Career curriculum plan | Blackpool Aspire Academy

Blackpool Aspire Academy – Careers Programme 2025-2026

The Career curriculum is mapped to the CDI Framework and the new 2025 Gatsby Benchmarks.

The Career curriculum links with the Living in the Wider World strand of the PSHE curriculum

To prepare our students to life beyond Year11 and the world of work, the Career curriculum also includes Financial, Economic and Digital education

Introduction

At Blackpool Aspire Academy, we believe that every student should feel inspired and supported to make informed decisions about their future. Our Careers Programme is designed to help you explore your strengths, understand the wide range of opportunities available, and develop the skills you’ll need to succeed in life after school.

Our programme follows the Career Development Institute (CDI) Framework, which sets out the key skills and knowledge that young people need to manage their careers effectively. This includes understanding yourself, exploring different jobs and pathways, making choices, and preparing for future transitions. We aim to make careers learning meaningful, engaging, and relevant to every student.

We also use the Gatsby Benchmarks to make sure our careers guidance meets national standards. This includes giving you access to encounters with employers, experiences of workplaces, information on different pathways, and personalised guidance. Together, these approaches help you to make confident and well-informed decisions at every stage of your journey through school.

Objectives for the 2025-2026 academic year

To increase student and parental engagement within the careers programme
To increase awareness of apprenticeships and T-levels opportunities in the local area
To increase the number of students who successfully secure apprenticeship or T-level places
To increase the number of opportunities our students have to experience workplaces and experiences.

The programme is reviewed every year following the analysis of Future Skills questionnaires, destination data from previous Year 11 cohorts and intended destination data of the current Year 11 cohort. The workshops students will attend each year may therefore vary in accordance to the students’ needs. For more information on the workshops available, please read the Career newsletters or email p.plancke@aspire.fcat.org.uk

Careers Programme Table (Years 7-11)

