Every student at Da Vinci Academy is entitled to receive high-quality careers education and guidance. Our careers education offer is delivered through the curriculum and for the entire duration of a student’s time with us.
The main objectives of our careers programme are to:
Your career journey at Da Vinci Academy is carefully designed to ensure that you can develop a knowledge and understanding of the opportunities available to you after you finish secondary education.
Staff will work with you to help expand your horizons and raise your aspirations. This guarantees that you will leave school at the end of Year 11 with clear goals and the motivation and understanding to achieve them.
Our Year 11 pupils have been successful in gaining post 16 places in a number of local sixth forms, FE colleges, apprenticeship and training providers in the city. We ensure through our curriculum and careers programme that you are starting the next phase of their lives on the best possible path.
The sessions for careers are delivered through tutor time, PD lessons and assemblies to help students make decisions about their future, with an emphasis on developing employability skills.
We work with many outside providers such as Luminate, Derby College, Derbyshire Enterprise Business Partnership, Rolls Royce, Local sixth forms and colleges and ASK Apprenticeships to deliver sessions specific to each year group.
We run Inspiration Days for Years 7-10 which give students the opportunity to meet employers from a range of sectors, industries as well as representatives from higher education, to gain a better understanding of careers available to them.
For Years 10 and 11, there are a number of additional opportunities to interact with employers and post-16 providers through workshops, the annual Post-16 Providers Evening held at Da Vinci, college taster days, work experience, mock interview days and post-16 open events. Year 10 pupils can have a ‘mock interview’ with employers from local businesses, preparing you for post-16 interviews.
Pupils have access to independent careers advice via a careers’ advisor from our partners Luminate, who will help inform and guide you to make the best decisions on your futures. Further discussions around careers and aspirations take place during PD lessons throughout Year 10 and Year 11. Support is given to ensure pupils have the time and resources to produce a quality CV along with guidance to complete your post-16 applications, to equip you with important tools as you move to the world of work.
In Year 7, pupils develop key transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience, essential for both education and the workplace. They explore career options using Unifrog, discovering job roles that match their interests and strengths. Numeracy is highlighted as a valuable skill in careers such as finance, engineering, and technology. These sessions help pupils build self-awareness and make informed choices about their future.
Year 8 pupils explore the future job market, including green jobs and declining industries. They develop key skills like adaptability and problem-solving while learning about personal branding and how their strengths shape opportunities. Using Unifrog, they research careers and job pathways, gaining insight into the evolving world of work.
Year 9 pupils explore gender stereotypes in the workplace and how they can impact career choices. They learn about employment rights, understanding key laws that protect workers. As they prepare for their GCSE options, pupils reflect on their skills, interests, and future aspirations to make informed decisions about their next steps.
Year 10 pupils develop essential employability skills through CV writing and work experience applications. They learn how to create a professional CV, highlighting their skills and achievements, and gain insight into the application process for work experience placements. These sessions help pupils prepare for the world of work by building confidence and understanding what employers look for.
Year 11 pupils focus on essential employability skills, including CV writing, interview techniques, and application writing. They explore post-16 options, such as A-levels, apprenticeships, and vocational courses, to make informed decisions about their future. These sessions equip pupils with the confidence and skills needed for successful applications and transitions beyond Year 11.
It is never too early (or too late) to start thinking about careers and where yours could take you. We have provided some links below that may help you to begin thinking about how your interests, skills and talents could match up to a successful career.
Start with the career interests quiz from Unifrgog by following this link: Careers interests
Unifrog also provides a wealth of information on a wide range of industry sectors. Have a look by following this link: Industry sectors
The icould website is the perfect place to develop your aspirations. They have videos looking at what a huge number of different careers entail, here you hear about what is involved from the people who do the jobs on a day-to-day basis. There are also personality quizzes to help guide you on which careers you would be well suited to, as well as tips on GCSE options and routes into further education and employment. Have a look by following this link: icould
The National Careers Service provides lifelong information, advice and guidance on careers. There are links to assess your skills, search job profiles and find courses, as well as writing quality CVs and conducting successful interviews. Have a look by following this link: National Careers Service
The school will monitor its success in supporting students to take up education or training which offers good long-term prospects. One way of doing this is through use of destination measures data. The school closely monitors the number of students who are recorded as not in education, employment or training (NEET) after they have left school.
The table below shows the percentage of students who leave Da Vinci Academy and who move on to and sustain a place in some form of education, employment or training.
| Student Information | Three year trends for post 16 education, employment, or apprenticeship | ||
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| DVA students in post 16 destinations | 96.12% | 93.23% | 92.20% |
| DVA students not sustained post-16 destinations (NEET) | 2.65%
(Not known 0.97%) |
6.87% | 7.80% |
| Cohort size | 103 | 131 | 141 |
Formal monitoring of the impact of CEIAG and provider access will be carried out through:
As your child approaches the pivotal stage of their educational journey, Da Vinci Academy is committed to providing comprehensive support and guidance for their transition into Post 16 education. We understand the significance of this phase and recognise the importance of making informed choices.
Our school fosters strong connections with local sixth forms and further education colleges, ensuring a wide array of opportunities for your child’s continued academic growth. Through our dedicated efforts, we aim to empower students with the necessary tools and information to explore their passions, excel in their studies, and make confident decisions about their future pathways.
At Da Vinci Academy, we prioritise personalised assistance, enabling students to thrive in their chosen pursuits beyond their secondary education.
Find out how to become an apprentice, what apprenticeships are available, which employers offer them and information about starting your apprenticeship.
How to become an apprentice
Amazing Apprenticeships is a leading organisation in the education sector, working with schools, colleges and employers, tackling misconceptions and promoting the benefits of apprenticeships and technical education.
Learn more about Amazing Apprenticeships
Below are some useful links to sixth forms for you to explore.
At Da Vinci Academy, as part of our commitment to providing a well-rounded education we provide a valuable opportunity for our Year 10 pupils – a one-week work experience placement. This programme aims to offer our pupils a practical and insightful experience in a professional environment. This initiative serves as a bridge between classroom learning and the world of work, allowing pupils to explore various career paths, develop essential skills, and gain a deeper understanding of different industries.
We believe that this hands-on experience will not only enhance their academic knowledge but also help them make informed decisions about their future career aspirations. We are confident that this experience will be both rewarding and enriching for our pupils, empowering them to become confident, motivated, and career-ready individuals. We appreciate your support in encouraging and guiding our pupils as they embark on this exciting journey.
For more information, please see below:
In October 2024, Da Vinci Academy was awarded The National ‘Quality in Careers Standard’ for its career education, information, advice and guidance. Moving forward, leaders at Da Vinci Academy intend to explore use of this standard to provide further verification of the quality and impact of the CEIAG provision on offer at the Academy.
Mr N Wiles: Assistant Headteacher
T: 01332 831 515 EXT: 2198
Email: [email protected]
Mrs R Atkinson: Careers Lead / Access to Sheffield Coordinator
T: 01332 831 515 EXT: 2182
Email: [email protected]
Date of school’s next review of the published information: January 2026
