Careers at Blythe Bridge High School & Sixth Form

‘Preparing our students for the world of work and giving them an opportunity to fulfil their potential’

At Blythe Bridge High School & Sixth Form we ensure all students have equal opportunity to access careers information, experiences and guidance, to support them in making mature and informed decisions related to their future pathways. We work with the local community and our employer network to ensure students are inspired, aim high to fulfil their potential and leave school ready for their best next step.

Careers education and guidance programmes make a major contribution to preparing young people for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life. They enable students to increase their knowledge, develop understanding and skills relevant to life in a rapidly changing world.
A planned, progressive programme of support and guidance will enable them to choose a 14 – 19 pathway that will suit their interests and abilities, help them to select a career path and sustain employability throughout their working lives.

Blythe Bridge High School & Sixth Form is committed to providing a programme of careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) to all students in Years 7 – 13. The school aims to fulfil all guidelines provided such as the careers guidance and inspiration in schools (DfE, 2018) and to ensure that the Gatsby benchmarks are achieved in all areas.

Key members of staff:

Staff member	Careers role	Responsibilities
	Mr M Goodwin Careers Leader	Matthew Goodwin is Assistant Headteacher and Careers Leader. He is responsible for the careers provision and programme for the whole school.
	Miss E Housley Work-related learning coordinator	Emma Housley has responsibility for coordinating all work-related learning across all key stages and career interviews.
	Clare Atkinson School careers advisor	Clare is employed by Entrust Skills & Employability Service and is a professionally qualified careers adviser with nearly 30 years’ experience providing information advice and guidance to enable young people to make realistic choices about their education, training, and employment options. After completing a BA (Hons) degree in Humanities, Clare spent some in the workplace before completing a Level 7 post graduate Diploma in Careers Guidance at Manchester Met university. Clare works with a range of young people from the age of 13 up to 19 and 25 for young people with learning disabilities/difficulties. Clare has a range of experience having worked in all the Moorlands schools for differing periods of time, and also held a role as a senior careers adviser/ LDD practice coordinator in the Staffordshire Moorlands through the Connexions service.
	Beverley Ashley Enterprise coordinator working for the Careers and Enterprise Company - CEC	The role of the CEC is to link schools and colleges to local employers to help them deliver world class careers support for all young people by building networks, supporting Careers Leaders in school and using the Gatsby Benchmarks as a best practice standard. My role is to focus everyone’s efforts on programmes and activities that are most effective in motivating young people, supporting independent choice and positive outcomes for the young people of Blythe Bridge High School. I work directly with Matt Goodwin, Careers Leader, in school and Dave Rushton, the Enterprise Adviser who is linked to Blythe Bridge and gives his time and expertise free of charge.
	Dave Rushton School enterprise advisor	Dave is employed as a QHSE (quality, health, safety and environment) and compliance manager for a Mitie contract based on the outskirts of Buxton. He has full site responsibility for the health, safety and wellbeing of around 60 staff. He has completed the NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health and is a chartered member of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). Dave’s career spans over 25 years, primarily in the chemical manufacturing sector, where he undertook his first role as a health and safety professional. He also runs his own consultancy business, providing expert H&S advice and support to clients.
	Mrs Karen Snape Link governor for careers	I have been a parent governor at Blythe Bridge High School & Sixth Form since mid-2020 and am involved in the curriculum & impact committee as well as career link governor. Professionally my background is in management consultancy and I have a masters in statistics. I have worked as a consultant for nearly 20 years and have helped deliver data-driven insight to over 60 clients; these cover financial and insurance services, utilities, travel, and retail meaning I bring a wide range of industry experience to the career link role. I also manage a team of data analysts and am heavily involved in recruitment, particularly university graduates, which gives me an understanding of this process and means I can work closely with the school to help our children navigate stepping in to their future careers.

Latest Gatsby 30 Report

Careers Education, Information Advice and Guidance CEIAG Provision in School

Provider Access Policy