Purpose of Study

At St. Paul’s Academy, our staff and governors are dedicated to empowering students to harness their ambition, aspire to greatness, and achieve their fullest potential. We are committed to equipping every student with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to manage their learning and career aspirations effectively.

Our goal is to guide all students towards becoming independent, productive adults. This commitment is reflected across our curriculum, including our Careers Education programme, which offers accurate, impartial, and personalised advice and guidance. From Year 7 through Year 11, we ensure that each student can make informed decisions about their career pathways.

Our purpose is to support students in making life choices that enhance their personal well-being and contribute positively to others. We cater to all students, including those with special educational needs or disabilities, preparing them for either independence or supported independence as they progress to further study and employment. We emphasise the development of key employability skills such as communication, leadership, and organisational abilities.

We also recognise the importance of engaging parents and guardians in this journey, helping them make well-informed decisions about their child’s future. By developing our students’ cultural capital, we aim to ensure they are equipped for social mobility and are not disadvantaged by their circumstances.

Throughout the year, students will participate in a variety of activities designed to fuel their ambition and inspire them to explore diverse subject choices. Enrichment opportunities, including visits from Sixth Form providers, Further Education Colleges, universities, and industry professionals, will provide insights into post-16 pathways and beyond, helping students envision and achieve their future goals.

Evaluation of Impact

At St Paul’s Academy, we continuously assess the effectiveness of our careers programme by collecting regular feedback from students and parents through surveys conducted via Google Forms. These impact evaluations play a crucial role in refining and enhancing our careers programme, ensuring it becomes more effective and responsive to the needs of our community.

Measuring impact

St Paul’s Academy is committed to rigorously measuring the impact of its career provision to ensure it meets the needs of its students and the broader community. To achieve this, we gather feedback through comprehensive surveys of our key stakeholders: parents, students, staff, and governors. Our career program’s effectiveness is evaluated termly using Compass+ to align with the Gatsby Benchmarks, which serve as a national standard for quality career guidance. This ongoing assessment shapes our Career Education and Guidance Action Plan for 2024–2026, available upon request. By triangulating data from both quantitative and qualitative sources, we are able to make targeted improvements, ensuring that our program continuously evolves to meet all eight Gatsby Benchmarks and provide optimal career support for our students.

Please find the parent QR code below. We value your feedback on our Career Programme at St Paul's Academy.

Review of Information

The information available on our careers webpage is regularly updated to ensure accuracy and relevance. The next comprehensive review is scheduled for 1 September 2025.

Aims

Our aim is to instil ambition in students throughout their educational journey, encouraging them to explore the full range of vocational and GCSE subjects. Our career program is designed to build confidence, foster high aspirations, and expose students to a diverse array of career options. This approach will empower them to achieve their full potential, paving the way for success in further education and the professional world.

CEIAG Programme 2024-2025

St Paul's Provider Access Policy Sept 2024-2025

Careers Team and roles within the team

• Mrs Hyland – Careers Link Governor: Careers Programme and External Careers Contacts (denise.hyland@royalgreenwich.gov.uk)
• Ms Hepburn – Vice Principal Inclusion and Careers (michelle.hepburn@stpauls.greenwich.sch.uk)
• Ms Banbrook – Careers Adviser (vicki.banbrook@stpauls.greenwich.sch.uk)
• Mr Davis – Career Lead (gordon.davis@stpauls.greenwich.sch.uk). Telephone: 02083113868 Ext 194

If you would like to speak with Mr. Davis, about anything career related, please contact us.

