Sir James Smith’s Futures Curriculum Vision 

‘Our young people invest in their futures’ 

At Sir James Smith’s School, we run a broad and balanced careers curriculum known as ‘Futures@SJS’. This programme is designed to ensure that all of our students are ready to take their next steps in further education and into the changing world of work. We are committed to ensuring that our students can explore their own career aspirations and that they are able to successfully follow the path which best suits them by developing skills, attitudes and qualities to make the successful transition into their post-16 journeys. 

We are: 

Connected   Creative   Committed 

All students are Connected to the world of work. 

Encouraging Creativity in future decision-making. 

Committed to ensuring that our students leave SJS with a variety of pathways to choose from.

They are ‘Future ready’.

Key staff and Responsibilities 

Futures Strategic Lead – Miss J Hocking – jhocking@nclt.academy 

Futures Operational Lead – Mr B Langton – blangton@nclt.academy  

Provision 

Careers provision at Sir James Smith’s is mapped to address the national framework of eight benchmarks that define what world-class careers provision in education looks like. These benchmarks are: 

• A stable careers programme ​ 

• Learning from careers and labour market information ​ 

• Addressing the needs of each student

• Linking curriculum learning to careers

• Encounters with employers and employees

• Experiences of workplaces 

• Encounters with further and higher education

• Personal guidance

The provision is accessed by all of our students and runs through the school from years 7-11 with the following overviews: 

• Year 7 – Discover 

• Year 8 – Explore 

• Year 9 – Inquire 

• Year 10 – Immerse 

• Year 11 – Apply 

This is achieved through the different curriculum areas, tutor programme, events, visits and activities throughout the year. Our careers programme and progression framework can be found in the link below which includes the programme for each year group and how the impact of our programme is measured and reviewed.  

Futures@SJS Careers Programme and Progression Framework.pdf

Careers Education 

Our Futures curriculum is based upon the Careers Development Framework from the CDI and the six learning areas. 

Grow throughout life 

Explore possibilities 

Manage careers 

Create Opportunities 

Balance life and work 

See the big picture 

Careers Advice and Guidance 

Career advice and guidance is viewed as an ongoing level of support for students at Sir James Smith’s. The Careers team works closely with the Pastoral Team, Tutors and curriculum subject teachers in order to secure the best outcomes for our students. The Careers team supports the Year 9 Option Process. Careers advice is always available at in-person Curriculum Evenings in Years 9 – 11.  In Year 10 students will develop their knowledge and understanding of what their own personal journey might look like post-16 and to facilitate this we work with Careers4U to provide 1-1 careers guidance meetings to every child in year 10. This is then followed in the summer term by an applications evening where we are joined by both local and national post-16 providers. Following a short presentation, students and their parents are welcome to speak to each provider and discuss their application process.  

Work Experience 

All students in year 10 are supported to participate in the Work Experience placement. This is a valuable opportunity for students to sample the world of work and to gain an insight into life outside the classroom.  For more information on Work Experience at SJS, please visit the Work Experience page. 

This year's Work Experience takes place on Monday 7th July – Friday 11th July 2025. 

Online Platforms 

To support our careers programme, all our staff and students have access to Unifrog, an online package which we use to support our students in exploring their post-16 options and make informed choices about their future pathways. It provides a central hub for students to research universities, colleges and apprenticeships as well as other training opportunities. 

Who do we work with? 

We are proud to work with many providers here at Sir James Smith’s. These include, Cornwall Council, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Careers Hub, Careers4U, Callywith College, Cornwall College, Truro and Penwith Colleges, the armed forces, Falmouth University, Step in2 Learning, Environment Agency, SANKO.  

We are always looking to work with providers and businesses to build our students' knowledge of post-16 opportunities and the world of work. If this is something which you can support us with, please do not hesitate to get in touch. 

Provider Access Legislation (PAL) 

Sir James Smith’s school is committed to ensuring that students from years 7-11 have access to information and meaningful encounters with various post-16 education and training options, including apprenticeships and technical education.