Careers, Aspirations and Enterprise
Careers Related Learning at Co-op Academies Trust
One of our Trust's key priorities is to raise the aspirations of our pupils and the communities that we serve.
Careers Education at Co-op Academy Hamilton
- Our Careers Lead is Mrs L Brandrick
Careers Related Learning (CRL) is now a statutory requirement for all primary schools to include in their curriculum. CRL in primary school is very different to ‘Careers’ in secondary school, where children are given advice and guidance on future careers.
Co-op Academies Trust is committed to ensuring all of our children have access to high-quality Careers Related Learning (CRL) opportunities throughout each stage of their development. Our CRL programmes will inspire, raise aspirations and give our children an optimistic outlook on life.
Our Vision for Careers Related Learning (CRL) at Co-op Academy Hamilton
At Co-op Academy Hamilton, we are committed to providing all children with a consistent, purposeful and diverse experience of careers and enterprise-related learning. This is important to ensure that we give our children an open view of the world of work, particularly in their local area.
We want our children to understand who they could become and to develop a healthy sense of self, enabling them to reach their full potential. Our vision for the development of CRL is to provide the very best opportunities to allow our children to broaden their horizons and develop aspirations.
It is our aim to provide each child with the experience, tools and skills they will need to make later life decisions surrounding careers and aspirations.
Through our CRL programme, we aim to make strong links with local employers and employees, develop the children’s understanding of Stoke-on-Trent’s Local Market and infrastructure and increase pride in themselves and the city in which they live.
Through the exposure of as many careers and jobs as possible, we aim to help our children see clear links and purpose between their learning experiences and their future. We want our children to see their potential and develop the aspirations they hold whilst celebrating and developing their talents and skills.
Early Years
Activity:
Job roles and gender - this activity gives pupils their first experience of jobs in a fun and experiential way by using role play. The aim is to have fun while showing children that anyone can do any job.
Learning Outcomes:
Develop pupils' awareness of the range of jobs available to everyone
Key Stage 1
Activity:
Career stereotypes - this activity encourages pupils to think about who does different jobs and the idea that all jobs are for everyone. It aims to challenge early gender stereotypes.
Learning Outcomes:
Further development of pupils' awareness of the range of jobs available to everyone
Activity:
Our neighbourhood - this activity encourages pupils to explore jobs in their local area.
Learning Outcomes:
Further development of pupils' awareness of the range of jobs available to everyone in their local area.
Activity:
When I grow up - this activity encourages pupils to do some research and find out facts about a job they are interested in. This starts to expand pupils' understanding of jobs to build on in KS2.
Learning Outcomes:
Develop pupils' awareness of their current strengths, skills and qualities and how these link to specific sectors / jobs.
Key Stage 2 - From September 2025
Activity:
Career alphabet - this activity gets pupils to use the alphabet to identify all the weird and wonderful jobs which they may not have come across before and develop their knowledge of unknown job.
Learning Outcomes:
Develop pupils awareness of the wide range of jobs available.
Activity:
Career crossover - pupils start to think about how school subjects align with careers and jobs.
Learning Outcomes:
Develop pupils' awareness of how the subjects they study can be linked to a wide range of different jobs.
Activity:
Future world of work - encourages pupils to think about work in the future. Pupils are asked to think about what the world will be like in the future and what kind of jobs there will be. Then working in pairs, they design their own job of the future.
Learning Outcomes:
Develop pupils' awareness of LMI with a focus on growth sectors.
Activity:
Primary World of Work – Y6 – a week of interactive workshops showcasing differing careers and an opportunity to apply for a work placement within the academy.
Learning Outcomes:
Students gain an understanding of the world of work, learning key employability skills through workshops and mock interviews.
Activity:
Transition into Y7 and what to expect with regards to careers education in a secondary academy.
Learning Outcomes:
All pupils start to understand that their career journey has started and will evolve with further support and guidance from their secondary school.
The Gatsby Benchmark
By adapting the secondary Gatsby benchmarks for Good Career Guidance, we have developed a Trust framework for best practice.
Our goal is to provide high-quality career related learning programs that introduce our students to various job sectors, help them understand the world of work, and teach them important skills for getting a job.
We also want to show them how what they learn in school connects to their future career choices.
Our Careers, Aspiration and Enterprise Annual Programme and Progression Roadmap