St Paul’s Academy Careers Community

St Paul’s Academy Careers Community

	We are thrilled to expand our partnership with Colfe’s Independent School, building on the success of the Leathersellers' Scholarship programme. This enhanced collaboration will offer enriched cultural capital experiences, including visits to the British Library, and provide A-Level taster sessions for Key Stage 3 and GCSE students.
	In the 2023-2024 academic year, four students successfully completed the Universify educational programme. This initiative began with a summer residential at Oxford University in 2023, when they were in Year 10. The programme included personalised 1-to-1 mentoring with a Russell Group university graduate throughout Year 11. In 2024, the students participated in an Easter revision residential at Oxford. This programme has opened up further educational opportunities for students who have faced disadvantages. We look forward to working with the company further in 2024-2025.
	We are excited to become part of the St Catherine’s Catalyst Programme alongside Deptford Green and Bonus Pastor. The Catalyst programme provides pupils with tailored support at multiple points in their school career (Year 8 and Year 10) with the opportunity to visit Oxford University. This exciting opportunity will start in the 2024-2025 academic year with the current Year 8 cohort.
	CTK Sixth Form remains a valued partner of St. Paul’s Academy. Our collaboration continues to strengthen, with A-Level Masterclasses planned for the 2024-2025 academic year to broaden pathway options for our GCSE students and assist their families in making well-informed decisions about their educational future. Additionally, we will expand our mentoring programme with CTK St. Mary’s Sixth Form, providing Year 11 students with support from alumni in English, Mathematics, and Science tuition.
	The Bloss.m partnership at St Paul’s Academy was established through our connection with alumna Lola Olaore. Lola founded Bloss.m while pursuing her Master’s degree at Harvard University in the United States. The programme is now running with students in Years 8 and 10 and is designed to empower and uplift Black African and Caribbean girls in the UK. It provides vital resources and opportunities to help them overcome systemic inequalities and reach their full potential, with a focus on nurturing future leadership.
	As part of our growing partnership with London Village Network, St Paul's Academy is proud to support its mission of tackling inequality and improving social mobility for young people with limited networks in our community. Together, we’re helping to build self-confidence, shift mindsets, and inspire brighter futures. Through Local Village Network’s powerful group and one-to-one mentoring programmes—delivered in our school —we have nurtured the skills, interests, and aspirations of young people aged 14–15. Together we help positively shape the lives of our students.
	Since 2018, Peabody has been a valued and important wider partner of St Paul’s Academy, working together to enrich the lives of our students, families, and the wider community. They have built a stronger school community with it's influence in various different initiatives.  Examples of projects include: the young leadership award, the Little Fish Theatre company, Peabody career carousels for Year 10 and supporting with the career programme enrichment trips. Together, we’re building not only better connections for our students, but communities where aspiration, opportunity, and wellbeing are at the heart of everyday life of the school.

Amplify Me Programme

At St Paul’s Academy, we are proud to be part of the Amplify Me programme—an inspiring initiative from London Village Network that equips our students with essential life skills for the future. Aimed at Year 10 students, Amplify Me focuses on the power of networking and building positive, lasting connections. Over six weekly, hour-long classroom sessions, students are matched with volunteer mentors from partnered businesses, gaining valuable insights and real-world guidance.

Structured around the Amplify Me booklet and led by an LVN facilitator, the programme nurtures trust, boosts self-confidence, and empowers young people to take charge of their personal and professional journeys. This is more than a mentoring experience—it's a mindset shift that stays with them long after the final session. Amplify are also providing work experience placements for our first Work Experience Programme in 13 years. Please see the article below!

St Paul’s Further Education Community

Destinations of Year 11 cohort 2023-2024

Please see the destinations of our last year 11 cohort below:

Our top destinations for our students are:

• Shooters Hill
• Woolwich Poly
• CTK St Mary’s
• Thomas Tallis
• CTK Emmanuel
• Bexleyheath Academy
• Beths Grammar School
• Coopers School
• Harris Garrard
• Bromley College
• London South East Colleges
• Eltham Hill
• Bromley Football Club
• Wilmington Grammar

Careers activities in St Paul’s Weekly News

Click below to explore our recent careers activities in our weekly news. 

• Colfe’s Independent School June 24

• SPA Career Fayre 2024-2025

• What is Universify?

• Year 10 LSEC Career Fair

• Year 10 Career Carousel with Peabody

• Year 10 Universify Oxford Initiative

• Year 11 Universify Initiative

• Year 9 Open City Event

Careerometer

Skillsometer

Meeting Gatsby Benchmark 1: A Stable Careers Programme

Definition:
“Every school and college should have an embedded programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by pupils, parents, teachers, governors and employers.”

Key Elements of Benchmark 1:

Why It Matters:

Benchmark 1 lays the foundation for all the other benchmarks by ensuring the school or college has a solid, consistent, and well-communicated plan for careers education. It ensures careers guidance isn’t a one-off event but a continuous, embedded part of a student’s education.