Year Group	Focus / Theme	Core Activities	CDI Learning Areas	Intended Outcomes
Year 7	Introduction to Careers Self-awareness	Career learning opportunities in subject specific lessons Career and Apprenticeship Newsletters to students, parents and carers My choices monthly updates and National Career week magazines for parents 13 designated lessons during PSHE: personal strengths and values Introduction to careers platform (Lancashire LMI) Sector and STEM specific workshops throughout the year – subject specific workplace encounters IN4.0 Mega Days (specific students) Future skills questionnaire completion Career Speed networking sessions – July 2026 Virtual work experience opportunities publicised in Career Newsletters and under Virtual Work experiences on the website University visits programme Optional Advice sessions with Angela Turner, Careers Adviser	Grow throughout life Explore possibilities	Understand careers as a lifelong journey Recognise personal interests and strengths Raise aspirations and curiosity
Year 8	Exploring Pathways Broadening Horizons	13 designated lessons during PSHE: Jobs, families, sectors and local labour market Career learning opportunities in subject specific lessons Career and Apprenticeship Newsletters to students, parents and carers Use of careers platform (Lancashire LMI) My choices monthly updates and National Career week magazines for parents Sector and STEM specific workshops throughout the year – subject specific workplace encounters Future skills questionnaire completion Career Speed networking sessions – July 2026 Virtual work experience opportunities publicised in Career Newsletters and under Virtual Work experiences on the website IN4.0 Mega Days (specific students) Balfour Beatty workplace encounters programme Optional Advice sessions with Angela Turner, Careers Adviser	Explore possibilities See the big picture	Broaden understanding of career options Link school subjects with future pathways Appreciate diversity in workplaces
Year 9	Making Informed Choices (Options Year)	Options evening with careers focus Destination assemblies with Further and Higher education providers Skills audit and profiling with Future U pathway mapping sessions Career learning opportunities in subject specific lessons Career Newsletters to students, parents and carers My choices monthly updates and National Career week magazines for parents 13 designated Career lessons during PSHE, decision making and managing change Future skills questionnaire completion Sector and STEM specific workshops throughout the year – subject specific Multi-ply workplace encounters programme Local universities’ specific workshops throughout the year – subject specific – University of Lancashire Fylde coast responsible business network – Winter Gardens – January 2026 Career Marketplace event – November 2025 Dell Technologies STEM Career workshops – various dates Mock interview – Practice Day – July 2026 IN4.0 Mega Day (specific students) Virtual work experience opportunities publicised in Career Newsletters and under Virtual Work experiences on the website Apprenticeship bulletins – weekly Advice group sessions with Angela Turner, Careers Adviser Additional optional Advice sessions with Angela Turner, Careers Adviser	Manage career Create opportunities	Make informed GCSE choices Understand how decisions affect future options Build decision-making confidence
Year 10	Experience & Preparation for the Future	Destination assemblies with Further and Higher education providers Career learning opportunities in subject specific lessons Career Newsletters to students, parents and carers My choices monthly updates and National Career week magazines for parents 12 designated Career lessons during PSHE: balance life and work, income and expenses and understand the big picture Introduction of Essential skills for the workplace through the Skills Builder programme Sector and STEM specific workshops throughout the year – subject specific Experience Days at Blackpool Sixth Form, Myerscough and Blackpool & the Fylde Colleges Local universities’ specific workshops throughout the year – subject specific – University of Lancashire Excellence Academy at Sixth Form – an opportunity to explore post-16 options and how they link to the school curriculum Sector and STEM specific workshops throughout the year – subject specific Work experience week - from 11/05/2026 to 15/05/2026 Rise CAEIW Career workshops – various dates Future U, introduction to Apprenticeships and Technological education – July 2026 Future skills questionnaire completion Virtual work experience opportunities publicised in Career Newsletters and under Virtual Work experiences on the website National Career Services presentation Career Marketplace event – November 2025 IN4.0 Mega Day (specific students) Apprenticeship bulletins - weekly Advice sessions with Angela Turner, Careers Adviser	Create opportunities Balance life and work See the big picture	Experience real workplaces Build employability skills Understand post-16 options including FE, HE & apprenticeships
Year 11	Next Steps & Transition	Destination assemblies with Further and Higher education providers Career learning opportunities in subject specific lessons Career Newsletters to students, parents and carers 6 designated Career lessons during PSHE: manage career and finances Introduction of Essential skills for the workplace through the Skills Builder programme Excellence Academy at Sixth Form – an opportunity to explore post-16 options and how they link to the school curriculum Sector and STEM specific workshops throughout the year – subject specific Local universities’ specific workshops throughout the year – subject specific – University of Lancashire Blackpool Sixth Form application session – opportunity to complete applications with staff from the Sixth form available to support Blackpool & the Fylde College application session – opportunity to complete applications with staff from the College available to support Myerscough College application session – opportunity to complete applications with staff from the College available to support Preston college application session – opportunity to complete applications with staff from the College available to support Blackpool & the Fylde taster sessions – chosen by students in areas of interest Blackpool Sixth form taster sessions – chosen by students in areas of interest Fleetwood Nautical campus taster sessions – chosen by students in areas of interest BAE systems taster sessions – chosen by students in areas of interest Mock interviews for colleges and apprenticeships with professionals – December 2025 Interview skills workshops – DWP – December 2025 Careers advisor – individual personalised sessions for every student, as well as follow up sessions if needed and drop-in sessions at lunchtime and after school Additional support for transition to KS5 for SEN students, students in alternative provision and students at risk of NEET (not in employment, education or training) with Angela Turner (Career advisor) and Marica Hacking (Engagement coach) Future skills questionnaire completion Career Marketplace event – November 2025 IN4.0 Mega Day (specific students) Virtual work experience opportunities publicised in Career Newsletters and under Virtual Work experiences on the website Apprenticeship bulletins – weekly National Career Services presentation My choices monthly updates and National Career week magazines for parents	Manage career Create opportunities Balance life and work	Make clear post-16 plans Feel confident about transition Increase participation in sustained education, employment or training

Blackpool Aspire Academy – Financial, Economic and Digital Literacy Programme 2025-2026

Building financial and economic confidence, knowledge, and skills step by step
Empowering students to make informed choices in a digital world

Introduction

At Blackpool Aspire Academy, we believe that understanding money, the economy, and digital technology is essential for every student’s future. In today’s world, personal finance, economic issues and digital systems are increasingly connected — from online banking and digital payments to global trade, cryptocurrencies and data-driven decision making.

