes, ensuring every young person can explore the pathway that suits them best.
We welcome colleges, training providers, and employers to speak with pupils in Years 8–13, and we also offer opportunities for Year 7 to begin exploring future pathways.
Please contact Mrs Emma Peach, Assistant Headteacher and Careers Lead, ewalker@kngs.co.uk, for further information.
Measuring the Impact of the Careers Curriculum
We are dedicated to continually enhancing our careers provision. Each term, the programme is reviewed using the Compass+ evaluation tool to measure progress against the eight Gatsby Benchmarks. Feedback from pupils, teachers, and employers – gathered through surveys and ongoing discussions – helps us refine and strengthen our approach. We track pupils’ destinations to ensure every young person moves confidently onto the pathway that best supports their future success, and we draw on the expertise of the West Midlands Careers Hub to further improve outcomes. Our growing alumni database also plays a key role, enabling us to showcase real career journeys and connect current pupils with former students who can offer insight and inspiration.
For further information please contact the school and ask for Mrs Peach, Careers Leader or email ewalker@kngs.co.uk
Careers Programme Journey
Explore the careers journey for each year group, including key events, activities and opportunities designed to support students in making informed decisions about their future.
Autumn Term
- Students complete the Future Skills Questionnaire
- Careers Day: Dreaming Big
- A day where Year 7 explore their careers and future pathways.
- Introduction to Unifrog.
- Careers Fair: 18th November 2026
- KNGS’ annual careers fair where students can meet further and higher education providers, discuss opportunities with regional employers and local businesses, and discover apprenticeship opportunities.
Spring Term
- Women Who Flourish – Alumni Assemblies
- National Apprenticeships Week: 8th to 14th February 2027
- A celebration of businesses and apprenticeships across the UK to highlight the positive impact of apprenticeships on individuals, employers and the economy.
- National Careers Week: 1st to 5th March 2027
- A celebration of careers guidance and free resources in education, designed to help students and young people explore career options, build confidence, and connect with employers.
- British Science Week: 6th to 15th March 2027
- An annual celebration, run by the British Science Association, which features a wide range of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) events and activities.
Summer Term
- Mini UCAS Fair: Thursday 8th July 2027
- Space Day – opportunities in STEM
Autumn Term
- Students complete the Future Skills Questionnaire
- Careers Fair: 18th November 2027
- KNGS’ annual careers fair where students can meet further and higher education providers, discuss opportunities with regional employers and local businesses, and discover apprenticeship opportunities.
- Skills for the Future – employer engagement assembly with HSBC (PAL)
- The Importance of Level 3 Qualifications
Spring Term
- National Apprenticeships Week: 8th to 14th February 2027
- A celebration of businesses and apprenticeships across the UK to highlight the positive impact of apprenticeships on individuals, employers and the economy.
- National Careers Week: 1st to 5th March 2027
- A celebration of careers guidance and free resources in education, designed to help students and young people explore career options, build confidence, and connect with employers.
- British Science Week: 6th to 15th March 2027
- An annual celebration, run by the British Science Association, which features a wide range of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) events and activities.
Summer Term
- Mini UCAS Fair: Thursday 8th July 2027
- Technical and vocational presentation from Cadbury College (PAL)
- Women Who Flourish – Alumni Assemblies
- A Levels at Kings Norton Girls’ School
Autumn Term
- Students complete the Future Skills Questionnaire
- GCSE Options Drop-In Session: Monday 5th October 2026
- Careers Fair: 18th November 2026
- KNGS’ annual careers fair where students can meet further and higher education providers, discuss opportunities with regional employers and local businesses, and discover apprenticeship opportunities.
- Technical and vocational presentation from HSBC (PAL)
Spring Term
- National Apprenticeships Week: 8th to 14th February 2027
- A celebration of businesses and apprenticeships across the UK to highlight the positive impact of apprenticeships on individuals, employers and the economy.
- National Careers Week: 1st to 5th March 2027
- A celebration of careers guidance and free resources in education, designed to help students and young people explore career options, build confidence, and connect with employers.
