SMITHILLS CAREERS

Helping your child to develop knowledge of Labour Market Information (LMI)

 

What is LMI? 

This stands for Labour Market Information. The resources below show data derived from the GM Economy regarding growth sectors in our area, skills that are both needed and prevalent in these sectors-  and look at the expectation of both wages and opportunity among other points.

 

Why is this relevant?  It is important that young people  are familiar with the local economy (LMI) as this encompasses what their future opportunities could look like and can help guide on which sector(s) they feel suits them when thinking of both pre and post 16 course options and also future careers.

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Other useful LMI resources 

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Start – Careers Information (startprofile.com)​

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Careerpilot : Plan your future work & study

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Careers advice - job profiles, information and resources | National Careers Service

 

YEAR 10 WORK EXPERIENCE 2025-26

Smithills School Work Experience will take part this year from 

Monday 29th June - Thursday 2nd July 2026

Year 10 Parents' Work Experience Letter Click HERE 

 

All Year 10 students have now received a Work Experience Pack including:

• A letter to parents/carers/ employers

• An information booklet for parents/carers and students

• A work experience placement form

• All information on our Social media platforms​

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Our Work Experience launch assembly took place in October 2025, when students were briefed on the work experience programme and encouraged to speak to Mrs Bennett to discuss the findings of placements with her and add placements on the Unifrog portal.
If students need any additional support at any point throughout the work experience process, they can contact Mrs Bennett in the Careers office.

 

All students will be provided with a Work Experience Pack following their Year 10 assembly in September, introducing them to Work Experience 2023.  This will explain the process and include printed copies of all documentation. (Also available on the student page). For a more detailed explanation, please refer to the handbook below ​

 

Students are asked to meet deadlines at different stages of the year to enable the school to liaise effectively with employers and parents, and ensure all health & safety procedures are in place.

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Work Experience SUPPORT​

Students who need any support at any point throughout the work experience process, please call into the career office and speak with Mrs Bennett. 

 

Parents: For any information or advice about work experience, please email a.bennett@smithillsschool.net

 

Contacts: Careers Leader                  Mrs Bennett      

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The Baker Clause

The Baker Clause is a statutory requirement in England that mandates state-funded secondary schools and colleges to provide pupils with information about technical education and apprenticeships. Named after former Education Secretary Lord Baker, it was introduced through the Technical and Further Education Act 2017 and came into force in January 2018. Key Requirements Student Access: Schools must allow colleges and training providers to speak to all students in Years 8 to 13 about non-academic routes. Mandatory Encounters: Since January 2023, schools must provide at least six encounters with technical education or apprenticeship providers throughout a student's secondary education (two in Years 8/9, two in Years 10/11, and two in Years 12/13). Policy Statement: Every school must publish a Provider Access Policy Statement on its website, outlining how providers can request access and the grounds for granting or refusing these requests. Impartiality: Schools must act neutrally and not show bias toward academic routes (like A-levels) over technical options (like T Levels or apprenticeships). Compliance and Enforcement Ofsted Oversight: Ofsted inspectors now report on whether schools are meeting these requirements, and failure to comply can negatively impact a school's overall inspection grade. Intervention: For 2026, the Department for Education (DfE) has reinforced monitoring with annual national-level compliance checks conducted via the Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC). Sanctions: Schools that persistently fail to comply face a "ladder of support and intervention," which can escalate to legal directions from the Secretary of State or the loss of government career funding. Why It Exists The clause was designed to address "skills shortages" and ensure students are aware of all available career paths, including: Apprenticeships (including degree apprenticeships), T Levels (technical qualifications), Vocational training and college courses.

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​Compass Evaluation Results Report

Click HERE to view.

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Careers SLE Post-Deployment Form Smithills

Click HERE to view.

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Key Strategies to Support Pupil Premium Students

Our school takes a Success For All approach to career development for Pupil Premium students, ensuring they are equipped with the tools they need to succeed in their chosen careers. Below are some of the key strategies we implement:

• Personalized Careers Plans: Every Pupil Premium student has a personalized career plan that considers their individual strengths, aspirations, and the challenges they face. These plans are regularly reviewed to track progress and adjust support where necessary.

• Work Experience Placements: We prioritize Pupil Premium students for work experience placements, ensuring they gain real-world experience in industries that match their career aspirations. We also support students in securing placements when there are financial barriers, including travel subsidies or local placements.

• Career Fair Access: Pupil Premium students receive priority access to career fairs, workshops, and networking events, where they can meet employers, further education providers, and apprenticeship representatives.

• Financial Support: We offer financial support to Pupil Premium students for career-related costs, such as travel to interviews, application fees for universities, and the cost of attending career events.

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