Here at The Pingle Academy, we are on an exciting journey to raise standards and improve outcomes as we pursue excellence for every student.

At the heart of this ambition is our unwavering commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and exceptional pastoral care. We believe that every child should feel safe, valued and a true sense of belonging within our academy community. By knowing our students as individuals and understanding their unique needs and circumstances, we create an environment where young people can thrive academically, socially and emotionally.

Providing students with high quality careers advice that fuels their ambition, inspires them to aim high; that supports students leading fulfilling careers and lives is key to this role.  We believe high quality careers education sets the tone for learning within our academy.  Experiences and opportunities that broaden horizons - opening both minds and doors are critical to preparing students for their lives beyond our academy.

We are proud of our warm-strict culture, where relationships are built on trust, respect and high expectations. Our staff work tirelessly to nurture, challenge and support students to achieve their very best. Visitors consistently comment on the warm welcome they receive and the calm, purposeful atmosphere that exists throughout the academy.

As a truly inclusive school, we are committed to ensuring that every child and young person has the opportunity to fulfil their potential and achieve highly, regardless of background or starting point. We are proud to serve our community through our thriving Sixth Form and ERS provision, supporting students at every stage of their educational journey.

We believe in working hard, being kind and choosing wisely. Every day, we have the privilege of making a positive difference to the lives and futures of the young people we serve.

About this Role

We are seeking to appoint an exceptional, experienced and highly committed non-teaching Careers and Aspirations Lead lead 

This is a pivotal role, responsible for ensuring the highest standards of information around careers, progression and opportunities for our students are planned and implemented.

The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight of careers provision across the academy, ensuring that this essential provision is coherent, age appropriate, aspirational and linked to both the local and global work force in an ever changing world.  It is essential that every student receives the support they need to succeed and transition from and to each phase of their journey. 

Working closely with senior leaders, pastoral teams, external agencies, market force leaders and business and our key stakeholders - students and families, you will lead the academy’s career provision, ensuring robust systems, processes and tracking are in place to guide our students, particularly those most vulnerable into suitable pathways.

You will work closely with a key senior leader to shape the provision and lead on the implementation co-ordinating wider one to one support focussing on the wider complementary offer within our academy. 

The successful candidate will:

• Bring significant experience of career education, ideally within an educational or related setting.

• Have a strong understanding of the Gatsby Benchmark and understand the difference between compliance and excellence with knowledge of labour market information.

• Awareness of progression routes, including: 

• Further education

• Higher education

• Apprenticeships

• Technical qualifications

• Employment pathways

• Have the ability to lead, influence and support colleagues in maintaining the highest standards of ICAG practice.

• Have the ability to oversee the administration of work experience at KS4 and KS5

• Have knowledge of Unifrog and utilise its potential

• Have strong organisational, communication and record-keeping skills.

• Be able to scrutinise information through rigorous data analysis, identifying potential NEETS and destinations

• Possess a solution-focused and resilient approach.

• Bring warmth, integrity and the ability to build strong, trusting relationships with students, families, colleagues and local business links.

• Be ambitious to forge international connections to broaden and ignite our offer

Why Join Us?

You will join a passionate and dedicated staff team who are committed to supporting one another and providing the very best education and care for our students.

Positive relationships between staff, students and families are a key strength of our academy. We are proudly inclusive and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. The successful candidate will play a central role in strengthening our partnership with families, ensuring students and parents feel heard, supported and valued.

As an important part of the local community, we work closely with partners and organisations to improve opportunities and outcomes for young people. We are looking for a safeguarding professional who shares our commitment to serving the community and making a lasting difference to the lives of children and families.

If you are passionate about the life chances of young people and want the opportunity to shape their careers experience.  If you are committed to improving outcomes for young people and ready to play a key role in an ambitious and inclusive academy, we would be delighted to hear from you.