Careers

Target Careers

www.targetcareers.co.uk  Advice for school leavers covering areas from apprenticeships to Yr12 work experience opportunities https://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/job-descriptions

BBC Bitesize

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/careers  – lots of information on careers, interviews and CVs

Barclay Lifeskills

www.barclayslifeskills.com - Developing work and life skills

Career Planner

www.careerplanner.com/ListOfCareers.cfm  - Job profiles

Career Wave

https://www.careerwave.co.uk/useful-career-resources-by-sector/  - Career websites by sector

Career Pilot

https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/  - a wealth of careers information for 11-19-year olds with a focus on South West information. Explore Job profiles under ‘Jobs’ tabs.

www.ucas.com is the admissions service for applying to university. You can search for degrees and find out how to write your personal statement and apply to university.

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree -this is a great website to explore where degrees can lead

https://discoveruni.gov.uk/ – search and compare undergraduate courses in the UK

https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/ – a wealth of independent information on applying to university and also includes league tables

https://www.theguardian.com/education/universityguide - To view the rank order of Universities for your chosen subject area and other useful information about universities

https://www.4icu.org/gb/london/a-z/ - Overview of University rankings

https://www.gov.uk/browse/education/student-finance -For information on student finance and the National Scholarship Programme

https://russellgroup.ac.uk/for-students/ - for careers research and information on Russell Group universities

https://www.ucas.com/postgraduate/teacher-training/train-teach-england/routes-teaching-england?filter - Routes into teaching

 

Medicine

BMAT - All about one of the tests for entry onto a medical/dentistry degree

https://www.ucat.ac.uk/ - Another test for students regarding entry onto medical/dentistry degree

https://www.stepintothenhs.nhs.uk/careers - An insight into 350+ careers within the NHS

Creative Websites

https://discovercreative.careers/video-programme/  Videos covering a wide variety of creative industry careers

https://hertscep.org.uk/creative-career-spotlights/  Hertfordshire Website with good insights into creative prospects

https://joom.ag/NDld Escape Studios - Animation...

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/animator - for artists

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors/information-technology/it-apprenticeships - cyber security information

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors/information-technology/video-game-careers - for gamers

https://myfirstjobinfilm.com/UK - Job opportunities in the Film Industry

 

Career Film Clips

https://icould.com/explore/ - great selection of clips of people talking about their careers, you can search by subject/industry or career

www.careersbox.co.uk  – a website with lots of films about different industries

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/ – loads of information and films about careers within the NHS

 

Career/Personality Quizzes

https://sacu-student.com/  – a quiz to create your own personalised careers cloud

https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/information/help-and-support/quizzes-that-match-your-skills-and-interests-to-jobs  – a quiz to explore careers

 

CV Writing

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/cvs-and-cover-letters/how-to-write-a-cv

Law

https://www.allaboutlaw.co.uk/  - Guide to degrees and careers in Law

https://www.lawcareers.net/ - Guide to becoming a lawyer

Source of information

https://www.goconstruct.org/ - showcases the many career opportunities available in the construction and the built environment.

https://www.autocity.org.uk/ Information about mechanical and associated roles in the auto industry

https://www.bps.org.uk/find-your-career-psychology - Starting a career in Psychology

https://careers-in-sport.co.uk/ - Information about the various opportunities and careers within sport

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors/science-and-pharmaceuticals/graduate-jobs-in-science-and-pharmaceuticals - Possible future roles within science and pharmaceuticals

https://tastycareers.org.uk/courses - Courses within the Hospitality industry

 

Apprenticeships

https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship  - is the government website providing information on apprenticeships and how to search

Find an apprenticeship (www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk ) - search engine to search for an apprenticeship vacancy locally and nationwide.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-and-degree-apprenticeships By-annual listing of higher and degree apprentices.

https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards - Current Apprenticeship opportunities

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors/information-technology/it-apprenticeships - IT Apprenticeships

https://amazingapprenticeships.com/ Overall information of apprenticeships

https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/

https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

https://www.ratemyapprenticeship.co.uk/

https://www.ucas.com/apprenticeships/how-find-apprenticeship

T-Levels

www.tlevels.gov.uk  - T Levels Website

https://www.stcharles.ac.uk/705/t-levels T-Levels at a local college

https://www.wmsf.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Level-2-T-Level-Transition-Programme.pdf Example of T-Level offer locally

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/t-level-action-plan - T Level Action Plans

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/introduction-of-t-levels  - Detailed T Level information on gov.uk

https://www.sfx.ac.uk/16-18-courses/t-levels/management-administration - Management & Administration at Saint Francis Xavier

https://sixthform.laretraite.co.uk/The_Offer/T-Levels/ - La Retraite 6

 

Free Distance Learning Courses

There are several free online courses that students could spend your time working through. Students could learn a new skill, expand knowledge or use it for something extra to write about on their university application!

