Careers

The Careers Education Programme is delivered through PSHE lessons, assemblies and through separate Careers Events. 

Careers Contact

Mrs Denise Seward, dseward@stbarts.co.uk.

We work with a number of supporting organisations on a regular basis such as the Education Business Partnership West Berkshire, Adviza, The Careers and Enterprise Company, STEM, Young Enterprise and pathwayctm.com.  The school is a very active member of the West Berkshire Careers Network.

The Department for Education released guidance in January 2018 and based on this we have plans in place to ensure we meet all 8 of the Gatsby Benchmarks by the national deadline of 2020.  

A general overview of the current programme follows:

Year 7 and 8

• Reviewing, target setting and the way forward
• Self awareness
• Time management
• Equal opportunities
• The Real Game (including budgeting and money management)
• Careers Planet

Year 9

• Where am I now—self assessment
• Decision making skills
• 14+ choices programme (5 sessions including employability skills, entrepreneurship, Fast Tomato, Which way now? booklets, stereotyping in career planning and progression routes 14-19)
• Reviewing, target setting and the way forward

Year 10 and 11

• Raising aspirations
• Employability skills
• Learning how to write letters of application, CVs
• Employee’s and employer’s rights and responsibilities
• Work related learning in subject areas (linking subjects studied to careers)
• Self assessment and forward planning
• It’s your choice booklet, “speed dating” and Fast Tomato
• Individual or group interviews with a Careers Personal Adviser
• Mock interviews with real employers or learning providers
• 16+ progression routes revisited (including apprenticeships training providers and Further Education)
• Sixth Form evening and induction

New initiatives for 2020

Year 7-9 will attend a careers fair held at school. We will be using our Alumni to provide information to students about a range of career opportunities.

Year 10 will take part in a work shadowing day, gaining an insight into employment and the world of work.

 

Year 12 and 13

• Self assessment and action planning
• Post 17/18 options (including alternatives to Higher Education)
• UCAS research, applications and completing personal statements with support from tutors, House staff, Head of Sixth Form, Mrs Lane, Year Leaders. 
• UCAS Higher education conference at Bristol University
Careers Pathway – pathwayctm.com
• Use of careers software (e.g. Unifrog, Careercompanion)
• Careers interviews with Adviza Personal Adviser
• Mock interviews and employability skills
• Gap Year opportunities
• Self employment and voluntary work
• Guest speakers
• Apprenticeship opportunities; a number of sessions for students who have chosen an alternative route to university.

We are very fortunate to have Level 6 qualified careers Advisor at the school who is provided as part of our contract with Adviza. If your son or daughter requires a priority appointment with Mrs Amanda Gill, the careers advisor requests can be made via email to Mrs Denise Seward, dseward@stbarts.co.uk.

Mrs Gill also attends parents’ information evenings so an informal appointment can be conducted at these times as well as arranging a formal appointment during the school day. Appointments are held in the careers office which is situated in the corridor as you enter school through the main student entrance between the Wormestall and Patterson blocks.

Are you…
• Planning to be rich and famous?
• Unsure what subjects or courses to take in Year 10?
• Puzzled about options at 16+ 17+ or 18+?
• Keen to find out about the best course or career for you?
• Considering a gap year?then visit St Bart’s bespoke online career library Careercompanion which is an independent and impartial gateway to careers information on the internet or use your Careers Library which is within the main school library.

It contains:
• Job and training information
• Course information
• Information about student finance, taking a year out, voluntary work and a lot more
You can browse brochures, booklets and leaflets or use the IT facilities to clarify ideas, view and print information, or even write your own CV.

Click here to find out more about Student Destinations