Provider Access & Baker Clause Policy

This policy sets out the schools’ arrangements for managing the access of providers to pupils at the school for the purpose of giving them information about the providers education or training offer. This complies with the school’s legal obligations under ‘The Department of Education, July 2021:“Baker Clause” and the Provider Access Legislation, January 2023”.

Rationale

High quality careers education and guidance in school or college is critical to young people’s futures. It helps to prepare them for the workplace by providing a clear understanding of the world of work including the routes to jobs and careers that they might find engaging and rewarding. It supports them to acquire the self-development and career management skills they need to achieve positive employment destinations. This helps students to choose their pathways, improve their life opportunities and contribute to a productive and successful economy.

• Students in Years 8 to 11 are entitled to find out about technical education, qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities as part of our careers programme.
• In addition to the entitlement above we also include our Year 7 cohort in the opportunities on offer from our providers, including a whole cohort visit to a local University.
• Hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer including technical education, traineeships and apprenticeships. This takes place through the annual careers’ convention, assemblies, options evenings and taster events.

As the number of apprenticeships rises every year, it becomes increasingly important that all young people have a full understanding of all the options available to them post-16 and post-18 including wider technical education options such as T-Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications.

Commitment

Maricourt Catholic High School is committed to ensuring there is an opportunity for a range of education and training providers to access students, for the purpose of informing them about approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships. Maricourt Catholic High School is fully aware of the responsibility to set students on the path that will secure the best outcome which will enable them to progress in education and work and give employers the highly skilled people they need. That means acting impartially, in line with the statutory duty, and not showing bias towards any route, be that academic or technical.

Maricourt Catholic High School endeavours to ensure that all students are aware of all routes to higher skills and are able to access information on technical options and apprenticeships (The Department of Education, July 2021: “Baker Clause”: supporting students to understand the full range of education and training options, and the Provider Access Legislation, January 2023).

Aims

Maricourt Catholic High School policy for Access to other education and training providers has the following aims:

• To develop the knowledge and awareness of our students of all career pathways available to them, including technical qualifications and apprenticeships.
• To support young people to be able to learn more about opportunities for education and training outside of school before making crucial choices about their future options.
• To reduce drop out from courses and avoid the risk of students becoming NEET (Young people not in education, employment or training).

Student Entitlement

Maricourt Catholic High School fully supports the statutory requirement for students to have direct access to other providers of further education training, technical training and apprenticeships. The school will comply with the new legal requirement to put on at least six encounters with providers of approved technical education qualifications or apprenticeships. This will be done in assemblies in National Apprenticeship Week and National Careers Week, in addition to providers attending careers events at school or at each Trust school.

Development

This policy has been developed and is reviewed annually by the Careers Leader Michelle Wood and Line Manager Danielle Lawler based on current good practice guidelines by the Department for Education.

Links with other policies

It supports and is underpinned by key school policies including those for Careers, Child Protection, Equality and Diversity, and SEND.

Equality and Diversity

Access to other providers is available and promoted to allow all students to access information about other providers of further education and apprenticeships. Maricourt Catholic High School is committed to encouraging all students to make decisions about their future based on impartial information.

Requests for access

Requests for access should be directed to Michelle Wood, Careers Leader. Michelle Wood may be contacted by telephone or email, woodm@maricourt.net, Telephone direct; 0151 282 2132 or Maricourt school switchboard 0151 330 3366.

Grounds for granting requests for access

Access will be given for providers to attend during school assemblies, timetabled Careers lessons, and Careers or Raising Aspirations events that Maricourt Catholic High School is arranging. Students may also travel to visit another provider as part of the trip to be organised in partnership with Maricourt Catholic High School.

Details of premises or facilities to be provided to a person who is given access

The Maricourt Catholic High School will provide an appropriate room or assembly hall to be agreed. Computer rooms can also be arranged. The Careers Leader or Careers Adviser will organise this, working closely with the provider to ensure the facilities are appropriate to the audience. Appropriate safeguarding checks will be carried out. Providers will be met and supervised by a member of the Careers Team who will facilitate.

Live/Virtual encounters

Maricourt Catholic High School will consider live online encounters with providers where requested, and these may be broadcast into classrooms or the school assembly hall. Technology checks in advance will be required to ensure compatibility of systems.

Parents and Carers

Parental involvement is encouraged, and parents may be invited to attend the events to meet the providers.

Management

The Careers Leader coordinates all provider requests and is responsible to her senior management line manager.

Complaints Procedure

Any complaints about this policy should be raised to Michelle Wood / Danielle Lawler, email:woodm@maricourt.net / lawlerd@maricourt.net

Danielle Lawler will raise the complaint to Tracy Hatton, Headteacher of Maricourt Catholic High School.

Monitoring review and evaluation

The Policy is monitored and evaluated annually via the Senior Leadership Team.

Policy Coordinator: Michelle Wood

Policy Reviewed: January 2025

Universities

Colleges

Partners

Employers

Procedure

A provider wishing to request access should contact;

Michelle Wood Careers Leader

School Switch Board: 0151 330 3366 Direct line: 0151 282 2132

Email: woodm@maricourt.net

Careers Map Year 7-11

Careers Map Sixth Form

Alumni

Providers Who Have Visited To Date