At St Paul’s Academy:

At St Paul’s Academy, we are committed to delivering a comprehensive and dynamic careers programme that prepares students for their futures through a wide range of enriching experiences. We host keynote speaker series and alumni webinars to inspire and inform students from Year 7 through to Year 11, featuring professionals from fields like finance, engineering, and sustainability. Through bespoke initiatives such as Bloss.M and My Money Matters, students engage with real-world challenges and personal development. Our career events include annual Careers Fairs, Options Fairs, and Career Carousels, which offer hands-on insight into various pathways. Students also benefit from workplace encounters such as assemblies led by industry leaders and sessions with employers during themed weeks like National Apprenticeship Week and Green Careers Week. Personalized career guidance is provided through 1:1 interviews, group sessions, and tailored support for students with SEND. Central to our programme is the Unifrog Careers Platform, which integrates seamlessly into PSHE lessons and guides students through decision-making, skill-building, and exploring apprenticeships and higher education options.

Please see the document below in how St Paul's Academy is meeting the Gatbsy benchmark 1 this academic year:

Gatsby Benchmark 1 Activities 2024-2025

🔍 What is Unifrog?

Unifrog is an online platform designed to help students at St Paul's make informed decisions about their future education and career paths. It provides a structured, interactive way for our school to deliver effective careers guidance in PSHE and form time, making it a useful tool for meeting the Gatsby Benchmarks — the framework used in the UK to ensure high-quality careers provision in schools and colleges.

Log on to Unifrog with your child

Student guide to gaining access to Unifrog

Unifrog is a digital careers platform that:

• Helps our students explore post-16 and post-18 options (apprenticeships, university, employment, etc.).

• Offers career and personality quizzes to tailor aspirations for transition beyond St Paul's Academy.

• Provides tools to compare university courses, apprenticeships, and college options.

• Facilitates the creation of CVs, personal statements, and application materials.

• Allows teachers to track student progress and provide guidance bespoke to their needs.

🎯 How Unifrog Helps Meet the Gatsby Benchmarks

Here’s how Unifrog supports each of the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks:

1. A stable careers programme

   • Unifrog offers a consistent, structured approach to careers education, accessible by all students and staff in form time and learning outside our classrooms.

   • Its reporting and tracking tools help St Paul's Academy plan and evidence our careers programme.

2. Learning from career and labour market information (LMI)

   • The platform provides up-to-date LMI for various careers, including salary data and future job prospects and provides options to parents and students for bespoke virtual masterclasses from industry and post-16 and post-18 options.

3. Addressing the needs of each pupil

   • Students receive personalised suggestions and can build a digital portfolio.

   • Teachers can monitor individual engagement and tailor support accordingly.

4. Linking curriculum learning to careers

   • Subject-specific content helps link classroom learning to career opportunities.

5. Encounters with employers and employees

   • Unifrog includes resources to prepare for and reflect on employer encounters.

   • It can be integrated with employer talks, work experience, and virtual placements.

6. Experiences of workplaces

   • Schools can log and manage work experience through the platform.

   • Students can record reflections and learnings from work experience placements.

7. Encounters with further and higher education

   • Students can explore universities, FE colleges, and apprenticeship providers directly.

   • Tools compare courses and institutions, including global options.

8. Personal guidance

   • Supports career adviser interactions through recorded student profiles and activities.

   • Enables more meaningful one-to-one guidance sessions.

Parent support: Launching Unifrog with Your Child

Careers Education at St Paul’s Academy

At St Paul’s Academy, we deliver a dynamic careers programme through our PSHE curriculum and form time program, built on a spiral model that grows with our students. Using the Unifrog platform, we provide engaging, age-appropriate content that helps students explore their interests, build essential skills, and make informed decisions about their futures.

From Year 7 through to Year11, students revisit key themes such as personal strengths, employability, and pathways beyond school to Post-16 and Post-18 —each time with greater depth and relevance. Unifrog’s powerful tools support this journey with interactive quizzes, career and course libraries, and step-by-step guidance on university, apprenticeships, and more.

Our goal is to ensure every student is prepared, confident, and ambitious in the face of a fast-changing world of work.

 Unifrog Events 2024-2025 for Students

Unifrog Events 2024-2025 for Teachers

Please see below for our spiral curriculum being embedded in the 2024–2025 academic year.

