We are proud of the careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) we give our students. They are encouraged to have high aspirations for their futures and are supported through a programme of learning, skills development, engagement with employers and one-to-one mentoring.
Our impressive programme of CEIAG opportunities is continually developing. We work in partnership with organisations such as Inspira and Hello Future to provide a wide range of support to help students plan for the future. They can also explore the wider world of opportunities using Start Profiles.
Guidance for Parents/Carers
Green Careers Guidance
In Year 7 & 8 you will get the chance to explore key employability skills through PSHE lessons and you will also have assemblies from local employers. Your teachers will start to link your learning with careers.
In Year 9, you will continue to learn important skills through your broader learning. Importantly, you will start to make your Year 9 Options. Before you make these decisions, you will complete a series of activities with your tutor, exploring your ambitions and aspirations for the future.
In Year 10, your GCSE/L2 learning will have only just started, but you will be encouraged to think about what you might want to do at the end of Year 11. You will have meetings with a careers advisor and we will support you in organising your own work experience. You will also interact with employers, Higher Education, Further Education and apprenticeship providers.
Year 11 is an important year. You will complete your GCSEs and make decisions about where to continue your education, post-16. We will make sure you have all the information and support you need to realise your ambitions.
In the Sixth Form, you will have plenty of opportunities to further your careers learning and find out about the options you have to continue your education post-18. You will have input from a range of universities and higher level apprenticeship providers. The Sixth Form team will work closely with you, supporting your applications for university and other destinations.
The Gatsby Benchmarks are the measure of a school’s CEIAG provision.
On a termly basis we review our CEIAG provision with Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership. Our most recent self-evaluation of the Gatsby Benchmarks is below.
As part of the CEIAG programme, all Year 10 and 12 students take part in a week’s work experience, the aim of which is to encourage them to develop a greater awareness of the world of work. Alongside this, students in Year 10 participate in a ‘ready for work’ interview day with representatives of local businesses and other members of the wider school community. At the end of the year they also take part in a Futures Fair, where they can interact further with a range of local employers, apprenticeship providers, colleges and higher education establishments. There is further information about provider access in the employers section.
Additionally, students in all year groups can participate in a range of extra-curricular activities, run by the subject departments, many of which encourage them to consider their future options. Please contact Mr Moss or Mrs Jones for more information.
Year 9 Options
Year 9 options mark an important milestone in a student’s learning. The options process at UCC is designed to guide students into making decisions that are right for them, allowing them to succeed to the highest possible level in Key Stage 4 and pursuing their aspirations and ambitions.
Exploring the world of work is an important part of this process and we strongly advise that students spend time researching their courses, what they can lead to and how they fit into their future plans. Start Profiles is a great source of information as well as iCould. Students will use these as part of a tailored Careers Education programme in Year 9, but can also access them independently using the links towards the top of this page.
Year 9 Options Booklet 2026
Submit Your Options
16+ Options
Throughout Key Stage 4 students are provided with a range of opportunities to meaningfully engage in learning about the options that are available to them at the end of Key Stage 4. Our aim is to provide students with information and advice that allows them to make informed, balanced decisions about the next steps in their education.
Using Start Profile to explore the range of courses available will be an important part of this decision-making process along with 1 to 1 interviews with teachers and a range of assemblies which outline different pathways. All students get to get find out what the UCC Sixth Form has to offer through options events, speed-dating events with current sixth formers and sample lessons. We work closely with local colleges and apprenticeship providers to ensure that the full range of opportunities is explained to students.
UCC Sixth Prospectus 2026
Labour Market Information
Labour Market Information is key to understanding how the economy is changing and what this means for you in the future.
In the card shown, search for jobs you are interested in and find out information about salaries and trends in employment in these careers.
For guidance on how to use labour market information, click here.