Provider Access

 Provider Access Policy Statement (PAL)

Access for colleges, training providers, university technical colleges, universities and all other post 16 providers, including technical, vocational and academic routes and apprenticeships

Rationale

High quality careers education and guidance in school or college is critical to young people’s futures. It helps to prepare them for the workplace by providing a clear understanding of the world of work including the routes to jobs and careers that they might find engaging and rewarding. It supports them to acquire the self-development and career management skills they need to achieve positive employment destinations. This helps students to choose their pathways, improve their life opportunities and contribute to a productive and successful economy.

As the number of apprenticeships rises every year, it becomes increasingly important that all young people have a full understanding of all the options available to them post-16 and post-18 including wider technical education options such as T-Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications.

Commitment

Merchants’ Academy is committed to ensuring there is an opportunity for a range of education and training providers to access students, for the purpose of informing them about approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships.  Merchants’ Academy is fully aware of the responsibility to set students on the path that will secure the best outcome which will enable them to progress in education and work and give employers the highly skilled people they need. That means acting impartially, in line with the statutory duty, and not showing bias towards any route, be that academic or technical.

We endeavour to ensure that all students are aware of all routes to higher skills and are able to access information on technical options and apprenticeships (The Department of Education, July 2021: “Baker Clause”: supporting students to understand the full range of education and training options, and the Provider Access Legislation, January 2023).

Aims

• To develop the knowledge and awareness of our students of all career pathways available to them, including technical qualifications and apprenticeships.
• To support young people to be able to learn more about opportunities for education and training outside of school before making crucial choices about their future options.
• To reduce drop out from courses and avoid the risk of students becoming NEET (Young people not in education, employment or training).

Student Entitlement

Merchants Academy fully supports the statutory requirement for students to have direct access to other providers of further education training, technical training and apprenticeships.  The school will comply with the new legal requirement to put on at least six encounters with providers of approved technical education qualifications or apprenticeships.

This is broken down into key phases: -

1st key phase Year 8 or 9: Two encounters for students that are mandatory for all to attend

2nd key phase Year 10 or 11: Two encounters for students that are mandatory for all to attend

3rd key phase Year 12 or 13: Two encounters that are mandatory for the school to put on but optional for students to attend

Links with other policies

It supports and is underpinned by key school policies including those for Careers, Child Protection, Equality and Diversity, and SEND.

Equality and Diversity

Access to other providers is available and promoted to allow all students to access information about other providers of further education and apprenticeships. Merchants’ Academy is committed to encouraging all students to make decisions about their future based on impartial information.

Requests for access

Requests for access should be directed to Louise Kington, Assistant Headteacher, and can be contacted by email Louise.kington@merchantsacademy.org.   

Grounds for granting requests for access

Access will be given for providers to attend during school assemblies and Careers or Raising Aspirations events. Students may also travel to visit another provider as part of the trip to be organised in partnership with Merchants’ Academy.

Details of premises or facilities to be provided to a person who is given access

Merchants’ Academy will provide an appropriate room or assembly hall to be agreed. All rooms have computers, projectors and screens provided. Computer rooms can also be arranged. The Careers Leader or Careers Adviser will organise this, working closely with the provider to ensure the facilities are appropriate to the audience.  Appropriate safeguarding checks will be carried out.  Providers will be met and supervised by a member of the Careers Team who will facilitate.

Live/Virtual encounters

Merchants’ Academy will consider live online encounters with providers where requested, and these may be broadcast into classrooms or the school assembly hall. Technology checks in advance will be required to ensure compatibility of systems.

Management of provider access requests

All requests made by providers should be emailed at least 6 weeks in advance of the expected date of the session.

In the first instance, requests by providers should be sent to: -

Assistant Head Teacher for Personal Development:  Louise Kington

Email address: - Louise.kington@merchantsacademy.org

 

Destination Data for Year 11 (2023)

Destination	Percentage of students
Further Education	56%
Sixth form college	35%
Apprenticeship	5%
Employment	4%

Destination Data for Year 13 (2023)

Destination	Percentage of students
Higher Education	37%
Employment	17%
Further Education	25%
Apprenticeship	21%