Career Events in Year 11:

• Green Careers Week
• Year 11: CTK Emmanuel Vocational Pathways (Baker Clause)
• Year 10 and 11 Career Fair (STEM, Post-16, Industry and Alumni)
• National Apprenticeship Week
• Industry Encounters visits (subject-based)
• Keynote speaker series Year 9-11 Post-16 Providers and Industry (Wednesday Career Hub)
• Bank of England keynote speaker Year 9-11
• Year 11: Shooters Hill Vocational pathways (Baker's Clause)
• Colfe's HPA applications for the Leathersellers' Scholarship

 

Career Events in Year 10:

• Green Careers Week
• Bloss.M Year 10 Black Female Leadership initiative (led by Alumni)
• St Catherine's Catalyst Programme Point 2 and 3 (including a trip to Oxford)
• Cambridge University Trip
• Universify Initiative
• Colfe's Leatherseller Scholarship Program
• Caius Year 9 and 10 Online Programme
• Year 10 and 11 Career Fair (STEM, Post-16, Industry and Alumni)
• National Apprenticeship Week
• National Careers Week
• Alumni presentations 'How St Paul's Made Me' Series
• Amplify Me Initiative
• Industry Encounters visits (subject-based)
• Year 10 Virtual Assembly University of Greenwich – Apprenticeships
• Work Experience Week (5-day placement)
• Ductu SEND Work Experience Week (5-day placement)
• Keynote speaker series Year 9-11 Post-16 Providers and Industry (Wednesday Career Hub)
• Bank of England keynote speaker Year 9-11
• Year 10: North Kent College Apprenticeships and Vocational programme (Baker's Clause)
• Year 10: Online assembly London South East College (LSEC) Vocational pathways, T-Levels and Apprenticeships (Baker's Clause)
• Year 10 T-Level Experience Day Shooters Hill
• Year 10 Career Carousel Peabody
• Year 10 CTK St Mary's visit (whole year group)
• Wider partners Colfe's Masterclasses and enrichment series- A Level tasters
• Year 10 CTK Emmanuel Trip - Vocational Pathways
• Year 10 Female Deutsche Bank Trip
• My Money Matters Week

 

Career Events in Year 9:

• Green Careers Week
• Caius Year 9 and 10 Online Programme
• Year 9: CTK Assembly – T-Levels (Bakers Clause)
• National Apprenticeship Week
• National Careers Week
• Alumni presentations 'How St Paul's Made Me' Series
• Industry Encounters visits (subject-based)
• Keynote speaker series Year 9-11 Post-16 Providers and Industry (Wednesday Career Hub)
• Bank of England keynote speaker Year 9-11
• Year 9 Peabody Virtual Assembly Apprenticeships
• Year 9 Curriculum Fair (12 February) – Options for GCSE with Industry, STEM and Alumni attending
• My Money Matters Week
• Year 9 Aspirations Trip St Catherine's Outreach Programme (Oxford University)

Career Events in Year 8:

• Green Careers Week
• Bloss.M Year 10 Black Female Leadership initiative (led by Alumni)
• St Catherine's Catalyst Programme Point 1
• National Apprenticeship Week
• National Careers Week
• Alumni presentations 'How St Paul's Made Me' Series
• Industry Encounters visits (subject-based)
• Year 8: Online assembly London South East College (LSEC) Vocational pathways, T-Levels and Apprenticeships (Baker's Clause)
• My Money Matters Week

Career Events in Year 7:

• Green Careers Week
• National Apprenticeship Week
• National Careers Week
• Alumni presentations 'How St Paul's Made Me' Series
• Industry Encounters visits (subject-based)
• Year 7 Virtual Assembly Zest Apprenticeships
• Wider partners Colfe's Masterclasses and enrichment series- A Level tasters
• My Money Matters Week

Bringing back St Paul's Academy Face-to-Face Work Experience in 2025 since 2011

Year 10 Work Experience Week – 7th to 11th July 2025

SPA Work Experience Policy 2025

SEND Work Experience Policy 2025

As part of our commitment to preparing students for life beyond the classroom, we are excited to offer Year 10 students the opportunity to take part in Work Experience Week, running from Monday 7th July to Friday 11th July 2025.