- Challenge Day: Tuesday 9th February 2027
- Key Stage Four GCSE options event
- Parents as Partners: Tuesday 9th March 2027
- GCSE options, labour market and future pathways information giving
- Community Outreach
- A day’s work experience in the local community
Summer Term
- Mini UCAS Fair: Thursday 8th July 2027
- Technical and vocational presentation from Amazing Apprenticeships
- Women Who Flourish – Alumni Assemblies
Autumn Term
- Students complete the Future Skills Questionnaire
- Technical and vocational presentation from UCB (PAL)
- Careers Fair: 18th November 2027
- KNGS’ annual careers fair where students can meet further and higher education providers, discuss opportunities with regional employers and local businesses, and discover apprenticeship opportunities.
- Skills for the Future – employer engagement assembly with HSBC (PAL)
- L3 Qualifications and Kings Norton Sixth Form #stayonsix
Spring Term
- National Apprenticeships Week: 8th to 14th February 2027
- A celebration of businesses and apprenticeships across the UK to highlight the positive impact of apprenticeships on individuals, employers and the economy.
- National Careers Week: 1st to 5th March 2027
- A celebration of careers guidance and free resources in education, designed to help students and young people explore career options, build confidence, and connect with employers.
Summer Term
- Mini UCAS Fair: Thursday 8th July 2027
- Technical and vocational presentation from Cadbury College (PAL)
- Women Who Flourish – Alumni Assemblies
- Careers Information and Guidance Day: Thursday 8th July 2027
- Work Experience Placement: Monday 12th to Friday 16th July 2027
Autumn Term
- Students complete the Future Skills Questionnaire
- Technical and vocational presentation from BMET (PAL)
- Careers Fair: 18th November 2027
- KNGS’ annual careers fair where students can meet further and higher education providers, discuss opportunities with regional employers and local businesses, and discover apprenticeship opportunities.
- Apprenticeship presentation from UCB (PAL)
- Choosing courses and pathways from Aston University (PAL)
- Careers Forum: Wednesday 18th November
- An event where local employers and apprenticeship providers discuss career pathways in person. Students then attend a work shop led by a sector they are interested in. Last year, KNGS hosted the Army, BBC and University of Aston amongst other providers.
Spring Term
- National Apprenticeships Week: 8th to 14th February 2027
- A celebration of businesses and apprenticeships across the UK to highlight the positive impact of apprenticeships on individuals, employers and the economy.
- National Careers Week: 1st to 5th March 2027
- A celebration of careers guidance and free resources in education, designed to help students and young people explore career options, build confidence, and connect with employers.
- Plan B and resilience assemblies
Autumn Term
- Students complete the Future Skills Questionnaire
- Careers Fair: 18th November 2026
- KNGS’ annual careers fair where students can meet further and higher education providers, discuss opportunities with regional employers and local businesses, and discover apprenticeship opportunities.
- Careers Forum: Wednesday 18th November 2026
- An event where local employers and apprenticeship providers discuss career pathways in person. Students then attend a work shop led by a sector they are interested in. Last year, KNGS hosted the Army, BBC and University of Aston amongst other providers.
- Workshops on how to use: www.ucas.com (university), www.getingofar.gov.uk (apprenticeships), www.unifrog.org (online platform for comparing universities & apprenticeships), www.icould.com (subject career videos and labour market information)
- Virtual Work Experience Opportunities
Spring Term
- Work Experience: Monday 8th to Friday 12th February 2027
- Apprenticeship presentation from HSBC(PAL)
Summer Term
- Post-18 Options Talk
- University of Birmingham Discovery Day (TBC)
- UCAS Discovery Birmingham (TBC)
- Mini UCAS Fair: Thursday 8th July 2027
Autumn Term
- Students complete the Future Skills Questionnaire
- Careers Fair: 18th November 2026
- KNGS’ annual careers fair where students can meet further and higher education providers, discuss opportunities with regional employers and local businesses, and discover apprenticeship opportunities.
Spring Term
- National Apprenticeships Week: 8th to 14th February 2027
- A celebration of businesses and apprenticeships across the UK to highlight the positive impact of apprenticeships on individuals, employers and the economy.
- Challenge Day: Tuesday 9th February 2027
- Students complete workshops preparing them for aspects of university life