Careers Advisor

Smith's Wood Academy, Birmingham, West Midlands, B36 0UE

15 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  5 January 2027

• Closing date

  25 November 2026 at 9am

• Date listed

  10 November 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Other support role
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: 30868 - £31912 actual salary ( based on Term Time plus 2 weeks) + Recruitment and Retention Allowance of up to £5000

Careers Advisor job summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed Careers Advisor to join our team at Smith's Wood Academy. Smith’s Wood Academy is a large academy with just over 900 students from Year 7 to Year 11. Located in the north of Solihull, the academy serves students who live in the immediate locality.

This is a full-time position working term time plus two weeks. We are committed to supporting flexible working and would be happy to discuss alternative / part time working arrangements with suitable candidates.

The role also has a Recruitment and Retention Allowance of £5000 for the right candidate.

Our recent Ofsted inspection shows we have improved in all areas. Leadership, attendance and behaviour, inclusion, personal development and wellbeing were all graded ‘expected standard’ and we are committed to building on this success.  The Ofsted visit in January 2026 found that Smith's Wood Academy is the most improved school in England- after a dramatic and fast paced turnaround.

Key points from the report included that

"Staff know that their wellbeing and professional development matters deeply to leaders: They value the training that they receive and the opportunities that they have to pursue leaderships qualifications. Leaders have ensured that staff and pupils benefit from a happy and collaborative place to learn and work."

The report noted that " The school's careers education is highly effective. Pupils are supported to prepare well for future education, employment or training. Pupils experience relevant encounters with local employers and high education providers. These increase pupils' awareness and aspirations for what they can aim to do in the future. Tailored advice enables pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, to understand the steps they need to take to achieve their ambitions"

As careers Advisor you will play a critical role in providing guidance, support, and resources to students within the Academy to help them make informed decisions about their future career paths, further education, and training opportunities. The position is designed to facilitate successful transitions from education to the world of work and higher education.

Key responsibilities of the role include:

Careers Guidance

Conduct professional and impartial 1:1 careers guidance discussions with students (and parents where appropriate) which challenge and support them to make informed decisions about their next steps and future career

Manage the bookings for careers guidance appointments, produce careers action plans, and share and log these

Careers Information

Develop and use expert knowledge of career and labour market information and intelligence to enable students to identify, access, interpret and utilise valid and current information that is relevant

Assist in planning and delivering of encounters with employees and education/training providers

Support students with applications for college, sixth form, apprenticeship and other destinations

Careers Curriculum

Work collaboratively the Senior Leaders and curriculum teams and pastoral staff to deliver the Whole Academy Careers Curriculum

Assist in planning and delivering academy events and activities including Careers Fairs, Insight Days, Mock Interviews

Networking

Support the growth of a network of alumni of former students to inspire and inform current learners through their experience and career journeys.

Establish and develop links with local businesses, further education colleges, apprenticeship providers, university technical colleges and universities

 Our vision is that every child within the Trust, regardless of their background, will attend an Academy that offers an outstanding quality of education which means to us:

Every child is recognised as an individual and has access to first-class pastoral care because we want them to be happy

Every child benefits from a wide range of enriching opportunities because we place great emphasis on their personal development

Every child benefits from dedicated leaders, teachers and staff who a relentless in their ambition to improve the quality of teaching in our academies because we know excellent teaching is key to transforming the futures of our students

Applicants will join a well-led and motivated team committed to continuous improvement.

In return we will offer you:

Bespoke Continual Professional Development (in the academy and online via the National College)

Perkbox example benefits;

Discounts at nationwide retailers

Gym discount

Cinema discounts

Employee assistance programme

Up to 4 structured counselling sessions per year

A MAT wide focus on staff well-being

Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will therefore be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) as well as providing evidence of qualifications.

 

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020). This means that certain convictions and cautions are considered ‘protected’ and do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-guidance-on-the-rehabilitation-of[1]offenders-act-1974

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will therefore be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) as well as providing evidence of qualifications.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Smith's Wood Academy

• Organisation type: Academy, ages 11 to 16
• Education phase: Secondary school
• Size: 697 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Smith's Wood Academy website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/smith-s-wood-academy

Located in the north of Solihull and serving students from Years 7 to 11, Smith’s Wood is in a transitional state as we embark on our next phase of continued growth. One of the most improved schools for attendance in the Midlands, we’re proud of the collective spirit and high expectations that permeate our school. It’s an exciting time to join us in our mission to “enrich the lives and transform the futures” of our young people.

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