Provider Access Legislation (Careers)

How will Northampton School comply with the minimum requirement to provide six encounters with providers of approved technical qualifications or apprenticeships?

First key phase (Years 8 and 9):

• Students in Year 8 will have an assembly in the spring term of the academic year (depending on other calendar commitments for the school and the external provider), students in Year 9 will have a range of meaningful activities preparing students for presentations from a range of local providers during Personal Development Week in October of each year.

• Year 9 Students will also have access to a range of local external providers and businesses in the Summer term as part of the Options and Opportunities Afternoon.

Second key phase (Years 10 and 11)

• Students in Year 10 will have an assembly during the Summer Term which will follow on from their wider Careers Education in PSHE
• Students in Year 11 will have a planned programme during Personal Development Week in October where they will also have access to a range of local external providers.
• Careers Education takes place in PSHE and the ‘Wider World’ sessions in PD morning classes this will fully support post-16 pathways applications and deadlines

Provider Access Requests

A provider wishing to request access should contact the school via email or phone:

ns-careers@nsbtrust.school

01604 815815

The Careers Leader can be contacted directly: ebarnettvincent@nsbtrust.school

Opportunities For Access

The school offers a comprehensive CEIAG programme and an overview of this programme can be seen in the Careers section of the website.

Please speak to our Careers Leader, to identify the most suitable opportunities for you.

The school will make a suitable space available for discussions between the provider and students, as appropriate to the activity. The school will also make available IT and other specialist equipment (where possible) to support provider presentations. This will all be discussed and agreed in advance of the visit with the Careers Leader or another member of the Leadership Team.

Providers are welcome to leave a copy of their prospectus or other relevant course literature with the Careers Team so that they can be displayed in the relevant Careers spaces around school.

Granting and Refusing Requests to Access

As part of the CEIAG and PSHE provision within the school we offer a whole term of Careers based learning to students in Years 7-11. Requests for access may be required to fit into the wider PSHE timetable, and workshops would be preferred during the annual Personal Development Week.

Requests for assemblies can be more easily facilitated throughout the school year.

Key event for providers:

Employment and Opportunities Afternoon (April)

Personal Development Week (October – penultimate week of Term 1).

We also aim to host a range of careers assemblies and workshops over the year, specific dates can be discussed with the Careers Leader.

All requests for access will be subject to relevant and suitable Safeguarding Checks as determined by the school. In cases where safeguarding compliance is not met, requests for access can be refused.

Previous Providers

The school has established links with a variety of local external training and apprenticeship providers to include all local colleges and a variety of private and Local Authority based training providers. The school welcomes online providers and can facilitate live online encounters.

Complaints Procedure

Should the provider wish to raise a complaint about the school’s PAL, their own access or indeed their experience whilst partnering with the school, they should follow the school’s complaints policy which can be found on the school’s website. This would involve contacting the school’s Careers Leader first to discuss the issue and to try and resolve it informally.

Careers Leader email: ebarnettvincent@nsbtrust.school

DATE: January 2026

2025 2026