2023 – 2024 Careers Events at The Ongar Academy: TBC

The Ongar Academy: Provider Access Policy  

Contents 

1. Introduction  

2. Student entitlement 

3. Management of provider access requests 

4. Links to other policies  

5. Complaints 

6. Monitoring arrangements  

• Aims 

This policy statement sets out the school’s arrangements for managing the access of providers to the school for the purpose of giving them information about the  

provider’s education or training offer. This complies with the school’s legal  

obligations under Section 42B of the Education Act 1997. 

• Student entitlement  

All pupils in years 8 to 11 are entitled: 

• to find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeships opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point; 

• to hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships – through options events, assemblies and group discussions and taster events; 

• to understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses. 

For pupils of compulsory school age these encounters are mandatory and there will be a minimum of two encounters for year 8 to 9 pupils and two encounters for year 10 to 11 pupils. 

These provider encounters will be scheduled during the main school hours and the provider will be given a reasonable amount of time to, as a minimum:  

• share information about both the provider and the approved technical education qualification and apprenticeships that the provider offers 

• explain what career routes those options could lead to 

• provide insights into what it might be like to learn or train with that provider (including the opportunity to meet staff and pupils from the provider) 

• answer questions from pupils. 

Meaningful provider encounters One encounter is defined as one meeting/session between pupils and one provider. We are committed to providing meaningful encounters to all pupils using the Making it meaningful checklist (Making it Meaningful: Benchmark 7 | CEC Resource Directory (careersandenterprise.co.uk) 

Previous providers  

In previous terms/years we have invited the following providers from the local area to speak to our students and parents/carers:  

• Braintree Sixth Form 

• Writtle University College 

• AIM Group 

• Pearson College 

• Aim Apprenticeships 

• Hertfordshire and West Essex Health and Care Academy 

Destinations of our pupils 

Last year our year 11 pupils moved to range of providers in the local area after  

school:  

Alumni of the Ongar Academy have moved onto a range of providers in the local area, including the following: 

• Anglia Ruskin University Pharmaceutical Science 

• Anglia Ruskin University Psychology with Criminology 

• Bangor University Marine Biology and Zoology 

• Buckinghamshire New University Hair and Make-up for Film and Performance 

• Canterbury Christ Church 

• University Primary Education, 

• Canterbury Christ Church 

• University Sport & Exercise Science 

• Loughborough University English 

• Queen Mary University of London Chemistry 

• University of East Anglia UEA History and Film Studies 

• University of East Anglia UEA Geography 

• University of East London Sports Coaching and Performance (West Ham United Foundation) 

• University of Greenwich Games Design and Development 

• University of Greenwich Events Management 

• University of Hertfordshire Law 

• University of Hertfordshire English Literature with Film 

• University of Hertfordshire Fine Art 

• University of Hertfordshire Sport and Exercise Science 

• University of Kent Sport and Exercise Science 

• University of Reading Creative Writing and Film 

• University of Worcester Outdoor Adventure Leadership and Management 

• Writtle University College Equine Performance and Business Management 

• Management of provider access requests  

Procedure 

A provider wishing to request access should contact: 

communications@theongaracademy.org

Opportunities for access 

The school offers the six provider encounters required by law and a number of additional events, integrated into the school careers programme. We will offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to pupils or their parents or carers.  

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

Granting and refusing access 

Access to our pupils will be granted where it can be agreed that the provider matches the needs of our students and that we can accommodate your request in terms of scheduling and space. 

We welcome providers wishing to communicate with our pupils, staff and parents/carers specifically about the following areas:  

• Types of qualification including, but not limited to, A-Levels, Vocational awards, technical awards, apprenticeships, degrees.  

• Routes into employment  

• Continuing in education and training 

• Raising awareness of career sectors  

• Raising aspirations  

• Labour market information – job market and key local sectors  

• Employer expectations  

• Employability skills  

• Support in applications including but not limited to course, apprenticeship, university and employment applications 

• Additional support for transitions into Further Education, Higher Education, Apprenticeships, other training opportunities and employment. This can include financial, emotional and practical support for more vulnerable pupils. 

Please speak to our Careers Adviser to identify the most suitable opportunity for you.

Safeguarding 

Our safeguarding on policy outlines the school’s procedure for checking the identity and suitability of visitors. 

Education and training providers will be expected to adhere to this policy. 

Premises and facilities 

The school will make the Theatre, the Sports Hall or Fitness Centre, classrooms or meeting rooms available for discussions between the provider and students, as appropriate to the activity. The school will also make available audio and visual specialist equipment to support provider presentations where needed. This will all be discussed and agreed in advance of the visit with the careers leader or a member of their team. 

Providers are welcome to leave a copy of their prospectus or other relevant course literature for the careers sections of the school library and Braintree Sixth Form library, which are managed by the school librarian. These resources are available to all students at lunch and break times and to sixth formers in their study periods. 

• Links to other policies 

This policy should be read in conjunction with the following policies:  

• Child Protection Policy  

• Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) Policy 

• Complaints 

Any complaints with regards to provider access can be raised following the school complaints procedure 

• Monitoring arrangements 

The school’s arrangements for managing the access of education and training providers to students are monitored by The Careers Leader. 

This policy will be reviewed by The Careers Leader annually.  At every review, the policy will be approved by the governing board. 

Careers Lead 

Mrs N Foster 

Contact email: nfoster@theongaracademy.org

Review Date: December 2024