Careers Programme
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Parent Feedback
Please follow the links below to view the:
Uplands School Careers Programme will be reviewed in September 2027
Introduction - Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance
At Uplands School we are committed to providing all our students with a comprehensive programme of careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) and work-related learning. Effective preparation for adulthood and enabling our students to make choices, contribute to their own lives and community and be as independent as possible is at the heart of our work at Uplands School.
The main statutory guidance related to Careers in schools is currently the Careers Guidance and Access for Education and Training Providers (2023) alongside The Gatsby Benchmarks Gatsby Benchmarks | The Careers and Enterprise Company; neither of which focus on Careers Education for SEND schools therefore we have interpreted this guidance to ensure it is meaningful and relevant and therefore meeting the needs of our students. However, the aims of careers education are the same for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND):
- Independent living.
- Independent working.
- Choice.
- Hope and optimism.
- Adaptability and resilience.
- Access to and engagement in decent work in all its forms (personal, gift and paid work).
- Opportunities to learn and make progress.
- The pursuit of wellbeing and happiness.
Source: SEND Gatsby Benchmark toolkit (2018)
Please follow the link below, to read about Uplands School's latest progress report towards the Gatsby Benchmarks (2024). Under the previous Compass Plus report Uplands School had achieved 7 out of 8 of the benchmarks. Since the new Compass Plus evaluation came out 12 months ago, we have made and continue to make excellent progress towards the now higher standards, progressing substantially within the benchmarks with a mean score of '59' per benchmark in December 2025, with no benchmarks fully achieved, to a mean score of '82' per benchmark in July 2026, with two benchmarks fully achieved
Gatsby Results - Compass Evaluation
- Talentino Enhanced Careers at Every Level
- Talentino Work Related Learning Skills for Independent Living Tasks
- Uplands’ Career curriculum ladders:
- Personal strengths and goals: things we are good at and skills for learning (KS3/4)
- Skills, aspirations and next steps (KS5)
- Teamwork at school: enterprise education
- Preparation for adulthood: money/ managing finances
- Preparation for adulthood: travel training
- Preparation for adulthood: cooking
- Enterprise activities
- Work-related learning
- PMLD enterprise/experience topics (KS5)
- Work experience
- Preparation for Adulthood related work linked to their Personalised Learning Goals (PLGs)
Throughout this learning, students focus on the four core Skills for Adulthood:
- Have made as much progress with the four core Skills for Adulthood as possible: communication, independence, interdependence and safety.
- Be the most fulfilled version of themselves that they can be.
- Be able to successfully advocate for their own wants and needs, as a result of having been given the opportunities to recognise their own interests and skills and future choices and opportunities utilising these.
- Be as independent as possible.
- Be a valued and valuable member of the communities in which they belong.
- Have been engaged, inspired and motivated by new activities, environments and opportunities.
- Be as knowledgeable and skilled as possible to make informed choices throughout life, to keep themselves as happy, healthy and safe as possible.
- Have been effectively supported to work toward their aspirations on a personalised progression journey.
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Have awareness of different support systems and people who can help them.
As a SEND school we take a needs led, student centred approach to CEIAG where the term ‘Careers’ is viewed holistically. Career related goals may come in different guises for young people with complex learning difficulties, but they are all equally valid to the individual and their family. Whilst expectations are exceptionally high at Uplands, the perception, methodology and delivery of ‘Careers’ may differ to that on offer in a mainstream setting, as detailed by Talentino in a research article ‘Same and Different’ (2016).
The Careers and Development Institute states that ‘Careers, employability and enterprise education’ is an umbrella term to denote a range of activities and processes that can support the choices made by young people. IAG activities may include assessing, informing, advising, guiding, counselling, supporting, enabling, coaching, mentoring, advocating, referring and feeding back to learning and support systems. IAG interactions with young people usually work through a process of assessment, planning, implementation and review.
From Year 9 careers advice and guidance is embedded in the annual review process through a multiagency approach, for example with education and health professionals and the adult transitions team, working with the student and family to discuss and plan for their preparation for adulthood. Often for our students, the advice and guidance may require a different set of knowledge and skills to that of the ‘traditional’ and mainstream model usually provided. The needs of the student population at Uplands are such that, in many cases, advice and guidance would be most beneficial when delivered by a trusted and very familiar adult so the process is adapted to enable this to ensure a multidisciplinary approach with the support of relevant professionals. However, IAG with an independent Level 6 careers advisor is available from Year 7 where identified as beneficial as part of the annual review process and is offered informally with school staff, as well as to small groups by the Level 6 careers advisor from Year 9. From Year 11, we offer 1:1 IAG interviews with an independent Level 6 careers advisor in a way that is appropriate to the needs of the individual student. Students who are able to access this meaningfully will have one interview by the end of Year 11, and at least one further interview in the sixth form. Parents/carers are given the opportunity to express their preferences in relation to this for their young person. e.g. through direct written communication, parent/carer evenings and the annual review process.
