Careers - Beyond The Blue

Supporting our students to  achieve successful futures.

We believe every student should be inspired to achieve a successful future and that our Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance will support them in  securing positive destinations.

A student's career is their pathway through learning and work.

From Year 7 onwards, a planned programme with a variety of experiences and events helps students to develop decision making, to gain confidence in organising their own lives and also helps them to evaluate their skills and the criteria for making positive choices for the future.

The Careers Team

At the Blue School we have a team of staff who work together to deliver quality and impartial Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance.

  • Miss Bridget Cox - Careers Leader (bcox@educ.somerset.gov.uk)
  • Mrs Jennifer Warnock - Link for Governors
  • Mrs Sarah Barnes - Work Related Learning Co-ordinator (sbarnes@educ.somerset.gov.uk)
  • Mr Robert Brown - Independent Careers Advisor (rbrown@educ.somerset.gov.uk)
  • Mrs Jane McKinley - Independent Careers Advisor (jnmckinley@educ.somerset.gov.uk)
  • Mrs Lisa Tomkins - Enterprise Co-ordinator (lisa.tomkins@devon.gov.uk)
  • Mrs Lindsey Taylor - Enterprise Advisor
  • Miss Gill Buratta - Job Centre Plus Support for Schools Advisor (gillian.buratta@dwp.gov.uk)

As a Student: Throughout your time at the Blue School you will have lots of exciting opportunities to learn about careers and think about your future.  Please take a look at the Careers Programme which gives a lot of information about what you can expect year by year.  You are welcome to visit the Careers Room in break times or in tutor time (with permission). During Year 11 you will be invited for a 1:1 guidance chat with one of the independent advisors. You will be given an action plan at the end of the meeting which will summarise the discussion and record what further steps you may need to follow to help in your decision making.  More information about Careers may be found here.
The Blue School is justifiably proud of the achievements of our students who are always welcomed back to share their experiences.  Please keep in touch with us - we want to keep in touch with you. 

As a Parent/Carer: We recognise the huge importance of the part you play in your child's decision making and career choice.  You are welcome to contact the careers team with any queries and suggestions.  Please look out for your child's copy of their action plan (given after any 1:1 careers meeting) which you may wish to use as a discussion point with them.  The Careers Team are available to talk to you at parents evenings and we schedule several information events to keep parents and carers up to date.  More careers information for parents/carers may be found here. 

As an Employer/Training Provider: The Blue School actively promotes successful working relationships with providers of employment, training, Further Education, Higher Education and apprenticeships.  If you would like the opportunity to come in and talk to students about the courses and jobs you offer then please contact Sarah Barnes (sbarnes@educ.somerset.gov.uk) or refer to our Provider Access Policy.

The Blue School Careers Programme

Government strategy underpins our own careers programme.

"The Government's careers strategy, published on 4th December 2017, sets out a long term plan to build a world class careers system that will help young people and adults choose the career that is right for them. This statutory guidance has been updated to expand on the aims set out in the strategy to make sure that all young people in secondary school get a programme of advice and guidance that is stable, structured and delivered by individuals with the right skills and experience.  To achieve this aim, the careers strategy sets out that every school and academy providing secondary education should use the Gatsby Charitable Foundation's Benchmarks to develop and improve their careers provision. The Gatsby Benchmarks are not a statutory framework but by adopting them schools can be confident that they are fulfilling their legal duties: the existing duty to secure independent careers guidance and the new duty to provide opportunities to a range of providers of technical education and apprenticeships to access pupils to inform them about technical education qualifications and apprenticeships."

Click on the links for information on the Gatsby Benchmarks and our whole School Careers Programme.