Provider Access Policy Statement

Policy Reviewing  

1. Aims

At The Blandford School we aim to provide all pupils from year 8 to 13 with meaningful opportunities to explore a wide range of future options. 
This policy statement aims to set out our school’s arrangements for managing the access of education and training providers to pupils for the purpose of giving them information about their offer. It sets out:

• Procedures in relation to requests for access
• The grounds for granting and refusing requests for access
• Details of premises or facilities to be provided to a provider who is given access

As a school we aim to:

• Develop knowledge and awareness among our pupils of all career pathways available to them, including technical qualifications and apprenticeships
• Support pupils in learning more about opportunities for education and training outside of school, before they make crucial choices about their future options
• Reduce drop-out from courses and avoid the risk of pupils becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training)

2. Statutory requirements

Schools are required to ensure that there is an opportunity for a range of education and training providers to access students in years 8 to 13 for the purposes of informing them about approved technical education, qualifications or apprenticeships.

Schools must provide a minimum of 6 encounters with technical education or training providers to all pupils in years 8 to 13 (see more detail in section 2.1 below).

Schools must also have a policy statement that outlines the circumstances in which education and training providers will be given access to these pupils. 

This is outlined in: 

• Section 42B of the Education Act 1997
• Education and Skills Act 2008
• The School Information (England) Regulations 2008
• The Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022
• Guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) on careers guidance and access for education and training providers.
  This policy shows how our school complies with these requirements.

3. Pupil entitlement

All pupils in years 8 to 13 at The Blandford School are entitled to:

• Find out about further education training, technical education qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities as part of our careers programme, which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point
• Hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships, e.g. through activities and events such as assemblies. Visits, careers fairs and drop down sessions. 
• Understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses
• Have a minimum of 6 encounters with providers

These encounters must happen for a reasonable period of time during the standard school day. 

As a school we can provide complementary experiences but encounters outside of school hours won't count towards these requirements.

Access to providers is available and promoted to allow all pupils to access information about other providers of further education and apprenticeships. We are committed to encouraging all pupils to make decisions about their future based on impartial information.

Pupils in year 8 and 9

All pupils in these year groups are offered:

• 2 encounters with education and training providers
  • All pupils must attend
  • Encounters can take place any time during year 8, and between 1 September and 28 February during year 9

Pupils in year 10 and 11

All pupils in these year groups are offered, as a minimum:

• 2 encounters with education and training providers
  • All pupils must attend
  • Encounters can take place any time during year 10, and between 1 September and 28 February during year 11

Pupils in year 12 and 13

All pupils in these year groups are offered, as a minimum:

• 2 encounters with education and training providers
  • Pupils can choose to attend
  • Encounters can take place any time during year 12, and between 1 September and 28 February during year 13

3.1 Meaningful encounters with providers

Our school is committed to providing meaning encounters for all pupils.

A meaningful encounter:

• Is where the pupil can explore what it is like to learn, develop and succeed in that environment
• Involves meeting both staff and learners/trainees
• Has a clear purpose
• Is underpinned by learning outcomes that are appropriate to the needs of the pupil
• Involves a 2-way interaction between the pupil and the provider
• Includes information about the provider, such as their recruitment and selection processes, the qualifications that provider offers and the careers these could lead to
• Describes what learning or training with the provider is like
• Is followed by opportunities for the pupil to reflect on the insights, knowledge or skills gained through the encounter

4. Management of provider access requests

4.1 Procedure

A provider wishing to request access should contact Duncan Smith, Deputy Headteacher. 
Telephone: 01258451121
Email: dsmith@blandfordschool.org.uk

4.2 Information we ask from providers

As a school we ask each provider to provide the following information for our pupils:

• Information about your provision and the approved qualifications or apprenticeships you offer
• Information about what careers those qualifications and apprenticeships can lead to
• What learning or training with you is like
• Answers to any questions from pupils

4.3 Opportunities for access

There are a number of events, integrated into our careers programme, that offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to pupils and/or their parents/carers.
Please speak to the Deputy Headteacher  to identify the most suitable opportunity for you. Some examples of opportunities provided are listed below. 

YEAR 8

AUTUMN TERM

• Assembly – Technical Pathways

SPRING TERM

• Careers Assembly 

SUMMER TERM

• University Trip 

YEAR 9

AUTUMN TERM

• Assembly - Technical Pathways 

SPRING TERM

• Key Stage 4 options.
• North Dorset Careers Fair
• WRL Activities 

SUMMER TERM

• No encounters –encounters must have taken place by 28 February 

YEAR 10

AUTUMN TERM

• ASK Apprenticeships talk 

SPRING TERM

• Careers Assembly 

SUMMER TERM

• Work related learning week.
• Mock interviews.
• Work place visits. 

YEAR 11

AUTUMN TERM

• Personal Guidance interviews.
• College and apprenticeship presentations. 

