Careers education at Nailsea School is delivered in a number of ways and the information below will give you an insight into the careers support available in school.

Careers Leader
(Senior Leadership Team)
Mrs S RuttyOversight of career strategy
Careers (Sixth Form)Mrs N MacleodOversight of Sixth Form careers programme
Careers & Employability AdministratorMrs L HumphreysPrimary contact for any students, parents, employers, education providers etc who would like to discuss careers advice or guidance

Please visit our policies page HERE

Gatsby Benchmarks

The Gatsby Benchmarks are a framework of 8 guidelines that define the best careers provision in schools and colleges.

1A stable Careers ProgrammeEvery school should have an embedded programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood  by students, parents, teachers and employers
2Learning from Career & Labour-market informationEvery student and their parents, should have access to good-quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities
3Addressing the needs of each studentOpportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each student.  A school’s careers programme should embed equality and diversity considerations throughout.
4Linking curriculum learning to careersAll teachers should link curriculum learning with careers.  For example, STEM subject teachers should highlight the relevance of STEM subjects for a wide range of future career paths.
5Encounters with employers and employeesEvery student should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace.
6Experiences of workplacesEvery student should have first-hand experiences of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience.
7Encounters with further & higher educationAll students should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them.  This includes both academic and vocational routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace
8Personal GuidanceEvery student should have opportunities for guidance interviews with a careers adviser, who could be internal (a member of school staff) or external, provided that are trained to an appropriate level.

Nailsea School uses Compass Audit each term to measure progress against the Gatsby benchmarks.

Our latest audit results are below:

Destinations Data

Destinations DataVIEW HERE
Sixth Form Data DocumentDOWNLOAD INFORMATION

Visit our ABSolute Curriculum page to learn about how careers are integrated through this programme. HERE


Getting great grades is important, but you also need to think about your skills and experiences. Do you participate in clubs or extra curricular activities? Have you represented school? Have you considered voluntary work or a part time job? Do you take on additional responsibilities? What skills and experiences do you have and how can you demonstrate them? Skills and experiences gained now will add to the quality of your CV and future course and job applications.

Unifrog launch, a presentation to students – View Here

Our Year 10 & Year 12 Work Experience Week is a great opportunity for students to practice employment skills they will need in their future working lives and to investigate careers they may be interested in. Students participate in real work activities and keep a log of the tasks they do and the skills they use.

When you are choosing your options, take a moment to consider the following:

  • Which are the subjects and activities that you enjoy most?
  • Which subjects are you good at?
  • Do you have a career in mind? – Will this need any specific subjects?

You should avoid:

  • Choosing a subject because a friend is doing it
  • Choosing a subject without researching it first
  • Choosing a subject because you like the teacher

Speak to as many people as you can. Your teachers, your parents/carers, family friends and your careers department are all great resources to help you.


It is important to talk to your child about their career plans and encourage them to explore their options.

Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) can be found on the school website, in the school newsletter, on noticeboards around school, on displays in classrooms and outside the careers office. The careers programme shows how careers education is delivered through links in subject lessons, ABSolute Days, presentations and workshops from speakers and employer visitors, tutor group activities, trips, school events and 1-2-1 careers guidance interviews.

Unifrog launch, a presentation to parents – Download Here

Our Year 10 Work Experience Week is a great opportunity for students to practice employment skills they will need in their future working lives and to investigate careers they may be interested in. Students participate in real work activities and keep a log of the tasks they do and the skills they use.

A Parent Guide to using Unifrog Placements – DOWNLOAD HERE

Placement Tool Letter for Parents – DOWNLOAD HERE


Policy statement – Our policy statement for provider access