Careers and Higher Education Guidance

Director of Professional Guidance: Ms L Scofield    
Contact Details: lms@felsted.org 01371 822668

 

We have developed a comprehensive Careers Advice, Education, Information, Advice and Guidance programme at Felsted, in order to equip all students with the employability and personal skills which they will need to progress from the school to the working world.
   
All students from Years 9-13 have the opportunity to utilise the Unifrog Careers Platform to investigate a number of different pathways, including conventional Higher Education routes, Apprenticeships, Employment and International Study. Within this software they will build a portfolio of skills and achievements, as well as develop their CV and, later in the Sixth Form, their Personal Statement.

The Careers Education programme is delivered through stand alone Careers Focus Days in Years 9 and 10, and bespoke Careers lessons in Year 11. Tutors and the Careers Team are available to support students at any point that they require further advice and guidance. Appointments are available for students and parents to discuss possible pathways when they are choosing their options. We hold Careers seminars throughout the year, which are primarily open to older students but invitations are extended to Year 10 and 11 students when numbers allow, or a specific interest has been expressed. We hold an annual Careers and Higher Education Fair in the Autumn Term, which all are encouraged to attend. There is also a weekly drop-in clinic in the Careers Library.

Year 11 students use the time during the year to explore different careers pathways at post 16 and post 18. They will also consider important employability skills. All Year 11 students are given information and time to help them source and apply for a meaningful work experience opportunity over the summer before they enter the Sixth Form. They are helped to create CVs and write letters of application. As part of their work experience they are expected to reflect on their work using the Felsted Diploma work experience tool, and they will feedback about this experience in the Autumn Term of the Lower Sixth.

We value the input of parents into the Careers Programme and encourage you to contact us if you can offer support for any of our events. We regularly hold information events at key points in your child’s decision making process. We also have a regularly updated Careers area on the school website which all parents and students are encouraged to make use of, as well as an active Twitter account where we repost information pertinent to our students, including university open day information.  
We have strong links with the Old Felstedian (OF) community through the Felsted Network, and encounters with OFs help our students to further explore a variety of careers pathways.
 

Careers Education Programme

Year 10

• Investigation into career path options
• An early introduction to competitive University and Apprenticeship courses in order to raise aspirations
• Reinforcing the importance of GCSE results in order to achieve a chosen career destination
• Encouraging Work Experience
• Advice and tips on how to make work experience a success and how to maximise the potential of the placement
• Benefits and considerations of part-time work at 16
• Developing employability skills
• Tailored seminars with employer encounters in Careers Week

Year 11

• Detailed information about career pathways including;

– Apprenticeship opportunities at 16 years
– Higher Apprenticeship options at 18 years
– Degree Apprenticeships
– Employment options at 18 years
– University in the UK
– European and International University

• Speakers from Year 12 sharing their own experiences of deciding on their Sixth Form option choices
• Support and guidance from staff in choosing options for A Level or International Baccalaureate
• Advice for sourcing relevant and engaging work experience placements
• Advice on how to approach work experience and expected behaviour on a placement
• Encouragement of holiday and part-time employment to add value to your chosen career pathway
• Assistance with CV writing and the use of CV builder software
• Seminars discussing the value of project based learning for future career destinations
• Engagement with a variety of employers and apprenticeship providers