Careers Guidance

HEAD OF CAREERS:   Mrs Una Nixon

HEAD OF LLW:   Mrs Roisin Rafferty

CAREERS/LLW TEAM:           

Mrs Kelly

Mrs Keyes

Mrs Mulgrew

Miss Murphy

Mrs Nixon

Mrs Rafferty

CEIAG plays an integral part in the development of the whole person.  In conjunction with the whole school policy and careers policy, the pupils are given the opportunity to avail of careers education information and guidance from Year 10 to Year 14.

THE MAIN AIMS OF OUR CEIAG PROGRAMME ARE TO ENABLE PUPILS THROUGH THE AREAS OF:

SELF AWARENESS AND DEVELOPMENT:

  • Identify an awareness of their skills, qualities, interests, values, aptitudes and achievements, based on their experiences, potential and future career aspirations.
  • Recognise and explore their changing attitudes to, and interest in, the world of work, training and education.

CAREER EXPLORATION:

  • Identify, investigate and explore the extent and diversity of local, national and international opportunities available in education, training and work.
  • Use their work-related learning experiences to extend their understanding of the world of work and recognise the skills, qualities and competences needed for the workplace
  • Understand the changing demands of working life and responsibilities within the working environment
  • Obtain, evaluate and use effectively careers information, gathered from a wide range of sources, which is relevant to their personal career preferences, aspirations and achievement.

CAREER MANAGEMENT:

  • Review progress against identified targets and record achievements.
  • Develop career plans which take account of self awareness, development, achievement and experience and knowledge of career exploration opportunities.
  • Develop decision making strategies in order to make and implement career choices, which are informed and well thought through.
  • Successfully engage with transition and change.
  • Develop their self-presentation skills.

FIVE CORE COMPONENTS OF OUR CEIAG PROVISION:

Our school provides the core components in our CEIAG programme.

Careers Education:  All pupils from Years 8 – 14 are taught a structured employability/ careers education programme.  There is a planned programme of activities and learning experiences to help pupils develop the knowledge and skills they need to make successful choices, manage transition in learning and move to work.  Pupils are actively engaged in their career management through target setting, action planning, researching and reviewing.

Development of Employability Skills:  There are opportunities for all pupils, through meaningful and active learning opportunities, to develop their employability skills, enabling pupils to become life-long learners capable of realising their potential in the world of work.

Work-related Learning Experiences:  There are opportunities for pupils to participate in planned experiences of the world of work to increase pupils’ motivation to develop their employability skills.  Pupils participate in a one-week work placement in Years 11 and 13.  They are adequately prepared for work experience through a careers programme and evaluate their experiences after their placements.   As far as possible, pupils are visited by a member of the Careers/LLW team.  If a visit is not possible, due to location of placement, a telephone contact is made.  Each employer is required to submit a written report about the pupil’s work.  This report is included in the pupil’s progress file.  Further work experience is available for a selected number of pupils in Years 11 and 12. This group of pupils attend school for four days per week, complete GCSE Occupational Studies and attend a work placement for one day per week. These selected pupils’ work placements are monitored by the Head of Careers, who makes regular contact with employers.  Further experiences of work are provided through industrial visits and mock interviews.  An annual Interview Skills Training Day, where employers from the area conduct interviews with Year 12 pupils is organised.

Careers Information

A broad range of relevant and up-to-date high-quality careers information is available to inform pupils’ career planning

and management.  Careers information, which includes books, prospectuses, magazines, leaflets etc., is in the Careers Room and School Library.  Pupils can access information during timetabled classes, break or lunchtimes. Computer research is facilitated through careers lessons and pupils develop their knowledge and skills to carry out extended research during other available times in school and at home with internet access.  Careers/Employability Notice boards clearly display up-to-date information and pupils’ work.  Pupils access further information through industry visits, open days, careers conventions, guidance interviews and visiting speakers.

Careers Advice and Guidance:    Careers Guidance is given to Year 12 pupils on an individual or group basis.  The Careers Officer from the NI Careers Service undertakes the careers guidance interviews and records of interviews are retained in the careers department.  Pupils can request an interview with the Careers Officer which will be organised through the Careers teacher.

Further Careers Guidance is given by the Careers Teachers, particularly to Year 10 and Year 14 pupils.  The Careers Officer / Careers Teachers are available for guidance if required by any individual pupil.

TEACHING PERIODS PER YEAR GROUP:

Year 8     LLW – 2 hours – employability component is taught for one third of the academic year

Year 9 –     LLW – 2 hours – employability component is taught for one third of the academic year

Year 10 –   LLW – 2 ½ hours – employability component is taught for one third of the academic year

Key Stage 4 –  One-hour Careers Education weekly throughout the year.  

Key Stage 5 –  One-hour Careers Education weekly throughout the year.

*Prince’s Trust students complete a Career Planning Module

 

Useful links for Careers/Course information: –

www.nidirect.gov.uk/careers

www.ucas.com

www.cao.ie

www.qub.ac.uk

www.ulst.ac.uk

www.smucb.ac.uk

www.stran.ac.uk

www.swc.ac.uk

www.cafre.ac.uk

www.belfastmet.ac.uk

www.nwrc.ac.uk

www.studentfinanceni.co.uk