CEIAG Provider Access Policy
Co-op Academy Swinton Policy Statement on Provider Access 2025-2026
Approved by:F Fagan Date July 2025 : | Last reviewed on: July 2025 | Next review due by: July 2026 |
1.Aims
This policy statement aims to set out our academy’s arrangements for managing the access of education and training providers to students for the purpose of giving them information about their offer.
It sets out:
- Procedures in relation to requests for access
- The grounds for granting and refusing requests for access
- Details of premises or facilities to be provided to a person who is given access
2.Statutory requirements
Academies are required to ensure that there is an opportunity for a range of education and training providers to access students in years 8 to 13 for the purposes of informing them about approved technical education, qualifications or apprenticeships. This complies with the school’s legal obligations under Section 42B of the Education Act 1997.
In addition the Baker Clause, an amendment to the above, stipulates that schools must allow colleges and training providers access to every student in years 8 - 13 to discuss non-academic routes that are available to them. It is expected that by doing so this will help address the UK’s productivity challenges and address skills shortages experienced across several sectors of the economy. As a Trust we provide the same access to Year 7. In line with the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022, which will come into effect from January 2023, all students will have at least six encounters with a provider of approved technical education qualifications or apprenticeships. Two of these will be in school years 8 or 9, with another two in years 10 or 11. A further two will be offered in years 12 or 13. The “encounters” for year 9, 11 and 13 pupils will take place between September 1 and February 28 in each academic year
3.Rationale and pupil entitlement (intended learning outcomes)
At Co-op Academy ... we will use Gatsby Benchmarks as a framework of best practice to develop and improve our careers provision to ensure that we not only fulfil legal duties of providing opportunities for a range of education and training providers to access all students in year 7 to year 13 but to also have CEIAG programs that meet the needs of an ever changing cohort. All of our students 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.
An expectation of our providers will be to provide :-
• Information about the provider and the approved technical education qualifications or apprenticeships that the provider offers
• Information about the careers to which those technical education qualifications or apprenticeships might lead
• Description of what learning or training with the provider is like, and responses to questions from the pupils about the provider or approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships
Further detail of our CEIAG programme is available on our website
4. Management of provider access requests
4.1 Procedure
A provider wishing to request access should contact
CEIAG Leader : Felicity Fagan
Telephone: 0161 795 6215
Email: felicity.fagan@coopacademies.co.uk
4.2 Opportunities for access
A number of events, integrated into our careers programme, will offer providers an opportunity to come into our academy to speak to students and/or their parents/carers:
Calendar of events
Year Group | Autumn Term 2025 (linked to BM) | Intended learning outcomes | |
7 | World of work day (1,2,3) FSQ (1,3,4,8) Introduce student aspirations via form tutors ( 1.3.4.7.8.) Introduction to Unifrog for students and parents (1,2,3,5,6,7) Strive time student aspirations (1.3,8) Life learning Local LMI and pathways (1,2,3,5,6,7) | Learn about local LMI and career pathways- explore possibilities/see the big picture Student voice on aspirations Grow throughout life Understanding for students and parents of how our software works;see the big picture Explore possibilities | |
8 | Careers assembly linked to pathways(3,5,6,7,8) Unifrog session (1,2,3,5,6,7) Manchester United visits career link (1,2,3,4,5,6)) Track student aspirations via form tutors (1,3,4,7,8) | Learn about different pathways A levels/T levels/ Btech Explore possibilities Learn about different career sectors- explore possibilities Grow throughout life | |
9 | Life learning Careers and pathways scheme of work (1,2,3,4) Track student aspirations to options lessons in life learning (1,3,4,7,8) Year 9 options- careers advisor/strive sessions (1-8) Manchester United visits- career link (1,2,3,4,5,6,) | Learn about post 16 pathways and university life explore possibilities Learn about how the option system works and different career sectors: Create opportunities Grow throughout life Learn about different career sectors- explore possibilities | |
10 | University visit through GM higher (1,3,7,) Manchester United visits- career link (1,2,3,4,5,6) Alumni talks on University life (3,5,6,7,8) Visits to LMI companies for targeted groups (3,4,8) | Experience University life. Raise aspirations- explore possibilities Learn about different career sectors- explore possibilities Balance life and work Learn about different career sectors Raise aspirations Grow throughout life | |
11 | Life learning careers and post 16 pathways into further and higher education (3,5,7,8) College assemblies (7) Careers fair with workshops (1-8) 1-1 personal guidance with careers advisor (8) 1-1 mock interviews with Bunzle employees(1,3,5) Personal statement workshops with CL (1,2,3,4,5) | Learn about post 16 pathways and courses to guide choices- - manage career Learn about local LMI and higher education- manager career Learn about what the different colleges/ apprenticeship and training providers have to offer. Learn about local higher education providers- manage career Prepare for the interview process- see the big picture/manage career Grow throughout life Manage career/see the big picture | |
