Careers

The Oxford Academy recognises that effective careers guidance contributes to raising aspirations, improving motivation and overcoming barriers to success.

We have a critical role to play in preparing our students for the next stage of their education or training and beyond. Our expectations are high and every student is challenged appropriately and acquires the knowledge, skills and attitudes for lifelong learning that employers’ value. This will help every young person to realise their potential and enhance their employability.

The careers programme is delivered through assemblies, PSHCE lessons, targeted workshops and sessions in tutor time. In addition, individual and/or group impartial career guidance meetings are arranged for all students in Years 11 and 13.

The careers programme also includes visits to universities for students across all year groups, employer visits and a trip to the Enterprise Oxfordshire Careers Fair. Tailored information is given to all Year 11 students about applying for an apprenticeship or to study at a local college.

Whilst in Sixth Form individual help is given to applying for university and degree apprenticeships as well as other post-18 work and training. Please click here for more information about our Sixth Form.

Motivational workshops and seminars are delivered by providers and partnership organisations such as IntoUniversity, Oxford Brookes University and Study Higher.

Careers information resources are available to all students in the school library. Work-related learning includes a work experience placement in Year 10 and again in Year 12. Work experience preparation and follow-up take place in assemblies and tutor time.

As a school we are working towards meeting the eight Gatsby benchmarks outlined in the government's Careers Strategy first published March 2015 and most recently updated August 2022.

For parents there is a fortnightly careers newsletter, TOA Futures, which is emailed direct to parents. Back issues can be found HERE.

Below is a link to our provider access policy.

CEIAG and Provider Access Policy (approved by IC Feb 2024) - reviewed September 2024

If you’re an employer and would like to get involved in our careers programme, or for anyone wanting more information about our careers programme, please contact our Careers Leader at careers@theoxfordacademy.org

• Link Governor for Careers: Judy Marsden.

• Careers lead in school: Michael O’Hanlon

  • Tel: 01865783237 (ext. 5010)

  • email: careers@theoxfordacademy.org

• Careers Administrator: Neil Jeffrey

Our careers policy is next up for review in June 2026.

Work Experience

We are delighted to announce that in-person work experience will be available to our Year 10 and Year 12 students this summer.

A work experience placement aims to give young people a taste of ‘The World of Work’ so that they may begin to appreciate the demands that will be made upon them when they enter employment. It can also help them to decide on which career path they’d like to take.

Each student will be expected to attempt to arrange their own placement with support from parents, relatives, friends and other contacts. We also encourage students to find their own placements by contacting employers directly.

All of our work experience documentation is processed by Unifrog and final checks are made by The Oxford Academy Careers Team. All year 10 and 12 students know how to log into their accounts. They are the students’ school email and their school password (unless they have changed it). Students are also  provided with a guide specifically designed to assist them to log placements on Unifrog

The dates for work experience this academic year are:

Year 10 – 6-10 July 2026

Year 12 – 6-10 July 2026

If you have any questions, please contact the Careers Leader, Michael o@Hanlon – michael.ohanlon@theoxfordacademy.org, or Neil Jeffery, Careers Administrator via neil.jeffery@theoxfordacademy.org