At The Fermain Academy, we are passionate about helping our students to explore and reach their full potential in their post-16 destinations.
Our Careers Co-ordinator provides all students with access to information, impartial advice and guidance to support them to make realistic and achievable career plans to achieve their goals.
NEET – Impact Data – NEET Figures 2023-2026
We are immensely proud of our students and the destinations they secure when they leave The Fermain Academy. Despite many students joining us with disrupted education, gaps in learning and previous barriers to engagement, 93% or more of our students have secured a positive destination in each of the last four years, with 93.7% in 2025/26.
These outcomes reflect our high aspirations for every student and the breadth of our curriculum. Alongside strong academic pathways and improving outcomes, students benefit from extensive vocational opportunities at The Mill, including Construction, Hair and Beauty, Textiles, Art and Outdoor Education. This enables students to develop their strengths, gain meaningful qualifications and explore pathways into further education, training and employment.
Our consistently strong destination outcomes demonstrate the impact of this approach and our belief that every student should leave Fermain with the qualifications, skills, confidence and aspirations to take their next positive step.
Key Stage 3 Careers Provision
At Key Stage 3, careers advice is delivered predominantly by all teaching staff through the curriculum. Students are supported to develop of knowledge of work, careers and their next steps through visits to careers fairs, PSHE and PFA lessons. Students are encouraged to consider which career paths may interest them and we work with them to help the choose KS4 options choices that will support them in their career goals
Key Stage 4 Careers Provision
At Key Stage 4, students access 1:1 support sessions with qualified career guidance advisors from their home schools and Cheshire East youth Support Service. Year 11 have dedicated careers lessons to discuss and prepare for their next steps where they look at labour market information, learn how to write applications and CVs, learn about the different types of apprenticeships available and develop ‘the soft skills’ employers are looking for. All students have a careers action plan where we consider the qualifications needed for their chosen pathway, they complete a future skills questionnaire and they have directed time to complete the application process to their post-16 destinations. Careers provision is also delivered through whole-school career development days and PFA lessons in which students are supported by staff to explore the career pathways from each curriculum area.
There is chance for all KS4 students to visit local careers fairs and college open days where they are supported by staff and encouraged to speak to local employers and college tutors before deciding on their post-16 destination
The Cheshire and Warrington Careers Hub
The Fermain Academy is pleased to work alongside the Cheshire and Warrington Careers Hub and the Pledge Partnership to ensure a joined up and effective approach to careers provision. The Academy become part of the newly established Pledge Countywide Hub in 2023/2024 enabling even more opportunities for local students. We have a strong link with the Hub which puts us in touch with local employers and further education establishments in order to support our students in successfully gaining a placement once they leave the Fermain Academy. They also organise local employer fairs and support with employers coming into school so that all of our students have meaningful encounters with employers before they leave.
How do we measure the impact?
The Careers programme is reviewed annually and then discussed at the governing board. We also monitor progress against the Gatsby benchmarks using the Careers Compass Plus tool. The next review date is due in the 2025/2026 academic year.
Work Placements
We endeavour to secure work experience placements for our KS4 students where appropriate and work alongside safer opportunities to provide these placements. Where and when appropriate, placements are set up to allow students to expand their learning in vocational areas. This helps students in terms of their post-16 decisions, further options and also career exploration.
T Dalton – Careers Lead
We have attached links to local colleges and apprenticeship providers to support you in your next steps –
Homepage – Macclesfield College
It’s just the beginning – Cheshire College South & West
Reaseheath College | leading land-based college
Apprenticeship Work, jobs in Cheshire (with Salaries) | Indeed United Kingdom
Trafford College – Futureproof Your Career – View Our Adult Offers For January 2024
Stockport College – Welcome to Your Future – View our courses and apply now for 2024
Welcome – Study with us! | Warrington & Vale Royal College