To support this the Academy believes that students personal, social and employability skills should be developed across the key stages, ensuring students are prepared for their next steps.
As part of our commitment to careers education Southfield school welcome visits from employers, industry representatives and training providers to support our students in their journey to employability. If you are an employer, training provider or industry representative and would like to work with the school on careers activities (e.g. By giving careers talks, CV writing advice or helping with interview preparation), then please do not hesitate to get in touch with Mr A Barratt, our Head of Careers.
Please see details below of what happens in each key stage, links to useful websites and further information for parents and providers. The curriculum area on this website detailed possible careers associated with each subject. This might stimulate your interest and help you to consider your chosen pathway.
Mr A Barratt (Head of Careers)
[email protected]
01536 513063
This information is reviewed continually with a ful review due in April 2020.
During Year 7 to 9 the main focus for our students in careers is to get them to start to think about the different jobs available to them. In Year 7 students take part in an NHS competition which looks at the different jobs available in the NHS. Additionally, to this student will explore jobs they are interested in looking at the qualifications/ experience they may need for them presenting their findings in class during their PSHE lessons.
In Year 8 students have the opportunity to have direct experience with an employer when they go to work for the day with their parents. During form time they learn about the world of work and have a chance to practice their professional skills in the workplace.
In Year 9 students go on a trip to the Big Bang Fair which focuses on jobs which are available in Maths and Science. They are also supported by staff in helping them choose the right options for their GCSE’s looking towards the future.
In Year 10 students have the opportunity to go to a careers fair at the NEC where they will meet lots of different employers from hairdressing to engineering. In Year 11 they have a PD day which focuses on work related learning which will involve students taking part in mock interviews and learning about the world of work. Throughout both years’ students are supported in making the right choice for them after their GCSE’s whether this is going to Sixth Form, College or an Apprenticeship. As students have to stay in some form of education until they are 18 it is essential they make the right choice and are supported through this process.
In the Sixth Form we support our students in making the right choice after A-Levels, whether that is to go to University or start an Apprenticeship. We have regular speakers in from a range of Universities, apprenticeship recruiters and business and career speakers. We also run University trips along with university and apprenticeship workshops. Our Sixth Form admin team also supports students with work experience and application process.
Over the next 2 years there are going to be some exciting changes to our careers programme to ensure we meet the new benchmarks proposed by the Government.
www.nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk
Information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work. All young people and their parents can access free impartial advice (online, by phone or email) from experienced advisers at the National Careers Service from 8.00am to 10.00pm seven days a week
www.careersbox.co.uk
Careersbox is a video library of over 300 job profiles as well as case studies of people working in a range of different jobs
www.cvplus.co.uk
A useful tool in how to write CV
www.ucas.com
University application website
www.fasttomato.com
Fast Tomato is a popular online career guidance programmes for young people, helping millions of students explore the many different career opportunities open to them.
www.icould.com/watch-career-videos
icould includes 1000 films of personal career stories, across all occupations
www.careersadviceforparents.org
Advice for parents about careers in how to support their children
www.parentalguidance.org.uk/help-information/getting-help-with-careers-where-to-start
Careers information and advice from the Careers Writers Association
www.ucas.com/file/101806/download?token=2DHk4PXV
Advice for parents about UCAS
www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-parents-guide-to-apprenticeships
Advice for parents in how to support their children applying for apprenticeships
www.parentadviser.co.uk
Access Provider policy
At Southfield we have Alumni which is system which allows ex-students to sign up to and let us know the different career paths they have chosen. We often have ex-students coming into school to talk to our students about the career path they have taken, which inspires our current students. Current students can also sign up to Alumni.
Sixth Form Courses
Student Portal
Access email, documents and learning sites
Applying for University