Careers

Aims

  • to ensure that pupils take informed decisions at key moments of their education, so that they can fulfil their ambitions in school and meet the challenges beyond it.
  • by drawing extensively on the expertise of the school pastoral teams, the ‘Connexions’ service and the East Lancashire Education Business Partnerships (ELEBPs), to provide impartial advice, excellent work experience opportunities, first-rate resources and plentiful human contact to help all students feel confident to face the future.

 The Department has established links with local business and industries through the work experience programmes run in the Fourth and Lower Sixth Forms. The Lower Sixth Management Conference partners all pupils with local business advisers and connects fully with the Key Skills course that is integral to the Sixth Form curriculum. Graduate recruitment data is central to the Lower Sixth careers module.

Careers Education and Guidance (CEG)

  • Careersthe key to assisting choice is the commitment to providing all pupils with pertinent information and discussion of next stage planning.
  • two psychometric tests from Cambridge Occupational Analysts form a sound backdrop against which pupils investigate AS, A2 Level and university choices.
  • further prompting is provided by visits to careers conventions and a range of in-house events, several of which draw in parents to share in the process of choice. The armed forces' liaison officers regularly visit the school.

First and Second Year pupils have access to the Library, which is annually up-dated with books that help to interest younger pupils in the world of work.

Third Year pupils are introduced to computer software that helps inform about the choices which must be made for GCSEs.

 Fourth Year pupils take part in the Trident work experience project run in conjunction with the ELEBPs. Key skills are highlighted before the fortnight’s placement at the end of the Trinity Term.

Fifth Year pupils work within the PSHE programme to reflect on the lessons of the work experience. Pupils are invited to two local careers conventions and have interviews with the Careers Master. Further advice may be sought from ‘Connexions’ whose officers come into school at the request of parents. Pupils and parents then attend ‘Sixth Form Choices’ events: these are in-house events that introduce post-16 opportunities, help pupils make final AS Level choices and guide them through their GCSEs and into AS and A2 Levels. During the year, Services’ liaison officers regularly visit the school to interview interested students.

Lower Sixth Formers can participate in Venture, a three-week holiday-time work experience project. They may also use Centigrade, a psychometric test and Higher Education advisory package to help focus on areas of university research. All pupils participate in the Careers cycle of their Key Skills course and have a series of talks and discussions throughout the year. Pupils and parents are invited to ‘UCAS A-Z’, to inform parents and students about university choices. Throughout the year the Careers Room is a focal point for research, and the Careers Master is available for interviews in the adjoining Careers Office. Gap Year plans are discussed as required. Finally, at the end of the year pupils attend the Student Careers Event, where recent leavers talk about their experiences at university.

Upper Sixth Formers complete their UCAS research using the prospectus bank and IT resources in the Careers Room. On AS and A Level Results Day the Careers team ensures all pupils are placed on university courses of their choice. Those who seek other careers are similarly helped, using the services of Connexions if necessary. In 2003, well over half of UCAS applicants from QEGS secured places at their first-choice university.

Facilities and resources

The Careers Room is located in the Sixth Form Centre, Singleton House. At all times up-to-date information on a vast range of future options is provided there and in the main library. Much information is accessed from IT resources through networked and stand-alone computers. Full details of university open days, courses and events are publicised.

Formal curriculum allocation is in the Lower Sixth Form where all pupils are taught a minimum of 8 periods of CEG within the framework of Key Skills. Provision in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Years, and in Upper Sixth Forms, is run through the pastoral form period allocation.

The Careers Office is open from 8.30am until 4.30pm on school days. The direct office ‘phone number is 01254 675439. There is an answerphone and fax machine on this line too. During periods of work experience, additional staffing ensures that lines of communication between pupils, employers, parents and school remain fully open.