• Future Learn offer free online courses in a whole range of subjects
• Open University Free Courses offer 1000 free courses across 8 subjects
• Alison | Free Online Courses & Online Learning – free courses in all sorts of subjects

 

Subscription Courses

https://www.futurelearn.com/courses - Future Learn

 

Virtual Work Experience

https://www.speakersforschools.org/  - Speakers For Schools

https://www.springpod.co.uk/  - Springpod – work experience platform

https://uptree.co/  - UpTree (the professional Network connecting young people with employers)

 

www.theforage.com Forage Work Experience – they link students to Fortune 500 employers Free Virtual Work Experience Programs from Top Companies

 

Parent Information

https://careers.startprofile.com/page/parents - Information about courses and opportunities

https://www.youthemployment.org.uk/careers-advice-for-parents/ - Many useful insights directed at parents

https://www.talkingfutures.org.uk/ - A parent’s toolkit for career conversations

https://www.makehappen.org/guide/what-are-the-differences-between-a-further-education-college-and-a-sixth-form/#available-courses Explains the difference between Colleges and 6th Forms https://bigcreative.education/sixth-form-vs-college/

https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/parent-zone - Useful information about choices at different levels

Send Information

https://blog.insidegovernment.co.uk/schools/employment-for-young-people-with-send Government information

https://www.careersandenterprise.co.uk/media/xqhliamz/what-works-report-transition-send.pdf Transition Guide

 

• Students are encouraged to identify personal traits, strengths and skills and develop confidence and have high expectations of themselves; 
• Vocational profiles are begun; 
• Students are introduced to careers resources and informed how to use them; 
• Students build on personal strengths and begin to link skills to specific careers enabling realistic and informed decisions at transition stages; 
• Students are introduced to the world of work and how it is constantly changing; 
• Students are introduced to careers software and websites; 
• Students are encouraged to think about what they might like to achieve after school; 

• Students explore post 16 pathways;  
• Students are assisted with CV writing and encouraged to have a completed a CV and cover letter; 
• They are encouraged to use careers resources available and informed where to find out more about specific courses/careers. 

• Students are encouraged to reassess personal strengths with a focus on transferable skills; 
• Students are encouraged to investigate different jobs and careers and what they mean in terms of lifestyle, budgeting and a good work/life balance and develop economic awareness; 
• Students are encouraged to challenge stereotypes within the world of work and traditional job roles; 
• Students have a wide range of opportunities to engage with a range of local business, FE, and training providers; 
• Economic awareness is developed further and students are encouraged to think about employability, which careers appeal to them and to identify and set themselves realistic future goals;  
• Students complete work experience; 
• Students review their C.V., develop interview techniques and complete a mock interview with a local employer; 
• Students are supported with post 19 choices and encouraged to consider all their options including further study and apprenticeships. Students get dedicated careers tutorials with the school’s Head of Careers and Leader of Sixth Form and this does include detailed guidance on university applications: including determining appropriate choices and writing personal statements; 
• Students are encouraged to think about the kind of behaviour potential employers look for; 
• Students are encouraged to attend careers talks, fairs, college open days and taster days with employers; 
• Preparation for interviews and pre-admissions testing is provided by the Sixth Form Team; 
• Encouragement and support with entering ‘super-curricular’ activities such as university essay competitions and study programmes such as the UNIQ Summer School and Sutton Trust; 
• Support with visiting university open days and taster courses to develop students’ application profile;  
• Extension activities in lessons as well as in the sixth form extra-curricular programme that facilitate skills that will be employed in university and professional life;  
• PSHCE curriculum that includes a focus on study skills that are applicable to university and professional life; 

• The opportunity to take part in charity fundraising and enterprise activities; 
• The opportunity to engage in the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme. 

Every pupil with SEND follows the same programme of careers as their peers, with adaption and support from the SEND team and where appropriate bespoke intervention. Pupils with SEND have an interview with the internal careers leader every year from Year 8 and follow-ups as required especially for example before the options process to enable early identification of any necessary adaptions or interventions according to need in order to support their career aspirations. In the spring term, SEND pupils will take part in a careers module, looking at job applications, CVs, and applications. Pupils can self-refer and form tutors are also able to raise concerns. If current provision cannot fully address a pupil’s additional need, advice will be sought from the Head of Careers. The SENDCO meets with parents/carers to discuss option suitability where individual need is likely to have an impact on choices made during the option process. The SENDCO supports work experience placements, ensuring that providers are aware of individual needs, in order to promote a positive experience. 

We are constantly building our connections with employers, educational institutions and the local community. If you would like to participate in any of the following please contact Robert McCarthy, Head of Careers and Employability: 

• Offer valuable work placement experience to our Year 10 or Year 12 students in July. 
• Offer mentoring for a sixth form students 
• Would like to address or host a workshop for students in a Tuesday afternoon speaker’s session. 
• Assist with mock interviews. 
• Talk to students about you / your company in our speed dating event. 

The aim of work experience is to provide an opportunity for all students to learn in the work place; an experience that cannot be replicated in school.  All students are offered the opportunity for a meaningful work experience in July of Year 10. This is not a compulsory part of the curriculum, but is undertaken by the majority of students.  

Students are encouraged to arrange their own work experience. The school will provide support with placements as appropriate and on the basis of need. Bespoke platforms will support the work experience administration, tracking and analysis. Parents are informed and communicated with throughout the process and a work experience agreement form and work experience information form are completed. 

The school will check that placements meet with the school’s requirements, the students will be treated fairly and that they will undertake meaningful work. All students on the placement are covered by the employers’ insurance. 

Built into the careers programme are opportunities for pupils to self-evaluate and reflect on their learning at key points, such as following work experience and mock interviews during Year 10. Pupils develop a profile on www.Unifrog.org through which their activities and skills development can be recorded and monitored by staff including form tutors and the careers coordinator.

All participants in the programme complete surveys following key events including pupils, parents and employers. Leavers’ destination information is also analysed. Feedback is used to further improve the careers programme.