We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded the Inspiring CEIAG Stage 3 Award in recognition of the careers education, information, advice and guidance we offer at St Thomas More RC College.
At St Thomas More RC College we actively encourage and inspire young people to take ownership of their career plans and to consider all options open to them so that they are able to select the best way forward for their aspirations, abilities, interests and learning styles.
We encourage students to think broadly and ambitiously about their future education and career options and to consider current labour market conditions to ensure they make well informed decisions about their futures. This is strengthened by excellent relationships and contact with Positive Steps, local employers, training providers, colleges and universities.
Our extensive careers education programme ensures that students in years 7-11 receive timely information, advice and guidance regarding the full range of options available to assist them to make informed decisions about their next steps in education, training or employment.
Staff
The careers provision in school is provided by Mr L Wright (Curriculum Leader of CPSHE) and is supported by our Positive Steps Careers Advisor.
Where to find us
The careers office is located at the top of the stairs in the Roper building, next to room 28. The careers advisor is available Monday (9 to 12pm),Tuesdays and Friday (9 to 12pm) Any student is welcome to drop by during break times and lunchtime or to email careers@stmcollege.org.uk.
One to one guidance appointments are available during the school day and students are made aware of these through the daily college bulletin.
How can the Careers Advisor help you?
By providing individualised and impartial information, advice and guidance, we can help you to:
• Choose and pursue a career idea
• Find a part-time job
• Make post 16 option choices
• Apply for an apprenticeship
• Discuss university courses
• Prepare a CV
KS3 Careers
It is never too soon to start exploring your career ideas. Why not visit the school library where you can access a wide range of books to help you explore different career ideas. Alternatively, try looking at some of these websites. It may help when choosing your year 10 options pathway.
www.careerpilot.org.uk - A good website with local information about job sectors and option choices.
www.cascaid.co.uk/newkudos - A programme which matches your likes and dislikes to jobs which might suit you. You will need the school licence code from Mr Wright.
If you’d rather listen than read, then try watching some of the podcasts and short videos of people talking about their jobs on www.icould.com
www.plotr.co.uk – Investigate careers, watch videos and get great advice, find out about employers and work experience opportunities in your area.
If you are aged 13 and over you can also access lots of useful careers information and talk to a trained careers adviser from the National Careers Service. www.nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk
KS4 Careers
In year 11 you will need to make some important decisions about your future pathways. Exploring your career ideas will be really useful.
In addition to the careers activities which you’ll cover in class, you might also want to talk through your ideas and plans with a trained careers adviser. One to one appointments can be made by calling in at the careers office or through Mr Wright.
In addition there is a wealth of excellent information available on the web. Take a look at some of these websites:
Job profiles - An online database of over 800 different jobs.
www.cascaid.co.uk/newkudos - A programme which matches your likes and dislikes to jobs which might suit you. You will need the school licence code from Mr Wright.
www.careerpilot.org.uk - A good website with local information about job sectors and option choices.
www.icould.com – Aims to help you to make the most of your potential by showing how others have used theirs, take the ‘Buzz’ personality profile quiz. Video clips and real life stories about career choices.
www.careersbox.co.uk – Video based job profile information and skills explorer tool
www.nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk – This is the Government’s hub for careers advice for people of all ages where you can find help with drafting letters, CVs, exploring your skills or seeking careers advice.
www.plotr.co.uk – Investigate careers, watch videos and get great advice, find out about employers and work experience opportunities in your area.
successatschool.org – Gives clear and comprehensive information about a range of Career Zones (sectors), in an easy to access format. Students can create a profile to help to collate useful information. ’60 second interviews’ giving profile of professionals, provide a useful insight into specific careers.
www.how2become.com – Offers detailed advice on how to access a range of sectors. Also offers the purchase of resources, compiled in conjunction with professionals working in these fields, designed to enable you to achieve your dream career or course. A selection of these books and online psychometric testing access have been supplied to the school by How2Become.
www.careerswales.com – A good general careers website and job profile database.
www.apprenticeships.org.uk – The National Apprenticeship Service website provides general advice and information about apprenticeships. Also advertises current vacancies.
www.notgoingtouni.co.uk – Opportunities that exist outside of university.
www.careersworld.co.uk – General & regional careers resource includes apprenticeship vacancies.
www.ucas.com – Information about university courses on offer, also the Stamford test to help with ideas about subjects to study.
www.therussellgroup.ac.uk – Represents 24 leading universities, source of careers information & advice including ‘informed choices’ a downloadable guide to making post 16 choices.
www.prospects.ac.uk – Find out which areas you could access after a particular degree.
www.mycareerspringboard.org – Springboard is for students. It is divided into two main sections: the Career Test and the Career Exploration Tool. In tandem, these two interactive tools allow students to find some career inspiration and gain an insight into their different career options.
www.inspiringapprenticeships.co.uk – Information and advice about local apprenticeships.
www.jobapplications.co.uk – This site has useful videos, demonstrating how to complete the online applications for many top companies in the UK, as well as providing detailed information on salaries and interviews. Applications forms can be printed off directly from this site.