Aspiration & Careers
At Little Lever School, we are committed to ensuring every student achieves things they never thought they could. A key-part of this is providing every student with a high-quality careers programme that raises aspirations, broadens horizons and equips young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need for life beyond school.
Our careers programme is designed to inspire students, support informed decision-making and ensure every young person leaves us ready for further education, training or employment.
Our Vision
We want every student to:
- Understand the full range of opportunities available to them
- Develop the skills and qualities needed for success in the modern world
- Make informed, ambitious choices about their future
- Experience meaningful encounters with employers, colleges, universities and training providers
- Leave Little Lever School confident, capable and career-ready
Our Careers Programme
Our careers programme runs from Year 7 to Year 11. Students throughout their time at Little Lever School will have the opportunity to take part in activities within their PREP groups each week to discuss careers, raising aspirations and informing students of the opportunities available to them. Each week in student briefing, students are informed of a specific career and the pathway to follow for a carer within the designated field. Students also take part in externally-organised seminars for careers advice, as well as national awareness events to open doors for students, for example, International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Personal Guidance
All students have access to impartial, one-to-one careers guidance with a qualified careers adviser who joins us in school from the Bolton Connexions service. [Connexions – Bolton Council]
Guidance interviews support students with:
- GCSE options
- Post-16 choices
- Apprenticeships and vocational routes
- College and sixth-form applications
- Long-term career planning
Employer Encounters
Students take part in a range of employer-led activities, such as:
- Workplace visits
- Career Cafes
- Mock interview days
These experiences help students understand the world of work and develop essential employability skills.
Post-16 Pathways
We work closely with local colleges, sixth forms, apprenticeship providers and universities to ensure students understand the full range of routes available, including:
- A-levels
- T-levels
- Vocational qualifications
- Apprenticeships
- Higher education
Students receive support with applications, personal statements and transition planning.
Pupil Destinations
We have students who have gone on to achieve amazing things they never thought they could, and have moved to a range of providers in the local area, after leaving Little Lever School, these include:
- Alliance Learning Apprenticeships
- Bolton 6th Form College
- Bolton College
- Bury College
- Canon Slade Sixth Form
- Holy Cross 6th Form College
- Myerscough College
- Salford College
- The Manchester College
- Wigan and Leigh College
- Winstanley College
Gatsby Benchmarks
Our careers programme is built around the eight Gatsby Benchmarks, the national framework for excellence in careers education:
- A stable careers programme
- Learning from career and labour market information
- Addressing the needs of each pupil
- Linking curriculum learning to careers
- Encounters with employers and employees
- Experiences of workplaces
- Encounters with further and higher education
- Personal guidance
We review our programme regularly to ensure we meet and exceed these standards.
Information for Parents and Carers
Parents and carers play a vital role in supporting career decisions. If you would like support in helping your child plan their next steps, please contact your child Learning Leader or our Careers Lead in school.
Information for Employers and Providers
We welcome partnerships with employers, training providers, colleges and universities. Opportunities to get involved include:
- Delivering talks or workshops
- Offering workplace visits
- Supporting mock interviews
- Hosting work experience
If you would like to work with us, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Monitoring and Evaluation
We regularly review the impact of our careers programme through:
- Student voice
- Destination data
- Feedback from employers and providers
- Evaluation of events and activities
This ensures our provision remains high-quality, relevant and responsive to students’ needs.
Contact Us
For more information about our careers programme, or to get involved, please contact our Careers Lead via the general school email address (info@little-lever.bolton.sch.uk), with the subject line: FAO - Miss M Moore – Careers