This whole-school approach is helping Walkden’s careers programme go from strength to strength, with progress against the Gatsby Benchmarks comfortably exceeding both Salford and national averages.

Careers education is built around the individual needs of students, with every member of staff playing a role in supporting their aspirations. Whether through subject-specific careers links or conversations during tutor time, students are encouraged to understand how their learning connects to the world beyond school.

Building skills for the future

Walkden is also taking part in a Trust pilot to embed the Skills Builder Universal Framework, which focuses on eight essential skills for life and work.

The framework helps students recognise and develop the skills they will need throughout their education and future careers, giving them a better understanding of how their strengths can be applied beyond the classroom.

The academy has also made meaningful external work experience a key part of its careers programme, with an impressive 95% of students taking part.

These opportunities allow students to experience different working environments, meet employers and develop a better understanding of the world of work. Walkden has prioritised high-value external work experience ahead of the Department for Education’s statutory careers guidance requirements, which came into effect in June 2026.

Supporting positive destinations

The impact of this work can be seen in Walkden’s destination data, with less than 1% of students classed as NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training), compared with a national average of approximately 5%.

A key part of this success is the detailed work of Assistant Principal and Careers Lead Kate Walker and Careers Coordinator Vicky Fletcher, alongside the wider academy team.

Regular aspiration audits help Walkden understand what students want to achieve and ensure its careers programme continues to meet their needs.

By bringing careers education into the wider life of the academy, Walkden is helping students see the connection between what they do today and what they might go on to achieve in the future.

Through classroom learning, skills development, employer engagement and real-world work experience, students are being given the knowledge, confidence and experience to make informed choices about their next steps.

At Co-op Academy Walkden, students are encouraged to be ambitious, curious and confident about their futures. Through meaningful experiences, developing essential skills and support from colleagues across the academy, students are given the opportunity to understand themselves, explore what is possible and take positive steps towards their future.