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Careers at Mayfield

At Mayfield School, careers education is part of what it means to be a Mayfielder. Our careers programme helps every student develop the knowledge, skills, experiences and confidence needed to make informed decisions and move successfully into further education, training or employment.

We provide Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) for students from Year 7 to Year 13. Students learn about the full range of academic, technical, vocational and applied pathways, including A levels, T levels, apprenticeships, higher technical qualifications, supported internships where appropriate, higher education, employment and training.

Careers education supports Mayfield’s values. Integrity means using accurate information and recognising strengths honestly. Courage means asking questions, challenging stereotypes and taking ambitious opportunities. Contribution means understanding how skills, work, service and enterprise allow people to contribute to their families, communities and wider society.

Our guidance is independent, impartial and in the best interests of students. We do not favour one route or provider over another, including Mayfield Sixth Form.

Careers Leadership and Contact Details

Role Named Lead Contact
Senior Leader responsible for Careers and Personal Development Mr. J CullenBoodhoo

cullenboodhooj@mayfieldschool.net
Careers Leader Mrs. F Adam adamf@mayfieldschool.net
Careers Link Governor Mr. N Naik Contact through the school

Students, parents, carers, employers and providers can contact the Careers Leader using the email address above or telephone the school on 020 8590 5211.

Student Careers entitlement

Careers education is delivered through a whole-school model. It includes Personal Development lessons, tutor time, assemblies, subject curriculum links, Unifrog, personal guidance, employer and provider encounters, enrichment, trips, workplace experiences, Sixth Form guidance and targeted pastoral support.

The programme is progressive. Younger students explore strengths, aspirations, employability skills and stereotypes. Students then move towards GCSE choices, labour market information, post-16 pathways, workplace experience, applications and post-18 decisions.

Our Careers Programme by Year Group

Year Main Learning Core Delivery
7 Strengths, aspirations, employability skills, Mayfield values, jobs and sectors. PD, tutor time, Unifrog introduction, LMI, subject links and at least one employer/alumni encounter.
8 Decision-making, stereotypes, skills, local LMI and academic, technical and apprenticeship routes. PD, Unifrog, careers week activity, employer challenge and provider encounter 1.
9 GCSE options, post-14/post-16 routes, FE/HE awareness, apprenticeships and workplace awareness. Options support, PD, FE/HE input, workplace visit/project and provider encounter 2.
10 Post-16 routes, CVs, applications, workplace expectations and work-experience preparation. Employer activities, provider fair, mock interviews, workplace experience and provider encounter 3.
11 Post-16 choices, applications, RPA, transition and impartial guidance by age 16. One-to-one guidance, application support, provider events, mock interviews and provider encounter 4.
12 University, apprenticeships, HTQs, employment with training, finance and post-18 planning. Sixth Form PD, UCAS/apprenticeship support, work experience, employer speakers and provider encounter 5.
13 Applications, interviews, finance, adult-life transition and secure post-18 destinations. Personal guidance, bespoke application support, alumni input and provider encounter 6.

Personal Guidance

Students can access impartial personal guidance from a suitably trained careers adviser. Guidance is available when students are making significant decisions, including GCSE options, post-16 and post-18 choices, apprenticeships, technical routes, university, employment and training.

Every student should have at least one personal guidance meeting by age 16. Sixth Form students should be able to access a further meeting by age 18 where applicable. Guidance records and agreed action points are recorded securely. To request careers guidance, students or parents should contact F Adam, Careers Leader, at adamf@mayfieldschool.net.

Equality, Inclusion and Targeted Support

High aspirations apply to every Mayfield student. Some students may need earlier, additional or adapted support. This can include:

  • students with SEND or an education, health and care plan;
  • disadvantaged students and students at risk of becoming NEET;
  • looked-after and previously looked-after students and young carers;
  • students with EAL, attendance concerns or pastoral or safeguarding vulnerabilities; and
  • students with low prior attainment or high prior attainment who need appropriately ambitious pathway support.

Support may include earlier or additional interviews, accessible information, pre-teaching of vocabulary, translated key terms where appropriate, supported visits, parent/carer meetings and additional help with applications, interviews and transition. The Careers Leader works with the SENDCo, pastoral teams, the designated teacher, EAL staff and Sixth Form team to identify and meet need.

Employers and Experiences of Workplaces

From age 11, students take part in at least one meaningful employer encounter each year. Students should also have meaningful experiences of workplaces by age 16 and further workplace experience by age 18 where applicable. Activities can include workplace visits, work shadowing, employer-set projects, virtual experiences, enterprise activities, mock interviews, careers fairs and placement-style work experience.

