Educational Diversity: Provider Access Policy Statement
(To include The Department of Education, July 2021: “Baker Clause” and the Provider Access
Legislation, January 2023)
Ownership: Educational Diversity
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
Educational Diversity 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. Educational Diversity 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.
Educational Diversity 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
The Educational Diversity’s 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
Educational Diversity 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 National Apprenticeship
Week and National Careers Week activities, in addition to providers attending careers events at
school.
Development
This policy has been developed and is reviewed annually by the Careers Leader and Line Manager
(Victoria O’Farrell) 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. Educational Diversity 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 Vivien Counsell-Thomas, Careers Leader. Vivien may be
contacted by telephone or email, Vivien.counsell-thomas@eddiversity.blackpool.sch.uk, Tel:
07827983387.
Grounds for granting requests for access
Access will be given for providers to attend timetabled Careers sessions and Careers or Raising
Aspirations events that Educational Diversity is arranging. Students may also travel to visit another
provider as part of the delivery.
Details of premises or facilities to be provided to a person who is given access
Educational Diversity will provide an appropriate room to be agreed. All rooms have computers,
projectors and screens provided. Computer rooms can also be arranged. The Careers Leader 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 school staff who will facilitate.
Live/Virtual encounters
Educational Diversity 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 her senior management
line manager.
Complaints Procedure
Any complaints about this policy should be raised to Vivien Counsell-Thomas, email: Vivien.counsell-
thomas@eddiversity.blackpool.sch.uk
Vivien Counsell-Thomas will raise the complaint to Victoria O’Farrell, Headteacher of Educational
Diversity.
Monitoring review and evaluation
The Policy is monitored and evaluated annually via the Management Committee.
Policy Coordinator: Vivien Counsell-Thomas
Policy Reviewed: June 2024
Appendix
Providers who have been invited into Educational Diversity to date include:
Blackpool and the Fylde College
Blackpool Football Club
Blackpool Sixth Form
Edge Hill University
Myerscough College
Preston College
Rosscon
Skills Academy
Skills Construction