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Employability Programme

Exam results provide one piece of the education jigsaw. But successful employers look for personal qualities too, such as attitude, confidence, worldliness, trainability, teamwork and vocational aptitude.

These attributes we bring under the umbrella of our valued employability programme, which shapes all aspects of our curriculum and school life, for children of all ages.

We have established a suite of six Employability Benchmarks that set out how academies within our Trust ensure that:

  1. Employability and knowledge of work is embedded throughout the curriculum
  2. Students are exposed meaningfully to employers and the world of work
  3. Students develop their emotional intelligence and leadership attributes
  4. Students have high aspirations, a sense of responsibility, and self-belief
  5. Each academy benefits from a thriving network of successful alumni
  6. Each academy benefits from effective careers leadership and management

We provide a detailed set of criteria at ‘bronze’, ‘silver’ and ‘gold’ levels to support ongoing progression towards excellence in each benchmark.

At David Nieper Academy, for example, employability and knowledge of work is embedded throughout the curriculum, with students enjoying lots of opportunities to interact with employers and the world of work.

Find out more about the employability programme at the David Nieper Academy. 

We are now working with our primary staff to develop similar opportunities for younger students, such as enhancing our popular Year 2 and Year 5 Enterprise Days, and focusing on new ways to develop skills such as teamwork, problem-solving and presentation.


Stonebroom primary nursery school 215

Employer partners

All our academies benefit from our strong team of Employer Partners who are committed to supporting local children to develop the skills and personal qualities needed to thrive in the 21st century workplace.

.    Denby Pottery | Dinner Sets, Tableware, Cookware & Glassware.      Bowmer + Kirkland | Leading UK Construction & Development Group      Places for People Career Site
Owen Taylor Local | Online Butcher | Meat Delivery MidlandsImage

Our employer partners are increasingly involved in Academy life through, for example, our Enterprise Week, special challenges such as the Denby Pottery Challenge, and through careers events such as interview skills training.

Our current employer partners include:

  • David Nieper Ltd
  • Owen Taylor & Sons Ltd
  • The Denby Pottery Company Ltd  
  • Places Leisure
  • Equip Outdoor Technologies UK
  • Bowmer & Kirkland Ltd

Find out how to join our team of employer partners.

As a member of Christopher Nieper Education Trust, you will have access to our employer partners who can support projects with children and students of all ages.

Click here to join our partners