Students are prepared before encounters and supported to reflect afterwards. Mayfield aims to introduce students to a broad range of sectors, routes, backgrounds and role models. Workplace activities are risk assessed and quality assured, taking account of safeguarding, health and safety, accessibility, SEND, student vulnerability, employer suitability, parental communication and insurance.

Employers and alumni who can support talks, mentoring, workplace visits, projects, mock interviews, work experience or careers fairs are invited to contact Mrs. F Adam at adamf@mayfieldschool.net.

Provider Access: Technical Education and Apprenticeships

Mayfield is committed to ensuring that students understand the full range of academic, technical, vocational and apprenticeship routes. In line with provider access legislation, the school provides six encounters with approved technical education or apprenticeship providers across Years 8 to 13.

Encounter Year Provider Focus Attendance
1 Year 8 FE, technical education or apprenticeship provider Mandatory for pupils
2 Year 9 Provider linked to options or post-16 routes Mandatory for pupils
3 Year 10 College, training, technical or apprenticeship provider Mandatory for pupils
4 Year 11 Application-focused provider encounter or provider fair Mandatory for pupils
5 Year 12 Post-18 apprenticeship, HTQ, FE or technical provider School must offer; attendance may be optional
6 Year 13 Technical, apprenticeship or employment-with-training provider School must offer; attendance may be optional

Providers wishing to request access should read Mayfield’s Provider Access Statement and contact Mrs. F Adam at adamf@mayfieldschool.net.

Labour Market Information

Labour market information (LMI) helps students and families understand what jobs and skills employers need, wage levels, skills gaps, future trends and growth sectors. Students use LMI during each key stage so that they can compare pathways and make informed decisions.

Mayfield uses both local and national information. Local sources help students understand opportunities in Redbridge, East London and the wider London economy. National tools allow students to compare occupations, qualifications, salaries and future demand. Students who need help interpreting the information can ask the Careers Leader or careers adviser.

  • Work Redbridge – local vacancies and employment support
  • London Datastore – State of London and labour-market analysis
  • LMI for All – compare occupations, pay and prospects
  • National Careers Service – explore careers
  • Prospects – job profiles

Information for Parents and Carers

Parents and carers are a major influence on young people’s choices. Mayfield shares careers information through the website, letters, options and transition events, Sixth Form information, Unifrog, newsletters and direct contact where appropriate.

Parents and carers can support by discussing strengths and interests, exploring more than one route, checking entry requirements and deadlines, attending information events and encouraging students to use impartial information. If a child needs additional guidance or does not have a secure intended destination, parents should contact the Careers Leader.

Useful careers and progression websites

  • National Careers Service — Impartial careers information, skills assessment and course search.
  • Skills for Careers — Government information about skills, technical education and training routes.
  • Find an apprenticeship — Search and apply for apprenticeships in England.
  • UCAS — Higher education, apprenticeships and progression guidance.
  • UCAS personal statement: 2026 entry onwards — Current guidance on the three-question personal-statement format.
  • Discover Uni — Official course comparison information.
  • Unifrog — Mayfield students use their school account to research and record pathways.
  • WorldSkills UK — Technical careers, skills and competitions.
  • iCould — Career videos and role models.
  • Barclays LifeSkills — Employability, CV and work-experience resources.

How we evaluate the Careers Programme

Mayfield evaluates both the coverage and impact of careers education. Monitoring includes:

  • Compass+ or equivalent Gatsby Benchmark evaluation at least termly;
  • an annual careers impact or leadership review where appropriate;
  • student feedback after major events, provider encounters and workplace experiences;
  • feedback from parents, carers, employers, staff and providers;
  • tracking participation by year group and, where possible, by individual student;
  • analysis of intended destinations, sustained destinations and NEET-risk information;
  • review of equality of access and support for SEND, disadvantaged and vulnerable groups; and
  • reports to senior leaders and governors and an annual review of published information.

Impact is judged through students’ confidence and career readiness, successful applications, sustained positive destinations, fewer unknown or NEET destinations, the quality of employer and provider engagement, and progress towards the Gatsby Benchmarks.

The GATSBY Benchmarks:

The eight Gatsby Benchmarks provide the framework for planning, reviewing and improving our careers programme. We assess our progress at least termly using Compass+, alongside student, parent and employer feedback and destination data, to identify priorities and ensure every student receives high-quality careers education, meaningful encounters and personal guidance.

