CAREERS PROGRAMME
Preparing Every Pupil for Their Future
At Rainhill High School and RH6, careers education is an important part of preparing young people for life beyond school.
Our careers programme begins in Year 7 and develops progressively through to Year 13, helping pupils understand the opportunities available to them, connect their learning with the world beyond school and make informed and ambitious choices about their future.
Through careers education, employer and workplace experiences, encounters with further and higher education, technical and apprenticeship providers, labour-market information and impartial personal guidance, pupils develop the knowledge, confidence and experience to navigate their next steps successfully.
Our programme is informed by the eight Gatsby Benchmarks and statutory careers guidance for schools and colleges.
Destinations
The ultimate purpose of our careers programme is to help pupils progress successfully to appropriate and ambitious next steps.
Our latest destination information shows that Rainhill pupils overwhelmingly make successful transitions after Year 11.
Positive Participation
Rainhill pupils participated in education, employment with training or an apprenticeship following Year 11.
Rainhill's participation rate was above the St Helens figure.
The 2025 Year 11 Activity Survey also shows that Rainhill's participation rate has remained above the St Helens figure in each of the last three Activity Surveys.
Where Our 2025 Leavers Progressed
Longer-term published data provides further evidence of successful transition. 93% of Rainhill's 2023 KS4 cohort sustained education, employment or an apprenticeship, compared with 91.6% nationally. This included 86% sustaining education, 4% an apprenticeship and 4% employment.
Together, these measures show that almost all Rainhill pupils progress to positive next steps and the great majority sustain them.
View Our Latest Destinations & Outcomes →Our Careers Entitlement
Throughout their time at Rainhill, pupils have planned opportunities to explore possibilities, understand different pathways and prepare successfully for their future.
Explore Careers
Understand local, regional and national careers and labour-market information.
Connect Learning
Understand how subjects, knowledge and curriculum learning connect with future careers.
Meet Employers
Encounter employers and employees from a range of sectors.
Experience Workplaces
Take part in workplace and work-related learning experiences.
Understand Pathways
Encounter further education, higher education, apprenticeships and technical education.
Use Unifrog
Explore careers, courses, universities, apprenticeships and future pathways.
Prepare for Applications
Develop skills for applications, interviews and future employment.
Receive Personal Guidance
Access independent and impartial careers information, advice and guidance.
Receive Additional Support
Access personalised support where this is needed to make a successful transition.
The Careers Journey
Careers education develops progressively throughout a young person's time at Rainhill and RH6.
Exploring Possibilities
Pupils begin exploring the world of work and the breadth of opportunities available to them.
They learn about different careers, challenge stereotypes, begin using careers and labour-market information and make connections between their subjects, interests, skills and future possibilities.
Making Informed Choices
Careers education supports pupils as they begin making important decisions about their future.
They explore different pathways and qualifications, encounter employers and education providers and receive support to make informed and ambitious curriculum choices for Competitive Edge.
Preparing for the Next Step
Pupils explore post-16 routes including A levels, vocational and technical education, apprenticeships and employment pathways.
Employer encounters, workplace experiences, applications and impartial careers guidance help pupils prepare confidently for transition beyond Year 11.
Progressing Beyond Rainhill
Within RH6, students prepare for university, higher and degree apprenticeships, employment and other post-18 pathways.
They receive increasingly individualised support with research, applications and transition.
Personal Guidance & Individual Needs
We want every pupil to be able to make informed, ambitious and realistic decisions about their future.
Pupils have access to independent and impartial personal careers guidance through Careers Connect advisers, alongside support from the school's Careers Team.
We recognise that pupils' circumstances and starting points differ. Where appropriate, careers provision is adapted and additional support provided, including for pupils with SEND, disadvantaged pupils and those who may need additional help with transition.
We work with pupils, families and relevant professionals to identify barriers, raise aspirations and ensure pupils understand the full range of opportunities available to them.
High Aspiration. Informed Choice. Appropriate Support.
Every pupil should understand the opportunities available to them and feel equipped to make confident decisions about their next step.
Explore Possibilities. Build Confidence. Take the Next Step.
Our careers programme helps pupils and students develop the knowledge, experience and confidence to progress successfully beyond Rainhill.