SPRING TERM

• Post 16 options 

SUMMER TERM

• No encounters –encounters must have taken place by 28 February
• Confirmation of post-16 education and training destinations for all pupils

YEAR 12

AUTUMN TERM

• Higher education (HE) fair
• Post-18 assembly – apprenticeships
• JP Morgan Visit

SPRING TERM

• Small group sessions: future education, training and employment options
• Meetings with careers adviser
• Work experience 

SUMMER TERM

• HE Fair

YEAR 13

AUTUMN TERM

• Workshops – HE and higher apprenticeship applications

SPRING TERM

• Meetings with careers adviser

SUMMER TERM

• No encounters –encounters must have taken place by 28 February
• Confirmation of post-18 education and training destinations for all pupils

4.4 Live online encounters

Adapt this section to reflect whether your school accepts live online encounters.

We will consider requests for live online encounters with providers, which may be broadcast into classrooms or the school assembly hall. We will need to carry out technology checks in advance to make sure systems are compatible.

4.5 Granting and refusing provider access requests

Each access request will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

We will grant access requests where there is opportunity for a positive contribution to our careers programme.

4.6 Safeguarding

Adapt this section to reflect your safeguarding/child protection policy.

Our safeguarding/child protection policy outlines the school’s procedure for checking the identity and suitability of visitors. You can find the policy on our school website. 

Education and training providers will be expected to adhere to this policy.

4.7 Premises and facilities

Adapt this section to reflect what your school can offer.

We will provide an appropriate room or assembly hall, with the necessary equipment providers require to carry out their visit effectively – details will be agreed with the provider.

Providers are welcome to leave a copy of their prospectus or other relevant course literature with our Careers Leader.

Providers will be met and supervised by a member of staff who will facilitate their visit.

5. Working with parents and carers

We aim to involve parents and carers in our careers programme and welcome your attendance at encounters with providers in school where appropriate. Parents and carers will be notified of such events via parent mail. 

If you would like to speak to the school about encounters with providers, please contact Duncan Smith, Deputy Headteacher.

We also welcome feedback from parents and carers to help improve our offer of encounters with providers, please see the careers page on the school website, which outlines how you can provide feedback. 

6. Previous providers

In previous years we have invited the following providers from the local area to speak to our pupils:

Bath University.
Bournemouth University.
Chris Evans of Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas). 
Joanne Small of ASK apprenticeships.
Exeter Scholars.
Ex-CEO of HMV.
JP Morgan Finance.
Merck Life Science Curiosity Labs.

North Dorset Careers Fair – Yeovil College, Sexeys School, Kingston Maurward, Yunex Traffic, C G Fry and Son Ltd, Rose Engineering, Environment Agency, Chaffers Surveyors and Valuers, ABP Sturminster, NHS, chaffers estate agents ltd, Dorset Council, Diverse Abilities, British Army, Johnsons Hotel, Restaurant & Catering Linen, Stepnell, Amfax Ltd, BAM Construct UK & Ireland, Steps to Wellbeing - Employment Team, Trustgreen, Tilbury Douglas, Volunteer Centre Dorset, JP Morgan, Suttle Projects, Royal Air Force, Rutters Solicitors, Lynwood School of Veterinary Nursing, Solent University, AECC University College, Sexey's School, Kingston Maurward College, Bournemouth University, SWRAC, Arts University Bournemouth, Yeovil College, Morrisby, Paragon Skills, Your Future Impact.

Work Related Learning Week – Construction - Bournemouth and Poole College, Royal Marines - Steve Yardley, Surgeon and Consultancy - Matthew Stenning, Business and Accountancy - Ian Rodd, JP Morgan - Careers in Finance - Shubham Samson Lal, Nursing in the NHS - Victoria Stenning, Francesco - Emma Schwab, Teaching - Jackie Pitcher, Army - Sgt Wesley Thornley, Iracroft Engineering - Darren Colley, Aspire Childcare - Emma Bowler & Ellen Wentworth, Blanchard Bailey Solicitors - Wingwai Tam, Photography Jewellery & Social Media - Yasmin Mirdamad

7. Pupil destinations

Last year, our year 11 pupils moved to a range of providers after school:

These included; The Blandford School, Other Dorset 6th Forms, Bournemouth and Poole College, Wave Land College, Salisbury College, Shrewsbury College, Exeter College, AFC Bournemouth, Lynwood School of Veterinary Nursing, Champion Sports College, Harrogate Army College and a Range of apprenticeships. 

Last year, our year 13 pupils moved to a range of providers after school:

These included; Telesoft, Bath Spa, Birmingham University, Bournemouth University, UWE, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Edge Hill University, Loughborough University, Oxford Brookes University, Swansea University, The University of Edinburgh, University of Bath, University of Bristol, University of Dundee, University of Exeter, University of Southampton, University of Warwick, University of Winchester. 

8. Complaints

Any complaints related to provider access can be raised following the school complaints procedure Available on our website or by contacting reception. 

9. Links to other policies

Outline any links to other policies you have, such as:
Safeguarding/child protection policy
Careers guidance policy
Curriculum policy
Complaints policy
SEND / Inclusion Policy
Teaching and Learning Policy
Work related learning Policy
Guest Speaker Policy 

10. Monitoring arrangements

Our school’s arrangements for managing the access of education and training providers to pupils are monitored by The Governing Board. 
This policy will be reviewed by the Deputy Headteacher annually and approved by the governing board at every review.