Careers
Derbyshire Local Offer
Information for young people & children with SEND, families and professionals. Find out more information here.
Careers programme information
Aims & Vision of Careers Education at Ashgate Croft School
Careers at Ashgate Croft is defined as ‘Any activity which furthers the knowledge, understanding, skill or experience with the purpose of leading to life enhancing outcome, including improving the possibility & probability of working in a range of settings.’
We aim to ensure a high quality of vocational and careers education for all our students, to be delivered in a meaningful and appropriate way for their needs and circumstances.
Through person centred planning with the Education, Health & Care (EHCP) plans at the centre, we support all our students to articulate their aspirations for adult life, including community inclusion, independence, their aspiration to work and promoting their physical and mental health. This also includes adults around our students, knowing the individual and their needs.
Our school vision is for all our students to become as independent as they can be and to be prepared for adulthood. We aim to give them every opportunity to reach their full potential whether that is to continue in further education, employment, or independent living.
Community Connectors
Community Connectors is service designed for adults of any age and young people from the age of 14 years with a learning disability and/or who are autistic. It is not a training provider, but by working with young people to build confidence, social networking, functional skills and independence skills during the 12-week program, Community Connectors can also help young people find the right course/college or activity to meet a young person’s needs. The Community Connector may visit your school and meet with staff or parents. Please see attached leaflet.
Aims & Vision of Careers Education at Ashgate Croft School
Careers at Ashgate Croft is defined as
‘Any activity which furthers the knowledge, understanding, skill or experience with the purpose of leading to life enhancing outcome, including improving the possibility & probability of working in a range of settings.’
We aim to ensure a high quality of vocational and careers education for all our students, to be delivered in a meaningful and appropriate way for their needs and circumstances.
Through person centred planning with the Education, Health & Care (EHCP) plans at the centre, we support all our students to articulate their aspirations for adult life, including community inclusion, independence, their aspiration to work and promoting their physical and mental health. This also includes adults around our students, knowing the individual and their needs.
Our school vision is for all our students to become as independent as they can be and to be prepared for adulthood. We aim to give them every opportunity to reach their full potential whether that is to continue in further education, employment, or independent living.
The Impact of Schools Careers Programme
The careers lead in school updates the Compass Pass assessment tool 3 times a year to assess progress within the Gatsby Benchmarks. This information can be found on our website under ‘Compass Careers Benchmark Tool’. We also complete an impact report during each summer term, which can be found under the ‘Careers policies and documentation’ on the website.
Compass Careers Benchmark Tool
Parent/Carer Involvement
We work in partnership with parents/carers and other agencies to ensure that students are supported holistically in their development. We do this by the use of newsletters, parent/carer evenings, coffee mornings, school website, and whole school events, we share information about open days and careers fairs to help inform the decision-making process.
We inform parent/carers of opportunities which will enrich, enhance and add to the curriculum offered at Ashgate Croft, including open days, activities and events. We remind our parents/carers that with the right support, many young people with SEND can find paid work and be supported to live independently and participate in leading a full and active role in their community.
- Ashgate Croft School Careers lead and work experience co-ordinator – Richard Windle – acsrwindle@learnerstrust.org
- Member of Leadership Team responsible for Careers – Georgia Middlebrook (Assistant Head – Upper School) – acsgmiddlebrook@learnerstrust.org
- Ashgate Croft independent careers adviser – Karen Flint (DEBP)
Whats Next? SEND Event
What’s Next? SEND Event
The annual ‘What’s Next’ SEND Event will once again return in early Spring 2026. The day event is open to young people and their families who are ‘preparing for adulthood’ from Ashgate Croft and the local SEND school community. The event is well attended by local colleges, day services, health & social care and other providers, giving opportunity for the attendees to gather information and ask any questions they may have on Post-16 options and support into adulthood.
Further information will be circulated to parents in January 2026.
Landmarks College Open Days
Landmarks College are holding a number of open days in February 2025, please see the link below for full details.
Year 9, 10 and Year 11 ‘Preparing for Adulthood’ Information Evening
On Monday Feb 9th 2026, Richard Windle (Head of Post-16 & Careers ) will host an information evening at school for parents & carers of pupils currently in Y9, Y10 & Y11. The evening will inform parents/ carers of the pathways and choices for their child when transitioning into Post-16 education and will provide an opportunity to answer any questions that families may have around the transition.
Further information and how to attend will be circulated to parents/carers in January 2026.
Year 12 and Year 13 Transition Information Evening
On Monday 20th April 2026 Richard Windle (Head of Post 16 & Careers) will host an information evening at school for parents & carers of Y12 & Y13 pupils. The evening will aim to inform parents & carers of the pathways and choices for their child when transitioning to life after school. The event will also outline the other external professionals who can offer support to your child when moving into adulthood.