Work experience offers students a valuable chance to:

• Gain real insight into the world of work

• Build practical skills and confidence

• Explore future career options

• Strengthen CVs and applications for further education, apprenticeships, or employment

How Families Can Support

We encourage students to find a placement that matches their interests—and we welcome your support in helping them do so. Once a placement is arranged, the employer must complete an Own Find Form, detailing the role, supervision, and insurance coverage. This form must be submitted by Thursday 22nd May 2025.

Own Find Form

Important:

• All employers must hold Employer’s Liability Insurance to take part in the Lewisham Work Experience Scheme.

• The form must be filled out completely, with all shaded sections completed by the employer.

• The form must be brought back to school and placed in the Work Experience box in reception. This will then be scanned to the Lewisham Work Experience Team for processing.

To help students reach out to potential employers, we’ve shared helpful resources on Google Classroom—please encourage your child to use them when making contact.

Support Available

Our Year 10 Pastoral Team and Work Experience Coordinator, Paul Goddard, are here to support both students and families throughout the process. We’re also posting available opportunities on Google Classroom, so be sure to check in regularly.

Support for students and parents:

Finding your own work experience placement

How to write a business letter to an employer

How to make a phone call to an employer

If you have any questions or need help at any stage, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Please see the list of our 2024-2025 Work Experience Partners for Year 10 below. We wish them every success as they commence their placements in July 2025:

Careers Weeks 2024-2025

At St Paul’s Academy, we are committed to equipping students with meaningful career experiences through our participation in National Careers Weeks. These opportunities allow students to explore the world of work, gain insights into a wide range of industries, and discover various pathways available to them post-16, post-18, and beyond.

Each week, our Careers Programme includes tailored Unifrog activities and themed content delivered during form time and PSHE lessons. We have also hosted keynote speakers from diverse professional backgrounds, engaged our parental community by sharing valuable career resources, and welcomed back alumni to inspire our students by sharing their journeys.

These initiatives have significantly enriched our Careers curriculum, ensuring that every student is empowered to envision and work toward their future self with confidence and clarity. Please see useful resources and links to each of the themed weeks this academic year below.

Green Careers Week 2024-2025: Shaping a sustainable future

Green Careers Week 2024 is a UK-wide initiative aimed at inspiring young people to explore careers that contribute to environmental sustainability and the green economy.  The event aimed to highlight career opportunities in green industries and promote the importance of careers that contribute to environmental preservation and restoration. The scheduled week took place at St Paul's Academy from 4th to 9th November 2024. The week is supported by organisations such as National Careers Week, STEM.org.uk, The Royal Society, and the Met Office. The Parents' GuideStockport JobsMatch

https://nationalcareersweek.com/green-buzz/

🌱 Purpose and Focus

The primary goal of Green Careers Week is to raise awareness about the diverse range of green careers available and to challenge stereotypes associated with these roles. It aims to support diversity and promote real opportunities for young people to engage in careers that protect the environment. greencareersweek.com

https://greencareersweek.com/resources-2024/

https://www.greencareershub.com/green-careers-week/

PSHE Green Career Week Resources for Students and Parents

KS3 Resources	KS4 Resources
PowerPoint- Steve the Engineer	Tharina Heat Network Specialist
Resource 1	Resource 1
Resource 2	Resource 2

Keynote speakers

DAY of the Week	Virtual Events
Monday	Simeon - Sustainability Manager 12-12.30pm (Hall)
Tuesday	11-12 midday - Get Ready for Green Careers (period 3) Live webinar with STEM Leading ambassadors (Hall) Belinder Bird - Farm Manager 12-12.30pm (Hall)
Wednesday	Tom, Natasha and Freddie- Forestry Managers 12-12.30pm (Hall)
Thursday	8.40am to 9.10am- Green Energy Saving the World. Join STEM Ambassador Rallou, a Chemical Engineer (MEng, MSc) specialising in Materials Science and Technology, for an engaging live talk - perfectly aligned with Green Careers Week! (Large Meeting Room) 11-12 midday Exploring Green Careers in Engineering and Technology - British Airways. (Hall) Dave Cliff and Rob Driver 12-12.30pm Volunteering Community (Hall)
Friday	Kevin Rose- Design Manager Green Recovery 12-12.30pm (Hall)

https://www.springpod.com/virtual-work-experience/sustainability-unveiled-virtual-work-experience-in-green-careers/WEXP-00011

National Apprenticeship Week 2024-2025