Careers Education and Guidance

Careers Education classes offer the opportunity to reflect on individual strengths and abilities, to research a range of career possibilities and to gain a greater understanding of the world of work. Our aim is to assist our pupils in making informed key career decisions, to have a clear career plan and to follow their chosen career paths with greater confidence.

Careers guidance is available to all pupils throughout the year. Individual interviews are organised at key transition points such as Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 when subject choices are being made and when further courses are being chosen. In senior school clear guidance is offered with regard to applications to universities and jobs.

Events

Several courses and events are organised on an annual basis to assist pupils.

Year 9 Enterprise and Entrepreneurship course in January

Year 8 Enterprise and Entrepreneurship course in May

Year 10 GCSE and 12 Advanced level subject choices evenings in February

Year 10 attend a Career Planning Course in January.

Year 11 attend a Careers Conference in September.

Work Visits

All Year 11 pupils had the opportunity to go out on work visits in the local community. The purpose of this was for our pupils to experience a work environment, to appreciate the complexity of the structure of a large organisation and to gain an awareness of career opportunities in the world of work. The following companies very kindly gave up their time to accommodate us and this was very much appreciated: -

Northern Regional College (Newtownabbey)

RTU (Newtownabbey)

Newtownabbey Borough Council (Mossley Mill)

Nortel Ltd (Newtownabbey)

NIBEC (UUJ)

F G Wilson (Monkstown Plant, Newtownabbey)

AES Kilroot Power (Carrickfergus)

Redhead International (Carrickfergus)

Not only did our pupils get a tour of different departments but came away with goodies as well!!

Year 13 Interview Skills Day

All Year 13 pupils took part in the Interview skills day. This is a fundamental part of Careers Education and was an excellent success. Our pupils got an insight into what is expected from them when applying for a particular job, from the application right through to the interview itself.

A training session run by Sentinus took place in the morning. This was full of roleplay, interaction and advice on interview techniques and lead by the very enthusiastic and professional Mrs B Hume.

In the afternoon the pupils were then interviewed in groups of five by volunteers from the local business community. A plenary session revealed that our pupils’ interviews were of an excellent standard and would be given a job anytime!! Well done Year 13!