Careers at GSA

Welcome to the Careers and Aspirations section of George Salter Academy (GSA). We are dedicated to helping every student—from Year 7 onward—raise their aspirations, explore different pathways, and make informed decisions about their future. Our careers provision is designed to meet the needs of all students in line-quality guidance, employer encounters, and real-world experiences.

Meet the Careers Team

Miss C. Johnson
Careers Advisor
Miss Johnson oversees the entire Careers & Employability Programme. Whether you’re exploring university, college, or apprenticeship routes, she’s here to offer one-to-one guidance, arrange employer talks, and coordinate work experience placements.

Please click here to contact Miss Johnson

Mr J Bishton
Careers Lead
Mr. Bishton oversees the entire Careers & Employability Programme. As the SLT link for careers, he collaborates closely with the careers team to embed high-quality guidance and opportunities across Key Stages 3, 4 and 5.

Please click here to contact Mr Bishton

Mrs J A Davies
Govenor for Careers
Mrs Davies is our Careers Governor.  As the Governor link for careers, she collaborates closely with the careers team to embed high-quality guidance and opportunities across Key Stages 3, 4 and 5

Please click here to contact Mrs Davies

Mrs L Nicholson

GSA Enterprise Advisor

Mrs Nicholson is a fantastic link that we as GSA are lucky to have within our careers team.  She supports our careers team with ensuring that all guidance and opportunities are to the highest standard and supports us with facilitating any event that we put on for our students.

We are happy to announce that George Salter Academy has been externally assessed by Complete Careers LLP in March 2023 and awarded the national Quality in Careers Standard for its careers education, information, advice and guidance provision.

All students are involved in the Academy’s Careers Education Programme which starts in Year 7 and runs through into Sixth Form. We aim to raise student aspirations, support them into further learning and equip them with the skills they need to achieve success in their chosen pathway. This programme develops their career skills covering self-development, career exploration and career management. Our programme is developed to map the Career Development Institute guidelines and the Gatsby Benchmarks.

Our overall careers provision includes careers within curriculum lessons, careers workshops within PSHE and is part of a much wider programme that includes trips, employer encounters, work experience, personal guidance, and more.

You can download the GSA Careers Programme below:

GSA-Careers-bookletDownload

One-to-One Guidance
Schedule an appointment with Miss Johnson to discuss post-16 and post-18 options, explore apprenticeship and university pathways, or get help writing your CV or personal statement.

Employer Engagement & Work Experience
We partner with local businesses and organizations to provide hands-on work placements, guest speaker sessions, and industry-specific workshops, giving you a realistic insight into the workplace.

Events & Workshops
Join our careers fairs, skills sessions, and mock interview days to gain confidence, build your network, and learn from professionals across various industries.

Online Platforms & Resources
We subscribe to the award-winning Unifrog platform, a one-stop shop for everything careers—college courses, apprenticeship listings, university data, and CV tools. This resource is available to both students and parents, promoting collaborative planning.

Personalised Support for All
Whether you need additional guidance due to specific learning needs or you’re simply unsure which path to pursue, our team works closely with pastoral staff, external advisers, and universities to ensure everyone receives the right support at the right time.

At our school, we are committed to ensuring that every student—regardless of background, ability, or circumstance—can access high-quality, personalised careers guidance.

Disadvantaged students and those with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) are actively supported to engage in meaningful career planning. Vulnerable students are prioritised for careers interviews based on individual need, to ensure they receive timely support and guidance that reflects their aspirations and circumstances.

Miss Johnson, our Careers Advisor, works closely with the Safeguarding and SEND departments to identify students who may require additional careers support. This collaborative approach helps us ensure that no student is left behind when it comes to planning for their future.

We believe that every young person deserves the chance to explore their potential, and we’re here to help make that happen.

As part of Ormiston GSA’s commitment to informing our pupils of the full range of learning and training routes on offer to them, we are happy to consider requests from training, vocational education and apprenticeship providers to speak to students and will also approach these partners ourselves when planning organising key Careers events throughout the school year.

This policy statement sets out the school’s arrangements for managing the access of providers to pupils at the school for the purpose of giving them information about the provider’s education or training offer. This complies with the school’s legal obligations under Section 42B of the Education Act 1997.

Pupil entitlement

All pupils in years 8-13 are entitled:

  • To find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeships opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point.
  • To hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships – through options events, assemblies and group discussions and taster events.
  • To understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses”

In the first instance, providers wishing to speak with students should consult with us about their input at our main events throughout the year. We also have a number of slots available for year group assemblies and whole cohort presentations. Any requests for the above, or any special requests, should be made to the senior leader responsible for careers using the details below. All requests should be emailed at least 6 weeks in advance of an expected date of the session. At this point, more information will be requested around the purpose and content of the session.

You will find a link to our Provider Access Policy on our Policies Page HERE.

We believe that a high-quality careers programme should be more than just well-intentioned — it should be effective, measurable, and constantly evolving. To ensure our students are receiving the best possible support, we use the following methods to evaluate our provision:

  • The Gatsby Benchmarks – We track our progress against the eight Gatsby Benchmarks using the Compass+ tool. This helps us identify strengths, address gaps, and plan strategically for improvement.
  • Student Feedback – After key careers activities, we collect student voice through surveys and discussions to understand what’s working and what could be improved.
  • Destination Data – We monitor student destinations for up to three years after they leave, to ensure they are progressing into sustained education, employment, or training. This information can be found on our key documents page.
  • Employer and Staff Feedback – We gather input from visiting employers, staff, and external partners to assess the impact and relevance of our careers activities.
  • Quality in Careers Standard – We are committed to continuous improvement and aim to meet national standards by maintaining the Quality in Careers Standard. We are currently working towards gold award status.

In short: we don’t just tick boxes — we ask whether our students are informed, inspired, and moving forward with confidence. Please visit the key documents page to see our post-16 destination data.

Why Careers Education Matters

  • Raise Aspirations: By linking learning in the classroom to real jobs and careers, we help you see the bigger picture and aim high.
  • Make Informed Decisions: Good guidance reduces guesswork about your future—especially at key transition points like Year 9 options and post-16 pathways.
  • Develop Essential Skills: Through events, work experience, and workshops, you’ll grow key employability skills (like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving) to stand out in an ever-changing job market.

Get Involved or Get in Touch

  • Visit the Careers Office: Pop in to book an appointment or pick up information on upcoming careers events.
  • Email Miss Johnson: Click here
  • Call the Academy: 0121 553 4665 (EXT: 5245)

Explorer Our Careers Pages

  • Information for Students: Learn how we tailor our careers support to meet your needs.
  • Employer & Stakeholder Engagement: See how local businesses and organizations collaborate with us to enhance your learning.
  • Work Experience & Volunteering: Discover how practical experience can shape your future goals.
  • Labour Market Information (LMI): Stay up to date with trends in growing industries and in-demand skills.
  • Alumni Showcase: Be inspired by success stories from former GSA students who’ve pursued a wide range of exciting careers.

We look forward to supporting you on your journey to becoming curious, ambitious, and confident about the world beyond school. Whether you’re newly exploring ideas or you already have a dream career in mind, our careers provision is here to guide and motivate you every step of the way.

The information on this page is reviewed annually. The next scheduled review is 01 December 2026.