Careers & Enterprise

At Harris Academy Merton, we deliver a careers programme that is ambitious, structured and rooted in real-world outcomes. Our aim is simple: every student leaves us with the knowledge, confidence and direction to succeed in their chosen pathway.

Our Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) programme is fully aligned with the Gatsby Benchmarks and embedded across the curriculum. Careers are not an add-on, they are built into lessons, assemblies and enrichment, ensuring students consistently understand how their learning connects to future opportunities.

We are proud that our careers provision has been nationally recognised. Harris Academy Merton has achieved the Quality in Careers Standard, reflecting the strength and impact of our whole-school approach to careers education and our alignment with the Gatsby Benchmarks.

This achievement marks an important milestone as we now move towards full accreditation, continuing to refine and strengthen our provision over the next three years.

Careers Weeks – Three Times a Year

A standout feature of our programme is our three Careers Weeks, strategically delivered across the academic year. These are not token events, they are high-impact, carefully planned experiences that give every student direct exposure to the world beyond school.

Across the year, students will:

Hear from employers, universities and apprenticeship providers
Take part in workshops and keynote assemblies
Engage in small-group sessions where they can ask questions and receive feedback
Explore different industries and pathways in a meaningful, structured way

These weeks ensure that every student has multiple, high-quality encounters with employers and education providers, not just one-off experiences.

Meaningful Encounters. Not Box-Ticking.

We prioritise quality over quantity. Students regularly engage with employers and professionals in ways that are interactive and impactful, whether through mock interviews, industry workshops or direct conversations with people working in roles they aspire to.

Our partnerships include organisations across sectors such as construction, healthcare, finance, law and the public sector, ensuring students gain exposure to a broad and realistic view of the labour market.

Personalised, Data-Driven Support

Our careers programme is intelligently targeted. We use a cohort careers tracker, combining:

Compass+ Future Skills survey data
Student confidence and aspiration data
Academic performance

This allows us to:

Identify gaps in knowledge and confidence
Provide targeted interventions for specific groups of students
Tailor opportunities to individual interests and needs

Students don’t receive generic advice, they receive guidance that is relevant, personalised and actionable.

Preparing Students for Real Outcomes

We ensure students understand all pathways available to them, including:

University (including Russell Group and competitive courses)
Apprenticeships and higher apprenticeships
Technical and vocational routes
Direct employment pathways

Through a combination of structured guidance, meaningful encounters and high expectations, we ensure students are not just informed, but ready to take their next step with confidence.