The Careers Coordinator is Mrs Marlene Sharrock who is a Level 6 qualified Careers Advisor.  We welcome contacts from employers across career sectors as well as education and training providers. Alumni are also encouraged to be involved in careers events across the school year and to become mentors for pupils.

Please contact the Careers Coordinator, Marlene Sharrock for further information – marlene.sharrock@gatewaysschool.co.uk

We believe that a progressive programme of formal careers education, the provision and promotion of good quality careers information, and easy access to impartial advice and guidance is essential to ensure that pupils’ choices at crucial transition points in school reflect their individual needs, motivates them to work towards their aspirations and goals, and equips them with the skills and knowledge to manage their career pathways throughout their lives.

The Careers Coordinator works closely with the PSHE Lead, the Head of Sixth Form, the Head of Learning Support, Pastoral Leads and subject departments.

Careers support is included within the PSHE curriculum throughout the High School, within Enrichment in the Sixth Form, and with Lower 3 pupils in the Prep School through an introductory Careers Day in preparation for the transition to High School.

Provision is continually analysed and developed in-line with :

• Gateways’ values of Growth, Wellbeing and Success
• The updated Gatsby Benchmarks (Good Career Guidance, the next 10 years, 2024)
• The updated DfE legislation Careers Guidance and Access for Education and Training Providers (May 2025)

The Careers Coordinator is responsible for managing the provision and promotion of careers information, delivering lessons and one-to-one guidance meetings, and implementing events and links with employers, HE and FE providers, and representatives from across career sectors. The Head of Sixth Form, form tutors and subject teachers further enhance provision, bringing experience, subject-relevance, and great awareness of each individual pupil.

The universal careers platform, Unifrog is available for all High School and Sixth Form pupils, providing access to a vast range of information on career sectors and roles, labour market information, apprenticeship opportunities, information on universities and training providers across the world, profiling tests, and individual lockers to record and save personal guidance action plans, information and all career-related interactions.

A regular school Careers Newsletter for pupils and parents offers up-to-date news and opportunities on all aspects of careers information and labour market trends, along with tips for parents in supporting effective decision-making.

Please see the programme pathways for Upper 3 – Upper 5 and for Lower 6 – Upper 6 for an outline of each school year highlighting the range of careers activities and events.  The Careers Coordinator complements this programme with informal lunchtime drop-in sessions for pupils at different stages within the High School. Pupils can also access the Careers Coordinator on an ad hoc basis as needed, and book additional individual guidance meetings to those timetabled for Upper 5 and Lower 6 pupils.

Departments add crucial subject support in a range of ways, such as, organising visits to subject-specific events, participating in enterprise activities and challenges, maintaining careers displays and information, and including discussions within lessons on skill building and careers relevant to their subject areas. The school House system and Enrichment programmes offer further opportunities for the development of essential career skills and experiences.