New Legal Duty: Access to Providers of Technical Education and Apprenticeships (Baker Clause)
Rationale
High quality careers education and guidance in school or college is critical to young people’s futures. It helps prepare them for the workplace by providing a clear understanding of the world of work, including the routes to jobs and careers that they might find engaging and rewarding.
It supports students to acquire the self-development and career management skills they need to achieve positive employment destinations. This helps students to choose their pathways, improve their life opportunities and contribute to a productive and successful economy.
As the number of apprenticeships rises every year, it becomes increasingly important that all young people have a full understanding of the options available to them post-16 and post-18. This includes wider technical education routes such as T Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications.
Student Entitlement
Schools are required to provide the following encounters with providers of technical education and apprenticeships:
First Key Phase (Year 8 or Year 9)
Two encounters that are mandatory for all pupils to attend.
These will take place:
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At any time during Year 8, or
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Between 1 September and 28 February during Year 9
Second Key Phase (Year 10 or Year 11)
Two encounters that are mandatory for all pupils to attend.
These will take place:
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At any time during Year 10, or
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Between 1 September and 28 February during Year 11
Third Key Phase (Year 12 or Year 13)
Two encounters that are mandatory for the school to provide but optional for students to attend.
These will take place:
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At any time during Year 12, or
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Between 1 September and 28 February during Year 13
Commitment
Wilmslow High School fully supports these statutory requirements. We recognise our responsibility to set students on the path that will secure the best outcomes, enabling them to progress in education and employment while supporting employers to access highly skilled individuals.
This means acting impartially in line with statutory duties and not showing bias towards any route, whether academic or technical.
We will endeavour to ensure that all students are aware of all routes to higher-level skills and can access information about technical options and apprenticeships (Department for Education, July 2021: “Baker Clause: supporting students to understand the full range of education and training options” and the Provider Access Legislation, January 2023).
The school will enable providers, including Independent Training Providers (ITPs), to access students in Years 8 to 13. Providers will inform students about the varied career options available, the courses and qualifications they offer, and what each option entails.
These encounters will take place before 28 February each year to ensure consistency within the curriculum and to support students in Years 9, 11 and 13 with important decision-making points.
This will allow:
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Students to consider how studying or training in different ways and environments might suit their skills, interests and aptitudes
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Every student to build a full picture of available options at key transition points
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Students to hear directly from providers about alternatives to academic and school-based routes
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Better informed choices and reduced risk of dropping out of courses
Development and Management
This policy has been developed and is reviewed annually by the Careers Leader (Mrs Cook) and Line Manager (Mr Spence), based on current good practice guidelines from the Department for Education.
Links with Other Policies
This policy supports and is underpinned by key school policies, including:
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Careers
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Child Protection
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Equality and Diversity
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SEND
Equality and Diversity
Access to other providers is available and promoted to allow all students to gain information about further education and apprenticeship opportunities.
Wilmslow High School is committed to ensuring that all students make decisions about their future based on impartial and comprehensive information.
Providing Access
Requests for access should be directed to Mrs Cook (Careers Leader).
Email: hcook@wilmslowhigh.com
Telephone: 01625 441090
Providers of approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships have opportunities to visit the school to speak with students in Years 8 to 13.
This includes visits from:
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Further Education Colleges
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University Technical Colleges
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Apprenticeship and technical training providers, including Independent Training Providers
The school will make provider visits available to all students in the relevant year group. These visits will normally take place during:
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Personal Development lessons (fortnightly Tuesday mornings, 9:05am – 10:05am)
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Registration time (daily, 8:45am – 9:05am)
The school also promotes different pathways through:
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National Apprenticeship Week
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National Careers Week
Students may also travel to visit other education providers where appropriate.
The school also welcomes providers offering academic routes, including sixth forms, tertiary colleges and higher education institutions. This ensures students develop a full understanding of the education and training options available beyond school.
Facilities for Providers
The school will provide an appropriate room or assembly space for presentations and events.
Facilities include:
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Computers
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Projectors
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Screens
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Access to computer rooms where appropriate
The Careers Leader will organise arrangements in collaboration with providers to ensure the facilities are suitable for the audience.
All safeguarding procedures will be followed in line with school and Department for Education policies. Providers will be met and supervised by a member of the Careers Team during their visit.
Live and Virtual Encounters
Where appropriate, the school will consider live online encounters with providers.
These may be broadcast into classrooms or the school assembly hall. Technology checks will be carried out in advance to ensure compatibility of systems.
The school may also organise larger events, such as annual assemblies for entire year groups, where multiple providers present information on further education or apprenticeship opportunities.
Previous Providers
Providers who have previously supported the school include:
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Macclesfield College
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Stockport College
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Reaseheath College
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The Manchester College
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Conlons Construction
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Manchester Metropolitan University
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Bennett Verby Accountants and Business Advisers
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Savills Real Estate
Representatives of Providers
Individuals acting on behalf of a provider may represent or accompany the provider where they are well placed to engage and inform students about available opportunities.
The school will consider such requests and consent will not be withheld unreasonably.
The school may consult resources such as Amazing Apprenticeships and the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers when selecting organisations to invite.
The school may also work with programmes such as:
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Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge for Schools (ASK) – delivering free apprenticeship and traineeship information for students in Years 10–13
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Jobcentre Plus Support for Schools – providing careers support for students in Years 8–13
Refusing Access
Access may be refused if:
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The provision does not meet the standards that Wilmslow High School wishes to promote
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The provision presents unnecessary risk or danger to health
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The provision does not align with the school’s ethos and values
Complaints Procedure
Any complaints should be raised with:
Mr Vincent
Deputy Headteacher: Personal Development and Community
Email: mvincent@wilmslowhigh.com
Mr Vincent will raise the complaint with:
Mrs Kane
Headteacher
Email: ckane@wilmslowhigh.com
Monitoring, Review and Evaluation
This policy is monitored and evaluated annually by the Careers Leader and the Extended Leadership Team.
Policy Coordinator: Mrs Cook
Policy Reviewed: July 2025
Next Review Date: July 2026