Vision

Our academy is committed to raise the aspirations and broaden the horizons  of our pupils and the communities we serve ensuring all of our pupils have access to high quality careers related learning opportunities o complemented by exposure  to a range of employers from different sectors . To help us do this we align our CRL Plan to the Secondary Gatsby Benchmarks which have been explicitly referenced throughout the DfE’s Careers Strategy (December 2017) the Statutory Guidance for careers (January 2018).  Our offer will inspire, raise aspirations, increase social mobility and give our pupils an optimistic outlook on life and their potential place in the world of work.

The vision for the development of CRL across our academy is to provide the very best opportunities to enable our pupils  to make informed and incisive decisions throughout, and beyond, their school life. By using the Gatsby benchmarks as a framework of best practice we have a CRL program that meets the needs of our ever-changing cohort of students, providers and labour market landscape. Our plan promotes equality of opportunity, celebrates diversity and challenges stereotypes.

Co-op Values

Do what matters most

What matters most is ensuring that our students achieve the best possible outcomes.

Be yourself, always

We bring our best self to work, so that we each contribute a bit of our own unique Co-op difference, and respect others for doing the same.

Show you care

We care about our Co-op, our colleagues, our members, our students, their parents and communities, now and for the future.

Succeed together

Co-operating is what makes us different; we’re better and stronger when we work together.

Our core purpose

For example…..

• To be able to demonstrate that careers  and raising aspirations features throughout the Academy Development Plan and impact evaluation is overseen by a member of the senior leadership team.
• To have clear and transparent pupil  ‘career learning journeys’ that demonstrates progressive and well planned  intended learning outcomes to support each and every pupil.

• To ensure  employer encounters  are varied and  give our pupils  an insight into their work place and the skills and qualities needed
• Ensure our curriculum offer  connects subject topics to real-world careers so pupils understand the relevance of their learning  to their future lives and choices

Key strategic objectives

1.  Over 2025-26, in line with ADP to devise a coherent, well-connected CRL and enterprise programme ready for September 2026 onwards
2.  In line with ADP 4.4, to build meaningful links with community groups, Wirral primaries and local businesses to enhance pupil participation and experiences
3. Over 2025-27, to develop the curriculum planning so that CRL is directly referred to in a meaningful way
4.  In line with ADP, during 2025-26 to ensure that aspirations of pupils are captured and that every pupil is baselined on the Trust SEND Skills Tracker and then subsequently annually

Strategic Development Plan

Strategic objective 1 :  Over 2025-26, in line with ADP to devise a coherent, well-connected CRL and enterprise programme ready for September 2026 onwards

Item

Area for development

Actions

Success criteria

Milestones  

Monitoring / responsibility  

1.1

Developing cohesive programme

Review opportunities that currently exist across the academy

Clear understanding of what is currently in place relating to CRL and gaps

November 2025 - audit with whole-academy

IB

Review PSCHE and Life Skills Curriculum

Clear understanding of what is currently in place relating to CRL and gaps

By February 2026 - review PSCHE and Life Skills

SJ

Take evidence and create draft strategy, consulting partners and staff

Clear draft strategy to consult with

April 2026 - draft strategy ready

IB / SJ

Finalise strategy

Final strategy formulated

June 2026 - final strategy ready

IB

Implement strategy

Strategy successfully implemented

2026-27 with reviews and checks and balances - implementation under way

All staff

Strategic objective 2 :  In line with ADP 4.4, to build meaningful links with community groups, Wirral primaries and local businesses to enhance pupil participation and experiences

2.1

Building links with key partners

Leaders build solid meaningful partnership with Wirral primaries to share ideas and CRL opportunities.

Rathbone take part in careers events during Spring and Summer 2026 with a full year programme planned for 2026-27

Regular meetings taking place with clear outcomes.

Rathbone have successfully taken part in Wirral events

Rathbone has a 2026-27 annual CRL programme ready

Half-termly meetings are taking place

Events that Rathbone can join in with made clear

Rathbone joins in with Spring and Summer 2026 events

Rathbone has a clear 2026-27 programme in place by July 2

IB

2.2

Harnessing community pioneer

Leaders embrace community pioneer and meet regularly to ensure that their role impacts on strategic priorities

Community Pioneer attends ACC meetings

Community Pioneer role is well-connected to ADP priorities

Attendance at ACC meetings

Emerging links with local businesses and social enterprises

Regular liaison meetings set up

List of partners and businesses

ACC meetings over year

IB

Strategic objective 3 : Over 2025-27, to develop the curriculum planning so that CRL is directly referred to in a meaningful way

3.1

Foundation subject curriculum planning includes CRL and careers awareness

HG to include CRL and careers opportunities for Spring 2026 planning, Summer 2026 planning and then Autumn 2026 planning; rolling on from there

Foundation subjects clearly refer to CRL and career opportunities

Pupils are better informed of CRL through their curriculum

Spring 2026 planning completed with CRL element clear.

Summer 2026 planning completed with CRL element clear.

Autumn 2026 planning completed with CRL element clear.

HG

3.2

Review PSCHE and Life Skills curriculum so that it includes CRL and next-step readiness

SJ / IB reviews relevant curricular for compliance and to see gaps in CRL input

SJ / IB plan to remedy gaps for 2026-27

Improved CRL offer through key subject areas

Pupils are better informed of CRL through their curriculum

Spring 2026 review undertaken

Spring 2026 gaps identified

Spring - Summer 2026 planning undertaken ready for Autumn 2026 to address gaps

SJ / IB

Strategic objective 4 :    In line with ADP, during 2025-26 to ensure that aspirations of pupils are captured and that every pupil is baselined on the Trust SEND Skills Tracker and then subsequently annually

4.1

Capturing aspirations

Devise a template for capturing pupil aspirations November 2025 and ask staff to complete - redo this annually

Clear understanding of pupil aspirations

Template created.

Template shared

Template completed

Template used and reviewed

IB

4.2

Baselining pupils CEIAG knowledge and skillset

Summer 2026 and then with new pupils Autumn 2026, baseline all pupils using Trust SEND skills tracker

Annually capture skills levels and use to re-inform CRL strategy and programme

Clear understanding of pupil skill levels

Annual CRL programme and strategy driven by pupil need and skill deficit

Arbor set up to capture skill level Spring 2026

Teachers baseline pupils from their knowledge

Data captured in simple format on arbor

September 2026, baselining data used to review strategy and approach for next year

IB