Careers

CAREERS SUPPORT

The Careers Team provides a personalised and impartial information, advice and guidance service to students during the relatively short Sixth Form stage of their education. Our qualified staff deliver a planned programme, which is designed to offer the most appropriate support for students at different stages of their college life. They are also able to respond to students’ specific enquiries and needs regarding their progression and career planning.

The Careers service at each site has its own dedicated room/library, which is a large, open access space offering a friendly welcome and facilities for one-to-one advice, small group sessions and online and hard copy research activities. Careers staff also work with students in Year 13 groups to provide support for UCAS, Apprenticeship and other employment applications.

CAREERS PROVISION

Careers staff are available to assist prospective students with important study programme decisions throughout the application, enrolment and induction processes. We recognise the crucial importance of making the right course decisions in advance, but also that it is sometimes important for young people to change their plans as new career ideas develop or if study challenges need to be addressed.

For Year 12 students, we work closely to raise students’ awareness of the choices open to them post-Sixth Form and to prepare them as fully as possible for these opportunities. This involves a combination of group sessions, presentations, careers events and trips to employer and Higher Education venues. And, of course, students can always drop in for advice or book a one-to-one careers interview with one of our Careers Advisers.

For final year students, the Careers Team is involved in direct applications support, including the UCAS process in the autumn term and for apprenticeship/employment applications later in the academic year. Assistance is available through a mixture of group work and individual interviews.

Highly experienced staff work with students on the particular challenges involved in making applications for Oxford and Cambridge universities, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine and other highly competitive Higher Education and employment opportunities.

USEFUL LINKS

Universities

• UCAS – Comprehensive information on university courses and admissions
• UCAS – Course Search
• UCAS – Information for Parents
• Prospects – A valuable source of information on the links between qualifications and careers
• University Open Days – Check out all the universities’ open days and events for applicants
• Unistats – An official source of data on universities’ performance, satisfaction rates etc
• The Student Room – A blog by students, for students

Apprenticeships and other employment

• Apply Apprenticeships – The official website for all apprenticeship vacancies
• All About School Leavers – Information on all sorts of options for 18+ students
• UCAS – Apprenticeship Search
• Not Going to Uni – Information on all sorts of non-university options
• Student Ladder – Excellent on higher level non-university opportunities
• Get My First Job – Job vacancies for young people

Volunteering

• Do-It – A searchable, national volunteering website

CAREERS ADVICE FOR UNIVERSITY GRADUATES

• 20 ways to make you stand out to employers

Gap Years

• Gap Year
• Gap 360
• Plan my Gap Year

RESOURCES FOR PARENTS

• Talking Futures
• Advice for parents, guardians and carers | Undergraduate, Conservatoires, Apprenticeships, 16-18 Choices | UCAS
• UCAS: A Guide for Parents, Guardians and Carers
• Success at School: A Parents Guide to Apprenticeships
• Parents and Carers University Guide 2023/24 (successatschool.org)
• Apprenticeships.gov.uk: Support for Parents, Guardians and Carers 

CAREERS EVENTS

We hold a number of Careers events during the year, which offer excellent opportunities for students to conduct research, develop contacts and perhaps even get their foot in the door for work experience.

• Higher Education and Higher/Degree Apprenticeships Fair (September)
• Careers Conference at CTK: University/Employment/Apprenticeships (March)
• ‘Higher Education & Progression’ Information Evening for Parents (April)
• Regular visits to HE and employer venues (organised with curriculum staff throughout the academic year)
• Support for students and parents at post-16 transition events such as Open Evenings and Preparation Days.

Current opportunities are promoted in a regular Careers Bulletin, which is available on the school’s website and emailed to every student. Topics covered include news about upcoming work experience placements, careers-related webinars, apprenticeship and school leaver schemes, careers exhibitions, taster days with universities and local firms, new resources, like websites and podcasts, and public lectures organised by nearby universities.

EVALUATION

The Careers Programme is constantly evaluated. After every activity, when practical, student, staff and guest feedback is taken and evaluated against the Gatsby Benchmarks to ensure that we are providing the best possible learning activities in terms of our Careers Provision.

IMPACT

The Impact of the Careers Programme is accessed through evaluations, an annual Service Review and our Destinations Report.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We are fully committed to the Government’s new strategy for careers guidance (‘Careers Guidance for Further Education Colleges and Sixth Form Colleges’, February 2018) and its eight ‘Gatsby Benchmark’ standards.