Our Financial, Economic and Digital Literacy Programme builds knowledge, skills, and confidence from Year 7 through to Year 11. It begins with the basics of money and digital safety, then develops understanding of financial choices, work, taxation, economic systems and digital tools. By Year 11, students are equipped to make informed decisions about their personal finances, navigate the digital world safely, and critically engage with economic issues that affect their lives.

The aim is to give every student the knowledge, skills, and confidence to manage their personal finances and understand their role in the wider economy and their digital responsibility. By Year 11, students will be equipped to make informed choices about their future — whether that’s work, further education, or training — and to participate actively as financially capable citizens.

Our approach follows national guidance from the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) and the PSHE Association, and the national curriculum for Citizenship and Computing. It is mapped to the CDI Framework, ensuring that students receive clear, age-appropriate financial education as part of their personal development sessions. We also link financial learning to careers, maths, citizenship, and real-world experiences, preparing for life beyond school.

It also supports the 2025 Career Gatsby Benchmarks by linking economic and financial knowledge to real-world careers and employer encounters.

Progression at a Glance

Year 7-8: Build core financial literacy and digital awareness
Year 9: Connect personal finance with work, government, and online safety
Year 10: Develop independence, understand economic forces, and use digital tools responsibly
Year 11: Apply knowledge to real-life financial planning, economic citizenship, and digital responsibility

Careers Programme Table (Years 7-11)

Year Group	Theme / Focus	Core Topics & Activities	Key Learning Outcomes
Year 7	Money and Digital Basics Intro to Economy	What money is and why it matters Needs vs wants Budgeting basics Types of money (cash, cards, digital payments) Intro to online shopping & security Economic basics: goods, services, trade Digital footprint awareness	Understand basic financial concepts and budgeting Recognise different payment methods Know how to stay safe when spending online Understand goods, services and simple trade Begin to manage digital identity
Year 8	Saving, Spending Digital Choices	Saving methods & interest Peer/media influences on spending Online advertising & targeted marketing Comparing costs & value online Businesses & profit Role of consumers in digital marketplaces	Understand saving & interest Make informed spending choices online/offline Recognise how algorithms & ads influence behaviour Understand their power as digital consumers Appreciate how businesses operate in a digital economy
Year 9	Earning, Working Digital Finance	Earning income, part-time work Payslips, tax & National Insurance (intro) Digital banking & statements Consumer rights & online scams Government & taxation (public services) Supply & demand basics Cybersecurity for personal finance	Read basic payslips & understand deductions Use online banking safely Identify scams & protect personal info Understand taxation & government spending Grasp basic economic forces
Year 10	Financial Independence Digital Economy	Budgeting for independence (weekly/monthly) Borrowing: credit cards, loans, overdrafts Interest, APR, credit scores Digital financial tools (apps, fintech) Economic cycles, inflation, unemployment International trade & digital commerce Data privacy & fintech risks	Manage personal budgets confidently Evaluate borrowing options & risks Use digital tools for money management Understand key economic indicators Recognise the role of technology in the economy
Year 11	Financial Futures, Economic Citizenship & Digital Responsibility	Living independently: rent, bills, council tax Post-16 finance (HE, apprenticeships, work) Long-term financial planning (savings, pensions, investments) Government economic policy & current affairs Digital currencies, crypto & online financial trends Evaluating information & misinformation online	Make informed financial decisions for adulthood Understand taxation, long-term planning & policy Critically evaluate economic issues & current events Use digital tools responsibly & securely Understand emerging financial technologies