Our Careers Programme

Outline of Careers Programme – more details can be found in the table below

All students at Droylsden Academy take part in a careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) programme that:

• Aims to inspire as well as inform and guide students
• Is centred around the student and their needs
• Is integrated into the students’ experience of the whole curriculum
• Encourages all students to consider their career throughout Key Stage 3 and 4
• Encourages all students to develop decision making skills
• Provides each student with high quality, impartial advice
• Raises aspirations and promotes equality and diversity

There are a range of additional opportunities:

1. Drop Down Days

Year 10 Drop Down Day

Part of this event addresses the following:

Financial Literacy

• Considering personal long-term goals
• Understanding the value of everyday expenses
• Evaluating goals according to a range of incomes
• Understanding the key features of a payslip
• Explaining different types of income deduction
• Calculating gross and net income
• Understanding how the Government uses tax and National Insurance Contributions to fund public services.

Year 11 Drop Down Day

The day is focused on the following:

Mock Interview -students will apply for a fictional job and take part in an interview with a representative from our local business community or a further education provider. Interviewers, who are successful professionals in their fields, will give feedback on how students present themselves, respond to questions, and on the quality of the job applications they prepare in advance.

Employability – delivered by colleagues from our business partner Dentsu, this workshop helps students understand the essential skills they will need to succeed in the near future.

Interview Skills – a briefing and debriefing session to support students before and after their mock interview, giving them confidence and practical tips to improve.

Content Creation– led by an Academy alumnus now working at Dentsu, this session explores career journeys, branding, and digital design.

GMACS– delivered by Academy staff, this session supports students in exploring post-16 pathways, with a focus on technical and vocational routes. It also introduces students to alternative career routes — especially technical education pathways — helping them decide if these are right for them.

Study Skills– a practical workshop on effective revision methods and study techniques, helping students to develop strategies that work for them.

Critical Thinking & the Role of AI– Colleagues from Arden University lead an interactive session where students engage in group activities to evaluate information generated by artificial intelligence. Students will develop their ability to question credibility, spot bias, and assess reliability — valuable skills for education and everyday life.

2. Embedding Careers Education in Subjects: Each Curriculum area has a dedicated Careers Advocate who liaises with the Careers Leader and Curriculum Leaders to ensure that opportunities are identified for the embedding of careers education within subject-specific curriculums.

3. Workplace Encounters

Encounters include Stepan Engineering, PWC, William Hare Construction, Baker Hicks design, NHS – Stepping Hill Hospital Manchester hotels, Balsamic vinegar production in Modena, Ferrari factory.

4. Higher and Further Education events: MMU and UoM taster days and experiences through a variety of providers, including GM Higher and the Talent Foundry

5. Beyond the Pastoral Programme, there are periodic assemblies focused on careers, including Apprenticeship Week and National Careers Week. The former includes alumni who have taken the Apprenticeship routeway.

6. 1:1 careers interview with a specialist Careers Adviser (George Palmer) for Years 10 and 11. Mr. Jackson is also available during two lunchtimes a week for ‘drop-in’ careers advice for students from any year group. He is also available at Parents’ Evenings in Years 10 and 11.

7. Large cohorts of students are involved in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, and the Combined Cadet Force. All of these schemes focus on life readiness.

8. Futures Evening: Careers and Further Education Fair offered to students in Years 8, 9, 10 and 11. Students are able to interact with representatives from a large number of local and national colleges, universities, employers and training providers to find out more about what they can offer.

9. Explore Event: Students in Years 8 to 10 have an opportunity to meet staff from Tameside and Clarendon Sixth Form Colleges, where they will be able to explore the options open to them and have the opportunity to ask questions. The areas covered include

Apprenticeships:

• Health/Dental/Early Years
• Construction Stand- Plumbing, Brickwork, Carpentry and Joinery 
• STEM Stand – Engineering and Automotive 
• Service Careers Stand – Hair and Food  

Other options:

• A Levels – Admissions tutors will discuss course options and different learning styles to vocational qualifications
• Creative – Demonstration of Graphics/Social Media/Website work
• Sport- Demonstration of Quick Fit Tablet Exercise

10.  Ad hoc opportunities via GM Higher covering a wide range of career choices.

11. Various career tasters (e.g. Medical Taster Day)

12. Involvement in the Green Power project

13. Upriser: Dentsu – through the Upriser project, we are starting to forge strong business links with Dentsu – they have already supported a very successful Drop-Down Day where their staff delivered Employability Skills sessions and supported our mock interviews. We are looking to finalise a workplace encounter with them in early 2026.

14. All students will complete the CEC’s Future Skills Questionnaire during the autumn term and this, along with Compass + will allow us to be more strategic in terms or providing Modern Work Experience by tailoring opportunities to student need.