Careers

The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.      - Steve Jobs

Introduction

Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) is embedded throughout the school with extensive, structured provision which seeks to equip our young people with the knowledge, dispositions and skills required for the potential career progression routes upon which they might embark.

Tailored support is available at every pivotal transitional stage and pupils are offered a range of opportunities to help them manage their careers and to make sound, informed and independent decisions in preparation for employment.





Personnel

Head of Careers: Mr F Cuttle
Assistant Head of Careers: Mrs E McKenna, Mr C Burns, Miss M Lee
DfE Careers Adviser: Gerard McGrath




Key Stage 3

Careers is delivered as part of the Employability module of Learning for Life and Work (LLW). Pupils receive one period a fortnight and lessons cover the statutory themes:

• Work in the Local and Global Economy
• Career Management
• Enterprise and Entrepreneurship

Prior to pupils making their GCSE choices, the careers department provide Careers Information, Advice and Guidance, to enable the pupils to make informed choices for the February deadline. This will take the form of an information booklet that coincides with a Careers Fair.




Key Stage 4

Pupils in Year 11 and 12 receive one period a fortnight and lessons continue to build on the statutory themes covered in Key Stage 3. From 2022, AGHS have signed up with Unifrog, which is a comprehensive, user-friendly platform that is a one-stop-shop for whole school careers guidance. The pupils will have access to the platform within school and at home that will level the playing field when our pupils begin to research and explore potential career opportunities. In addition to allocated careers classes, pupils will receive:

• Career Guidance Interviews (one on one interview with DfE Careers Advisor)
• Year 11 - four day work placements during June
• Careers based workshops and talks from external providers organised throughout the academic year – Belfast Metropolitan College, SERC, Cafre, apprenticeships work+
• Opportunities to sign up to Online Works Experience and Workshops organised through Speakers for Schools
• Opportunity to enrol in the Queens Pathway Programme
• Year 12 Careers & Subject Fairs ensure that pupils are able to make appropriate decisions at A Level and to explore alternative routes in education and training. Guidance through the FE application process is provided.




Key Stage 5

Our Year 13 and 14 pupils receive a comprehensive biweekly Careers Programme to ensure all pupils have an up to date information, guidance and advice to enable them to peruse the correct career path. The pupils will be able to continue to access this information through the Unifrog platform within allocated class time and at home when pursuing further and higher education courses. In addition to allocated careers classes, pupils will receive:

• Interview Skills training facilitated by Capita and Lloyds Banking Group.
• Opportunities to sign up to Online Work Experience and Careers talks organised through Speakers for Schools
• Special guests talks – Apprenticeships Work+, Belfast Metropolitan College, Cafre, Health and Social Care talks etc
• Opportunity to enrol in the Queens’ Pathways Programme
• Preparation guidance for applying to University and Colleges using the UCAS system, which are delivered through allocated class time and designated workshops
• Site visits to UCAS exhibitions, Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University Open Days.
• Opportunity to enrol onto the Career Ready Programmes. This is an extra-curricular programme, which offers pupils the chance to prepare for the world of work and to stand out from the crowd. Pupils are mentored by industry professionals and attend master classes on employability skills, as well as carrying out site visits and internships thereby gaining further work experience in placements of up to six weeks.
• Both Year 13 and 14 pupils are able to benefit from additional work experience and industry visits on an individual basis.




Useful Links

www.ulster.ac.uk
www.qub.ac.uk
www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/careers
www.belfastmet.ac.uk
www.cafre.ac.uk
www.ucas.com
www.serc.ac.uk
www.workplus.app
www.unifrog.org