Young people will often look to parents, guardians, siblings and other family members for careers information, advice and guidance as their first experience of work and careers is based on what they witness at home. Having said that, post 16 and post 18 options is an ever-changing landscape and there are so many opportunities out there that young people can explore and consider, and in order to support them effectively we need to be aware of them as well.
We have subscribed to Unifrog and Skills Builder to help our students in preparing for their next steps. We advise that you take time to explore the resources available to students, when they log in. You can access the Skills Builder page without logging in.
Skills Builder Partnership
This link will take you directly to the Skills Builder page that is designed to give advice to parents/guardians on helping their child develop essential skills.
Unifrog
Unifrog is a whole-school careers and destinations platform used by 2,500+ schools across the globe. It also allows students to compare apprenticeships, School Leaver Programmes, and Further Education courses in the UK, as well as MOOCs worldwide.
In addition, we have curated some websites that you can use to help you support your child. Please click on each logo to visit the website.
All About School Leavers
A website that gives advice on how to support school leavers at 16.
Bitesize
Parents’/guardians’ toolkit for supporting your child with careers advice and guidance.
Careermap
This article offers top tips on how parents/guardians can support their child with planning for the future.
CIPD
A guide designed to help parents/guardians of a child aged 11 to 24 who are thinking about their future career and what can be done to improve their opportunities.
UCAS
This website provides lots of resources and information dedicated to helping parents/guardians support students applying to university.
Youth Employment UK
At Youth Employment UK they provide expert careers advice for parents/guardians who want to help their child understand and explore their next steps.
Destinations of our pupils
Last year our year 11 pupils moved to range of providers in the local area after school:
Last year our year 13 pupils moved to range of providers, locally and nationally, after school:
100% of students that have chosen to go to university are undertaking an undergraduate degree course, with 19% of those students taking a foundation year route.
There is a wide variety of courses taken, including
- Neuroscience,
- Psychology,
- Education,
- Accounting & Finance,
- Politics,
- Pharmacy,
- Optometry,
- Law,
- Chemical Engineering,
- Biomedical Science,
- Mental Health Nursing,
- Radiography,
- Paramedic Science,
- Business,
- English,
- Textiles,
- Economics,
- Dentistry,
- Medicine and more.
The higher education institutions that our students have chosen to attend in 2024 are:
- Aston University
- Birmingham City University
- University College London
- Coventry University
- Newman University
- The University of Law
- University of Birmingham
- University of Leicester
- University of Northampton
- University of Southampton
- University of Warwick
- University of Wolverhampton
Procedure
A provider wishing to request access should contact Miss Noshin Yasin, Aspirations Leader, by calling the school on 0121 554 8122 or emailing her on nyasin@hwga.org.uk.
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/carers.
Please speak to our Aspirations Leader to identify the most suitable opportunity for you.
| Autumn Term | Spring Term | Summer Term | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 8 | Developing skills and creating awareness around different sectors and professions. Working in partnership with external providers, e.g. DWP, Time2Act, Matt Franks, Channel 4, Accelerate Studios, etc. | ||
| Year 9 | KS4 Pathways Day – Subject specialists to give presentations to pupils, so they can make informed GCSE Option choices.
Personal Development Day – DWP, Channel 4, BWAMS, Oxford Brookes University, University of Birmingham, Sandwell College etc. delivering workshops on Post 16 options and pathways, developing skills, discussing academic routes and exploring careers. JLR Employability Programme. |
No Encounters – legislation requires encounters to take place by 28 February if in year 9. | |
| Year 10 | Launching the Work Experience Programme. | Personal Development Day: Workshops to be delivered by Talent Foundry, University of Birmingham and other universities, HSBC, DWP, Halesowen College on Post 16 Options, STEM application in careers, Finance/Budgeting. Careers Fair to accompany with more partner organisations, such as ASK, AECOM, etc.
Work experience sessions during form time and assemblies. |
Work Experience: week beginning 7th July 2025.
World of work and employability sessions during work experience week for students unable to secure a placement. University of Birmingham Summer School. |
| Year 11 | One-on-one meetings with Careers Advisor.
Post 16 Open Evenings. Post 16 Applications |
One-on-one meetings with Careers Advisor.
Personal Development Day: Workshops to be delivered by Talent Foundry, University of Birmingham and other universities, HSBC, DWP, Halesowen College on Post 16 Options, STEM application in careers, Finance/Budgeting. Careers Fair to accompany with more partner organisations, such as ASK, AECOM, etc. Post 16 providers’ assemblies. Post 16 Open Evenings. Post 16 Applications. |
No Encounters – legislation requires encounters to take place by 28 February if in year 11.
Confirmation of Post 16 Destinations. |
| Year 12 | Launching the Work Experience Programme.
Personal Development Day – workshops on CV writing, Interview skills, making UCAS applications, Post 18 pathways, Apprenticeships, etc. Careers Fair supported by: KPMG, PwC, WM Police, RAF, Taylor Wimpey, Aon, ASK, HSBC, Mott MacDonald, The Events Company, NHS, Aston University, Oxford Brookes University, Coventry University, Wolverhampton University, Keele University, Staffordshire University, University of Leicester, University of Birmingham, BCU, etc. |
JLR Employability Programme.
University of Birmingham Routes 2 Professions programme. |
Work Experience: week beginning 7th July 2025.
World of work and employability sessions during work experience week for students unable to secure a placement. |
| Year 13 | One-on-one meetings with Careers Advisor.
UCAS and Post 18 Applications. Personal Development Day – workshops on CV writing, Interview skills, making UCAS applications, Post 18 pathways, Apprenticeships, etc. Careers Fair supported by: KPMG, PwC, WM Police, RAF, Taylor Wimpey, Aon, ASK, HSBC, Mott MacDonald, The Events Company, NHS, Aston University, Oxford Brookes University, Coventry University, Wolverhampton University, Keele University, Staffordshire University, University of Leicester, University of Birmingham, BCU, etc. |
One-on-one meetings with Careers Advisor.
Post 18 Applications. Access to Birmingham scheme. |
No Encounters – legislation requires encounters to take place by 28 February if in year 13.
Confirmation of post-18 education and training destinations for all pupils. |