Additional provision for targeted groups | Life learning careers and pathways scheme of work in PLC (1,2,3,4) Yr 11 SEN groups see the careers advisor first (1,3,8) Link careers to the high ability initiatives run by the vice principal Targeted motivational speakers for the PLC (1,2,3,4,5) | Raise aspirations. Lower Neet figures in AP and PLC students Create opportunities Learn about post 18 opportunities outside of Greater Manchester See the big picture | |
Staff | FFA, BPR, LCO, NAH | ||
Year Group | Spring Term 2026 (linked to BM) | Intended learning outcomes | |
7 | Life learning careers and aspirations unit (1,2,3,4) Alumni talks on different career routes(1,2,3,5) National careers week activities (1,2,3,4) Year 7 FSQ (1,2,3,4,5,6,) Start aspirations spreadsheet with form tutors (1,2,3,4,5,6) | Raise aspirations and learn about different pathways Raise aspirations Grow throughout life | |
8 | Manchester United career linked visits (1,2,3,4,5,6) Packaging workshop from Bunzle (1,2,3,4,5,6) National careers week activities (1,2,3,4) | Learn about different careers sectors- explore possibilities Careers across the curriculum | |
9 | Careers Uncovered through the Coop (1,2,3,4,5,6) Performing arts careers workshop (4,7) National careers week activities (1,2,3,4) Reach project for specific group (1,3,5) Year 9 FSQ (1,2,3,4,5,6) Manchester United career linked visits (1,2,3,4,5,6) | Learn about different sectors in the Coop and the variety of careers involved- explore possibilities, Careers across the curriculum Grow throughout life Explore possibilities | |
10 | GM higher visits for specific subjects (1,2,3,4,5,6,7) National careers week activities (1,2,3,4) Manchester United career linked visits (1,2,3,4,5,6) | Learn about careers linked to the curriculum- explore possibilities | |
11 | 1-1 guidance meetings with the careers advisor (1,3,8) Strive time sessions on different pathways and local colleges National careers week activities (1,2,3,4) | Apply to local colleges/apprenticeships/training providers manage career Have a wide and balanced understanding of what is on offer and how to apply- explore possibilities | |
Additional provision for targeted groups | Visit to/from local volunteer company Bunzle ((1,2,3,5) | Learn about local LMI- see the big picture | |
Staff | FFA/BPR/LCO/NAH | ||
Year Group | Summer Term 2026 (linked to BM) | Intended learning outcomes | |
7 | Manchester United career linked visits (1,2,3,4,5,6) | Learn about different career sectors- explore possibilities | |
8 | Coop Dragon’s Den with Unilever (1,2,3,5) Graphic design workshop with Bunzle in art 1,2,3,4,5) | Learn about marketing, budgeting and design - careers across the curriculum explore possibilities | |
9 | Manchester United career linked visits (1,2,3,4,5,6) | Learn about different career sectors- explore possibilities | |
10 | 6 week virtual work experience project with local employers (13,5,6) Visits to local colleges (1,3,7) Manchester United career linked visits (1,2,3,4,5,6) 1-1 personal guidance interviews begin (1,3,8) | Experience of the real working world Investigate post 16 opportunities Learn about different career sectors Learn about post 16 opportunities and pathways Manage careers | |
11 | Additional 1-1 guidance interviews for potential neets (1,3,8) | Learn about next steps to avoid neets | |
Additional provision for targeted groups | Life learning careers related sessions in PLC (1,2,3,4) Local college/University visits for the yr 10 most able cohort- masterclasses (1,2,3,4,5) SEN college transition days- SEN team(1-6) SEN supported VWEX (1,2,3,5,6) | Raise aspirations , lower neet figures- explore possibilities Raise aspirations Learn about college life/pastoral support | |
Staff | FFA/BPR/LCO/NAH | ||
4.3 Safeguarding
Our policy on safeguarding, which can be found on our website, sets out our approach to allowing providers into our academy as visitors to talk to our students
Education and training providers will be expected to adhere to this policy.
4.4 Premises and facilities
Our academy will make the main hall, classrooms or private meeting rooms available for discussions between the provider and students, as appropriate to the activity.
The academy will also make available AV and other specialist equipment to support provider presentations. 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 at reception, from here they will be delivered to the careers office and/or the library ……... This facility is available to all students at lunch and break times.
5. Destinations data
We ensure that all of our students have a positive destination set up before they leave the academy. This applies to all students including those on AP. This destinations data is submitted to the trust in October and March. Student numbers for further education, 6th form, apprenticeships and employment with training are submitted along with neet figures
For year 11 students 23-24 the following intended destinations from March 2024 are:
% moving to positive destination | % applying for college | % applying for 6th form | % applying for apprenticeship | % applying for work with training | % not moving to positive destination | % of NEET | % not known |
98.80% | 73.0% | 21.5% | 1.2% | 3.1% | 1.20% | 1.2% | 0.0% |
6 Monitoring arrangements
Co-op Academy Swinton arrangements for managing the access of education and training providers to our students is monitored by F Fagan
This policy will be reviewed by F Fagan. At every review, the policy will be approved by the governing board and the headteacher.