Careers Education
The prime aim of the Careers Department is to develop in students and their parents an awareness of the requirements and routes, both academic and experiential, for certain professions and Higher Education. This should lead to students making well-informed decisions regarding their future, assist them in setting realistic targets, and broadly bring added impetus to their studies. The guidance offered by the department is further directed at reinforcing and enhancing positive attitudes and values in the students, and where possible should assist in the acquisition of certain core skills needed for future career success and flexibility. A close working relationship with all academic departments is essential and indeed both underpins and complements our endeavours.
Specific initiatives and activities relevant to students in each Year Group (from Third to Sixth Form) are planned, introduced, and evaluated at times throughout the academic year commensurate with the level of guidance required.
Third Year pupils participate fully in a Business Awareness day involving interactive role play around scenarios aimed at raising their understanding of the nature and importance of certain core and transferable skills.
Fourth Year pupils are introduced to the Careers Library and invited to use the range of available resources to research and evaluate initial ideas and thoughts relating to their future.
A series of themed Careers Evening events is helfd throughout the year and presents the students with an opportunity to discuss their early thoughts and related issues with representatives from wide ranging business and professional backgrounds. Completion of OASIS aptitude and interest questionnaires towards the end of this year highlights to students the imminence of some major decisions relating to their futures.
Fifth Year puils receive their OASIS report which offers guidance on matters relating to
AS Level options and additional relevant careers issues. A follow-up interview in the first half-term, with an independent interviewer, presents students with a forum for supportive and open discussion of their thoughts at this important transitional time. Following the GCSE Examinations students are strongly advised to undertake a period of Work Experience. They are encouraged to participate positively and pro- actively in the programme in order to gain a valuable insight into the professional working environment.
Students in the Sixth Form complete a CENTIGRADE questionnaire and receive a report that should assist them in reaching well-informed decisions relating to their future. The vast majority of Upper Sixth students progress into Higher Education, straight from school or after a Gap-Year.
The aims of the Careers Department are continually appraised in response to any curriculum changes, revised Higher Education entry requirements, and take into account, as far as is appropriate, the impact of technological and economic change and progress on future career development.
Updated: June 2010
