Careers Guidance

All students have access to the careers software used across the school, which contains careers information, including pay scales, videos about the roles and routes into employment.  The school currently uses Kudos for this purpose from home and school and all students can access the National Careers Website.

Year 8

In year 8 students take a careers and pathways project. This looks at a range of careers and the routes into them tracing the journey back to smart choices at options time for GCSEs to A level and on to uni, apprenticeship etc. During the project the students put on a careers fair getting the opportunity to present about careers that they are interested in while learning from others about their choices. The whole project is further supported by visiting Alumni who come into lessons to talk about their own careers and the experiences and journey that led them to where they are today. Students find this fascinating. The project is designed to help students informed choices and hopefully relieve some of the anxiety about making decisions.

Year 9

During PSHE lessons Year 9 explore what it is like to be an employee, reviewing their rights and responsibilities.  In this changing world, it is important that they realise the different types of contract that they could be employed on, including zero hours contracts and the benefits and pitfalls within these.  We also review equal opportunities and what this means within the workplace and employment law.  This helps them build an understanding of what they can expect within the workplace

Year 10

In Year 10 PSHE students review themselves and the skills and qualities they have building a portfolio to identify the type of person they are and the types of careers which might suit them.  This is explored through a number of questionnaires and quizzes, to help them prepare for their next choices after Year 11.  Some students will have their 1 – 1 careers discussion with the Careers Team in this year.

Year 11

All students have a 1 – 1 careers discussion where they not only consider their next step into apprenticeships, further education colleges and 6^th form colleges, but look further afield into their future career plans and what they want to go onto post 18, for example university and apprenticeships.  Follow up meetings are hosted with the students to support with applications and CV building as necessary.  During the first term of PSHE students have a number of visiting speakers to look further into their choices.  These sessions look at 6^th form colleges, further education colleges, university and apprenticeships.  We have visiting Alumni who share their experiences with the students so to support them in making informed choices.  Students are encouraged to drop in to our Careers Surgery, to ask questions during break and lunch times for any additional support, this is available all year round.