At The Milton Keynes Academy, we offer a wide range of events and opportunities for students to explore their future career paths. These include career fairs, employability days, and workshops held during the school day. These initiatives are designed to help students build confidence from Year 7 onwards, broaden their horizons, and set ambitious aspirations. As they progress through school, these experiences equip them to make informed and confident decisions about their future pathways, culminating in Year 11.

Our Careers Education is aligned with the Gatsby Benchmarks, a framework designed to ensure that students receive high-quality, impactful career guidance. The eight Gatsby Benchmarks are focused on providing students with meaningful encounters with employers, helping them gain the knowledge and skills needed to make well-informed career decisions. This includes activities such as career fairs, employer workshops, and work experience opportunities, which are designed to meet the requirements of the Gatsby standards.

The career-focused processes in place enable students to gain a deeper understanding of their strengths and areas for development, while also exploring how these attributes align with their career aspirations. Students also develop key employability skills, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, alongside an understanding of the attitudes needed for success in the workplace. Following events like career fairs and workshops, students gain confidence in speaking with potential employers and learn how to present themselves in interview situations.

In Year 10, students undertake a two-week work experience placement during the weeks of June 23rd and June 30th, 2025. This hands-on experience is invaluable for shaping their career prospects, helping them stand out on applications for courses, training, and jobs. Work experience allows students to test out career ideas, develop relevant skills, and demonstrate their commitment and enthusiasm.

Employers are looking for individuals who are trustworthy, reliable, good communicators, great team players, problem-solvers, willing to learn, and adaptable in changing circumstances. Students are encouraged to take the initiative and seek out their own work placements, with support and guidance provided by the school. Due to high demand, students are advised to apply early and consider multiple options for work experience. By staying proactive and keeping an open mind, students will maximise the benefits of this valuable opportunity.

• Careers Provider Access Policy

What if I don’t know yet what I want to do in life?

Students may have a very clear, vague, or no idea at all of the area of further study or work they may wish to go into. Students will need to apply as early as possible, and we ask for parental support and encouragement in this. If a student knows the area they wish to pursue further, then our advice is to try and find work experience as soon as possible.

Please see the below websites for further guidance and information:

• https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/ – Information, advice, and guidance to help make decisions on learning, training and work.
• www.prospects.ac.uk – Job and career advice.
• www.learnhowtobecome.org – Job and career advice.
• www.parentalguidance.org.uk – Careers Information and Advice from the Careers Writers Association.
• www.parentadviser.co.uk – Advice for parents/carers about career options for their children.
• https://www.stepintothenhs.nhs.uk/ – NHS careers.
• www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship – Apprenticeship information and guidance.
• https://amazingapprenticeships.com – Helpful monthly parent pack and a ‘Parents guide to Apprenticeships’.

CAN YOU HELP THE SCHOOL?

Any parent who can offer work experience in their place of work is invited to contact the school; we appreciate your support in offering future opportunities for our students.

Mrs Shergill and  Mr Belaye are able to assist with any work experience queries or concerns. Please see the attached work experience help sheet for further information and tips.

Career Events for each year group

Unifrog

Unifrog helps students to compare university courses, apprenticeships, and Further Education courses, and then apply successfully. Unifrog supports students to find the next best step for them as an individual. The Unifrog platform helps students with the whole progression process – from exploring their interests, to recording the great things they’ve done, to finding education and training opportunities, to drafting their applications.

Click the link here to access Unifrog: https://www.unifrog.org/

Careers Visitor Feedback

• Bedfordshire Police: “The students were very polite and behaved well. They asked some very good questions and seemed genuinely interested in what we had to say.”
• Army: “Very satisfied with the turn out and the level of engagement.”
• Anonymous company: “Students were well behaved and although shy at points seemed as if they’d like to engage.”
• Civil Aviation Authority: “Excellent eve, the students were engaged and asking their own questions!“
• Civil Aviation authority: “a particular credit to the school for allowing the students with additional needs to participate with support in a smaller group.”
• EE: “The students were well behaved, they asked questions, listened and were polite.“
• EE: “Overall, the event went well and was well organised and executed.“
• McIntyre: “Very good, very mature students who asked great questions!“
• Dr Shankari Maha – “Absolutely my pleasure and thank you both for making this happen after we had only met for a short time before the summer. You should all be very proud of your work and the impact you’re having on so many lives. I loved being a part of your team for the morning. Seriously one of my career highlights to this day- seeing all those curious faces eagerly listen and wanting to be present filled my heart with joy.
  Take care and I hope we get to work together again in the future.“

Please see the work experience help sheet attached for additional guidance.

• Work Experience Help Sheet

How are we assessed

Gatsby Benchmarks

Impact: NEET figures

Labour Market Information

• Labour Market Information 2024 - 2025