Provider Access Policy

At Tanfield School, we have many minds but one mission: to get students to attend the best university, or real alternative, succeed in their dream job and thrive in all aspects of their life. We design experiences, a curriculum and systems in order to help each student to be the best version of themselves, prepared for their adult lives and ready to contribute positively to their world.

This policy statement sets out Tanfield School’s arrangements for managing the access of providers to pupils at the school for the purposes of giving them information about the provider’s education or training offer.

This complies with the legal requirement to provide at least six encounters with providers of approved technical education qualifications or apprenticeships as well as aligning with the Gatsby Benchmarks.

Tanfield School is a member of the North East Ambition LEP and Careers Hub. We have an Enterprise Advisor and collect data using Compass+.

Students in years 8-11 are entitled:

• to find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeships opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point;

• to hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships – through options events, assemblies and group discussions and taster events;

• to understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses.

Tanfield School also provides opportunities for year 7 students to consider potential career pathways.

A provider wishing to request access should contact Dr Catherine Quigley (Assistant Headteacher: Personal Development).

Telephone: 01207 232881                                       email: cquigley@tanfieldschool.co.uk

These contact details are on the school’s website.

A number of events, integrated into the school’s careers program, will offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to pupils and/or their parents or carers. The full careers programme is available to view on the school website.

Students in Years 7-11 have three Careers weeks per academic year. These are the ideal opportunities for encounters. There are a minimum of 4 encounters with local providers in this time, 2 in Years 8 and 9 and 2 in Years 10 and 11.

Previous providers include:

• New College Durham

• Durham Sixth Form

• Employers (KP Snacks, Marmax Products, Thompsons Solicitors, Teleperformance, Aspens, TG Escapes)

• DWP

• Durham Local Authority

• Houghall College

• Newcastle College

• Gateshead College

• Derwentside College

• MyBigCareer

• CareerWave

• The Talent Foundry

• Barclays Life Skills

• Whickham School

• One Vision

• Future Me

• Cool Blue College

Independent Careers Guidance is available for students. Previous students have gone on to study post 16 at a wide range of local providers, to study A-Levels, T-Levels, apprenticeships and to gain employment.

Please speak to our named Careers Co-ordinator, Dr Catherine Quigley, to identify the most suitable opportunity for you to visit.

Our Enterprise advisor is David Green, Managing Director Teleperformance UK, Ireland & South Africa, david.green1@teleperformance.co.uk

The school policies on safeguarding and visitors sets out the school’s approach to allowing providers into school as visitors to talk to our students.

Should there be any grounds for a complaint, please contact Dr Quigley in the first instance.

The school will make the main hall, classrooms or private meeting rooms available for discussions between the provider and students, as appropriate to the activity. The school will also make available projectors and other specialist equipment to support provider presentations. This will all be discussed and agreed in advance of the visit with the Careers Co-ordinator or a member of the pastoral team.

Providers are welcome to leave a copy of their prospectus or other relevant course literature at Reception.