Evaluation and Impact of our Careers Programme

Evaluating the impact of our careers programme is central to our commitment to continuous improvement and ensuring that all students are supported to achieve positive destinations beyond Priory. We use a range of data, feedback and evaluation tools to assess the effectiveness of our provision, identify areas for development and ensure that our careers programme meets the needs of all students.

We work closely with the Local Authority to monitor and report student destinations data, which is also shared with our governors. This enables us to identify students who may be at risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training) and provide timely, targeted intervention.

Our current destinations data shows that 91.9% of leavers meet the Raising the Participation Age (RPA) requirement in 2025, exceeding the Portsmouth average. Notably, 100% of disadvantaged leavers meet the RPA requirement in 2025, demonstrating our commitment to supporting equitable outcomes for all students.

Our IDSR data also shows that the proportion of students sustained in education increased from 82% in 2022 to 89% in 2023. The proportion remaining in education or employment for two terms is in line with national figures.

We use Compass+ and On Track+ to identify students who may be at risk of becoming NEET at an early stage. Working collaboratively with our pastoral and SEND teams, we provide coordinated, individualised support to address barriers, strengthen engagement and help students progress into suitable education, employment or training pathways.

We also work closely with our Trust Careers Leader and relevant local and regional partners to review our provision, identify strengths and areas for development, and access further support where needed.

Our careers programme is subject to regular review to ensure that it remains effective, inclusive and responsive to students’ needs.

• Gatsby Benchmark evaluation: We formally assess our progress against all eight Gatsby Benchmarks each term using the Compass evaluation tool, as part of our partnership with the Careers and Enterprise Company.
• Governor oversight: Our nominated Careers Governor receives annual updates on the careers programme, including its impact, effectiveness and value for money. The Local Governing Body holds school leaders to account for the quality and effectiveness of careers provision and its outcomes for all students.
• Student and employer feedback: We gather feedback from students and employers to evaluate the quality and relevance of careers activities, inform future planning and identify opportunities to strengthen our provision.
• Continuous improvement: Evaluation findings, destination data and stakeholder feedback are used to identify priorities, refine our provision and ensure that our careers programme continues to develop in line with the needs of our students and the opportunities available to them.

Through this ongoing cycle of evaluation, collaboration and improvement, we aim to ensure that every student leaves Priory equipped to make informed decisions and progress confidently towards a positive and sustainable future.