Benchmark 1: A stable careers programme known by students, parents, and staff.

Benchmark 2: Learning from career and labour market information.

Benchmark 3: Addressing the needs of each individual student.

Benchmark 4: Linking curriculum learning directly to careers.

Benchmark 5: Regular encounters with employers and employees.

Benchmark 6: Meaningful experiences of workplaces.

Benchmark 7: Encounters with further and higher education options.

Benchmark 8: Personal, one-to-one guidance from a professional adviser

Downloads

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Careers Guidance Policy Download
Provider Access Policy careers Download

Latest News

17th Jul

Historic NASA STEM Trip to Florida

A First for Redbridge: Mayfield School Students Embark on Historic NASA STEM Adventure in Orlando, Florida Twenty-seven students become the first young people from the London Borough of Redbridge to experience NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre and an unforgettable programme of STEM learning in Florida For the first time in the history of the London Borough of Redbridge, a group of students has had the extraordinary opportunity to visit NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre and experience the world of space exploration, engineering and innovation first-hand. Twenty-seven students from Years 10–13 at Mayfield School recently returned from a once-in-a-lifetime educational journey to Orlando, Florida, creating a landmark moment for STEM education in the local community. This was far more than a school trip. It was an opportunity for students to stand where history has been made, explore the technology behind humanity’s greatest achievements and see how the science they study in classrooms is transforming the world beyond Earth. Travelling with Norse Atlantic Airways, students spent six days and five nights in Florida, staying at the Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando. Throughout the trip, students developed independence, confidence and resilience while representing Mayfield School and Redbridge with pride. Reaching New Heights at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre The highlight of the journey was an inspirational visit to NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre, one of the world’s most iconic centres for space exploration. Students walked among real spacecraft and rockets, explored interactive exhibits, experienced space simulations and discovered the incredible stories behind NASA’s missions. They learned about the Apollo programme, the Space Shuttle era, astronaut training, the International Space Station and the future of human exploration beyond Earth. A particularly inspiring moment was learning about the role of the Hubble Space Telescope and how space technology continues to expand humanity’s understanding of the universe. Students saw how physics, mathematics and engineering combine to overcome extraordinary challenges and make space exploration possible. For many students, seeing genuine spacecraft and the engineering behind these missions transformed ideas from their science lessons into something real and tangible. Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists and Engineers The students also experienced the power of innovation through two days at Disney Parks, where they took part in science and technology workshops exploring the engineering, creativity and problem-solving behind some of the world’s most advanced entertainment experiences. Students discovered that behind every attraction lies a combination of physics, computer science, mathematics, design and engineering. They gained a deeper understanding of how STEM subjects influence industries far beyond traditional scientific careers. At Wonderworks, students continued their exploration of science through interactive exhibits and challenges, investigating concepts including forces, motion, electricity and human perception. The trip also challenged students personally through activities such as iFLY Indoor Skydiving, where they experienced the science of flight and aerodynamics while building confidence and resilience by stepping outside their comfort zones. A Journey of Discovery and Personal Growth Beyond the incredible educational experiences, the trip helped students develop valuable life skills. They worked together, supported one another, adapted to new environments and demonstrated maturity throughout the journey. Students returned home with a greater appreciation of the importance of curiosity, collaboration and ambition. Many reflected on how seeing science applied in the real world had changed the way they viewed their future possibilities. Head of Science at Mayfield School, Mrs Sevdie Ali, said: "This was a truly historic opportunity for our students and a very proud moment for Mayfield School and the Redbridge community. This was not just a visit to NASA—it was an experience that allowed our students to see what is possible when curiosity, determination and scientific ambition come together." "Watching our students stand next to spacecraft, explore world-leading innovation and realise that they too can contribute to future discoveries was incredibly inspiring. We want every student to believe that opportunities like this are within their reach." The Orlando STEM Adventure reflects Mayfield School’s commitment to providing exceptional opportunities that extend learning beyond the classroom. By creating access to world-class educational experiences, the school continues to raise aspirations and inspire young people to pursue futures in science, technology, engineering and beyond. The 27 students have returned to Redbridge with unforgettable memories, greater confidence and a renewed passion for discovery. Their journey marks an exciting milestone—not only for Mayfield School, but for the wider Redbridge community—showing that the next generation of scientists, engineers and explorers can come from anywhere.  
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