Provider Access Students in years 8-11 are entitled:  

• To find out about Local colleges and Universities about their opportunities at age 16 and 18  To find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point.  
• To hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships – through options evenings, assemblies, group discussions and taster events.  

To understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses. A provider wanting to request access should contact Mr T Hastings, Assistant Headteacher at deerpark@deerparksecondary.org or 01489351100

A number of events, integrated into the Schools Careers programme, will offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to students and/or their parents. Please see our careers ladder for more information on our careers events or speak to our Careers Leader to identify the most suitable opportunity for you. 

The School policy on safeguarding sets out the School’s approach to allowing providers into School as visitors to talk to our students. Providers are welcome to leave a copy of their prospectus or other relevant course literature which is managed by the School Librarian. The Resource Centre will be available to all students at lunch and break times. 

Premises and Facilities 

The school will make the main hall, classrooms or private meeting rooms available for discussions between the provider and students, as appropriate to the activity. The School will also make available AV and other specialist equipment to support provider presentations. This will all be discussed and agreed in advance of the visit with the Careers Leader or a member of their team.

Deer Park Secondary School: Provider Access Policy Statement 

(To include The Department of Education, July 2021: “Baker Clause” and the Provider Access Legislation, January 2023)

Ownership:  Deer Park Secondary/RAISE Education Trust

Date updated: May 2025

Rationale

High quality careers education and guidance in school or college is critical to young people’s futures. It helps to 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 them 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 all the options available to them post-16 and post-18 including wider technical education options such as T-Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications.

Commitment 

Deer Park Secondary School is committed to ensuring there is an opportunity for a range of education and training providers to access students, for the purpose of informing them about approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships. Deer Park Secondary School is fully aware of the responsibility to set students on the path that will secure the best outcome which will enable them to progress in education and work and give employers the highly skilled people they need. That means acting impartially, in line with the statutory duty, and not showing bias towards any route, be that academic or technical. 

Deer Park Secondary School endeavours to ensure that all students are aware of all routes to higher skills and are able to access information on technical options and apprenticeships (The Department of Education, July 2021: “Baker Clause”: supporting students to understand the full range of education and training options, and the Provider Access Legislation, January 2023).

Aims 

Deer Park Secondary School policy for Access to other education and training providers has the following aims: 

To develop the knowledge and awareness of our students of all career pathways available to them, including technical qualifications and apprenticeships. 

To support young people to be able to learn more about opportunities for education and training outside of school before making crucial choices about their future options. 

To reduce drop out from courses and avoid the risk of students becoming NEET (Young people not in education, employment or training).

Student Entitlement 

Deer Park Secondary School fully supports the statutory requirement for students to have direct access to other providers of further education training, technical training and apprenticeships.  The school will comply with the new legal requirement to put on at least six encounters with providers of approved technical education qualifications or apprenticeships. This will be done in assemblies in National Apprenticeship Week and National Careers Week, in addition to providers attending careers events at school or at each Trust school.  

Development 

This policy has been developed and is reviewed annually by the Careers Leader and Line Manager (Mr Hastings - Assistant Headteacher) based on current good practice guidelines by the Department for Education. 

Links with other policies 

It supports and is underpinned by key school policies including those for Careers, Child Protection, Equality and Diversity, and SEND.

Equality and Diversity 

Access to other providers is available and promoted to allow all students to access information about other providers of further education and apprenticeships. Deer Park Secondary School is committed to encouraging all students to make decisions about their future based on impartial information. 

Requests for access

Requests for access should be directed to Mr Hastings - Assistant Headteacher, Careers Leader.  

deerpark@deerparksecondary.org or 01489351100

Grounds for granting requests for access

Access will be given for providers to attend during school assemblies, timetabled Careers or Life lessons, and Careers or Raising Aspirations events that Deer Park Secondary School is arranging. Students may also travel to visit another provider as part of the trip to be organised in partnership with RAISE Education Trust

Details of premises or facilities to be provided to a person who is given access

Deer Park Secondary School will provide an appropriate room or assembly hall to be agreed. All rooms have computers, projectors and screens provided. Computer rooms can also be arranged. The Careers Leader or Careers Adviser will organise this, working closely with the provider to ensure the facilities are appropriate to the audience.  Appropriate safeguarding checks will be carried out.  Providers will be met and supervised by a member of the Careers Team who will facilitate.

Live/Virtual encounters

Deer Park Secondary School will consider live online encounters with providers where requested, and these may be broadcast into classrooms or the school assembly hall. Technology checks in advance will be required to ensure compatibility of systems. 

Parents and Carers 

Parental involvement is encouraged, and parents may be invited to attend the events to meet the providers. 

Management 

The Careers Leader coordinates all provider requests and is responsible to his/her senior management line manager. 

Complaints Procedure

Any complaints about this policy should be raised to Mr Hastings , email:  deerpark@deerparksecondary.org

Mr Hastings will raise the complaint to Mr Jones (Headteacher)

Monitoring review and evaluation 

The Policy is monitored and evaluated annually via the Senior Leadership Team. 

Policy Coordinator: Mr Jones Headteacher 

Policy Reviewed: May 2025

Appendix 

Providers who have been invited into Deer Park Secondary School  to date include: 

Below provided as an example

Barton Peveril College

Peter Symonds College

Totton College

PETA 

SETA

South Hampshire College Group

Destinations of previous pupils from Deer Park: 

(To be updated September 2026)