Please click here to view an overview of our Careers Programme
Careers, Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and The SEND Code of Practice
As a SEND school we are governed ultimately by The Department for Education SEND Code of Practice 2015. This key document states that it is important that young people start to think about their aspirations as early as possible and that, from year 9 at the latest, there is help to start planning for a successful transition to adulthood. This includes setting challenging and ambitious outcomes and exploring further education or training that will enable young people to secure paid work and other opportunities for a positive adult life.
For students with more complex needs, a coordinated assessment process or Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), which can continue up to the age of 25, can help set out goals and support needs in relation to the four areas of Preparing for Adulthood:
- Moving into paid employment and higher education
- Independent living
- Having friends and relationships and being part of the community
- Being as healthy as possible
All students attending Uplands will have an EHCP and a yearly review of this plan. All students will have long term outcomes that are relevant for further education/work, independent living, community and relationships and good health. Long term outcomes will be reviewed at the end of each key stage or earlier if achieved or change is required.
A wide range of career related activity takes place leading up to an Annual Review, including gaining the student views about their future, enabling their full contribution to the review itself, reviewing career related outcomes and yearly targets and working with families and a network of professionals to ensure career guidance is relevant, impartial and based student aspirations and long-term outcomes.
The aims of CEIAG are the same for all young people: independent living and working, choice, hope and optimism, adaptability and resilience, access to and engagement in decent work in all its forms (personal, gift and paid work), opportunities to learn and make progress, and the pursuit of wellbeing and happiness.
Where the differences lie for young people with SEND is in how they need to learn, their priorities within that learning, how far they can get, at what rate they can progress and the willingness of the businesses and people around them to accommodate their needs.
Assessing the impact of the careers programme at Uplands School
As part of a culture of continuous improvement, regular reviews are carried out and stakeholder feedback is utilised, for example through the annual review process and student and employer feedback from work related learning and employer visits, as well as utilising destination data, to continually strive to improve the careers programme at Uplands School.
Progress towards EHCP outcomes are a key indicator of the impact of our careers programme; supporting students to develop their employability and communication skills in preparation for adulthood.
The careers programme is reviewed through:
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Regular communication and planning meetings with the careers and work related learning team
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Feedback from stakeholders as above: e.g. students, parents, employers, governors
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Compass + reviews 3 times a year
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School improvement planning which our careers action plan feeds in to.
There are key roles carried out by the following people:
| Name | School Role | Careers Role |
| Claire Owens | Head of Sixth Form | Careers Leader: To oversee and implement the strategic planning of the Careers Programme at Uplands School |
| David Stevens and Sharon Lees | Work related learning leads | Planning and delivery of work related learning and work experience |
| Ceri Tranter | Level 6 Careers Advisor | Providing Independent Advice and Guidance (IAG) |
| Nick Fowler | Governor | Strategic oversight and support of the implementation of the careers programme at Uplands School |
The staff named above can be contacted via the school office, on telephone number 01793 493910 or email cowens@uplandsschool.org.uk
Our careers team are supported by Swindon and Wiltshire Careers hub and our Local Acting Operational hub lead. As part of this hub, Uplands School, receives continual updates and support.
As our careers programme is approached in a holistic manner and central to our work as a school, a wide range of adults, in addition to the team above, are key to its successful implementation. This includes the student's parent/carers, school staff, and professionals such as transition social workers from the Bridge to Adulthood Team and health professionals.
Employers: Uplands School welcomes partnerships with local employers for career and work-related learning opportunities including work experience and employer visits into school or workplace visits for our students. Obtaining professional work experience in an area of their interest is of vital importance to our young people, in terms of skills development, future employment prospects, community involvement and personal wellbeing. There are also considerable opportunities and benefits for the employer, their staff and organisation.
To find out more about our school, please click on the following links: Uplands School - About Uplands and Uplands School - Our Shared Vision. Please feel free to browse our website or contact us directly to discuss further.
If you feel you might be able to support or provide any of these careers related activities, including work experience, please contact our Careers Leader, Claire Owens (contact details below).
Our school proudly works in partnership with The Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC), the national body designated to inspire and prepare young people for the ever-changing world and to optimise outcomes for their futures. Through this network, our school secures expert-reviewed tools, expert advice, local employer networks, and staff training to ensure our curriculum meets the highest standards of the Gatsby Benchmarks, whilst being supported by the Swindon and Wiltshire Careers Hub and networking with a wide range of other local SEND settings through the local Inclusion Community of Practice, facilitated through this local network.
Destinations
In July 2026, 100% of Y11 students have progressed directly to Uplands School Sixth Form and in Y14 all have transferred onto specialist provision; with 84% of students transitioning to Horizons College (16), 11% to Uplands Educational Trust Bespoke Programme (2) and 5% to an Education Other Than At College package (1).
