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Careers Information

Departmental Staff

Head of Careers: Mr A McMenamin

Post-16 Careers Teachers:

  • Mr A McMenamin
  • Mrs O McCrory
  • Mrs M McKenna
  • Mrs A Breen
  • Mr J White

Careers Advisers:

  • Mrs M McCaughey

GCSE and Post 16 Prospectuses

GCSE

Key Stage 4 Prospectus 2024-26

Post 16

Post16 Prospectus 2024-26

Work Experience

Important documentation for employers

Form WE5 – Work Experience Risk Assessment

APPENDIX 1 – Promoting the Safety and Welfare of Young People

APPENDIX 2 – Health and Safety of Young People

APPENDIX 4 – Child Safeguarding

Year 13 Work Experience

We have built strong links with local businesses and outside agencies that provide us with on-going assistance in facilitating the development of our students in Sixth Form. Students are offered the opportunity to attend workshops and seminars in a range of career areas and every student will undertake at least one work experience in Year 13. Since universities place a lot of emphasis on the value of relevant work experience, it forms an important part of our Careers Programme.

Work experience for Year 13 students is scheduled for the mid-term break, in February each year.

Your son must choose a suitable employer and arrange a work placement for himself and provide details to his Careers Teacher/Mrs McCaughey, so that the necessary Insurance forms can be processed by the school. We hope that you will take an active role in assisting your son in choosing a suitable placement and the school’s Careers Adviser and Careers teachers will also provide support. Students should be on work placement for both days during their half-term break but may choose to arrange more than one placement, spending a day in each. Students are encouraged to make contact with employers early in the week previous to mid-term to finalise details concerning hours of work, starting times, dress code, lunch arrangements and the exact nature of the work to be undertaken.

Students may choose to complete further work experience placements during their Easter holidays, study leave in Term 3 or in July or August. If your son chooses to do this he must provide us with the details so we can arrange the necessary insurance.

Students must be aware that they will be working in an unfamiliar environment and the school will brief all students on Health and Safety and the need for exemplary conduct whilst on work placement. We would also ask parents to discuss the importance of health and safety and acceptable conduct with their son before their placement begins.

Students must be able to make informed decisions about their third level application and work experience is a critical part of this process. The Personal Statement section of the UCAS application requires students to write at length about relevant work experience and in some courses a lack of suitable experience may lead to a rejection. Students are encouraged to reflect on their experiences whilst on placement and examine their career choice in light of their work experiences in a career area. All employers are requested to complete a Report Form on your son’s work placement which forms part of the student’s UCAS Reference.

We hope that completing work experience during the mid-term break will help your son gain a greater knowledge of which career paths are best suited to his particular skills and personal qualities, while at the same time permitting him to focus completely on his academic studies and to gain the grades necessary for his chosen higher education courses.

 

Volunteering and Work Experience

As competition for jobs and places at reputable universities increases, it is becoming even more important that students participate in extra-curricular activities, volunteering, fundraising and/or community work both through school and outside of school. During their time in Post-16, students will be offered numerous opportunities to get involved in voluntary/community/charity work. Students interested in pursuing a health/caring role must ensure that they gain plenty of volunteering in a hospital/care setting as well as relevant work experience.

If a student or parent has any queries regarding work experience or career choices please feel free to contact Mr Anthony McMenamin, Head of Careers or Mrs Martina McCaughey, Careers Advisor.

Useful Links

Getting Started on Choosing a Career:
Careers Service NI www.nidirect.gov.uk/careers
Careers Service for university students and graduates www.prospects.ac.uk
Information and profiles on STEM careers www.qub.ac.uk/stem
Careers within the NHS www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/
Careers in Finance www.allaboutfinancecareers.co.uk
Careers in Law www.allaboutlaw.co.uk
Creative Careers www.ccskills.org.uk/careers
Engineering Careers www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk
Careers in Construction http://www.goconstruct.org
Higher & Further Education:
UCAS (University Admissions Service UK) www.ucas.com
Tips & advice on applying through UCAS using video guides & social media www.ucasconnect.com
CAO (Central Applications Office Ireland) www.cao.ie
Queen’s University Belfast www.qub.ac.uk
Ulster University www.ulster.ac.uk
St. Mary’s University College Belfast (Teaching) www.stmarys-belfast.ac.uk
Stranmillis University College (Teaching) www.stran.ac.uk
CAFRE (College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise) www.cafre.ac.uk
Belfast Metropolitan College Belfast www.belfastmet.ac.uk
South West College www.swc.ac.uk
North West Regional College Derry www.nwrc.ac.uk
Work out your job opportunities by comparing different universities, courses and careers www.bestcourse4me.com
Independent Guide to Universities www.push.co.uk
University guides, league tables, tips on applying www.applytouni.com
Which University? www.whatuni.com
Options after GCSEs and A-Levels www.studential.com
The Complete University Guide www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk
Information & advice for parents www.parentadviser.co.uk
Search University Open Days www.opendays.com
University Compare https://universitycompare.com/courses/degrees
Student Finance:
Student Finance NI www.studentfinanceni.co.uk

Student Loans Company

SUSI

www.slc.co.uk

SUSI – Further and Higher Education Grants, Ireland

Study Abroad:
EUNICAS (European University Applications) www.eunicas.com
Information on studying abroad www.astarfuture.co.uk
Advice & information for UK students interested in applying to US Universities www.fulbright.org.uk
Jobs:
Decided not to go to university? Explore your other options. www.notgoingtouni.co.uk
Careers in UK www.monster.co.uk 
Find a job in Northern Ireland www.nijobs.com
Jobs advertised in the independent newspaper ijobs.independent.co.uk
Search jobs in the UK www.fish4.co.uk
Jobs & work experience opportunities in the BBC www.bbc.co.uk/jobs
Scientific jobs around the world www.newscientistjobs.com/splash.action
Total Jobs www.totaljobs.com/jobseekers
Job Centre Online www.jobcentreonline.com
The Guardian Jobs http://jobs.theguardian.com
Financial Jobs www.cityjobs.com
Apprenticeships:
Apprenticeships NI www.apprenticeshipsni.info
Construction Apprenticeships www.citb.co.uk/bconstructive/
BT Apprenticeships www.btplc.com/Careercentre/earlycareers/apprentices/index.htm
Training for Success Programmes NI www.nidirect.gov.uk/trainingforsuccess
NIE Apprenticeships www.nienetworks.co.uk/Careers/Powerful-career-opportunities/Apprenticeships
Higher Level Apprenticeships:
Deloitte Bright Start (Business, Accountancy, IT) www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/careers/articles/brightstart-business-apprenticeship-scheme.html
Kainos Earn as You Learn (IT) www.kainos.com/careers/earnasyoulearn/
PWC Financial Apprenticeships & School Leaver Programmes www.pwc.co.uk/careers/schools/index.jhtml
South West College Higher Level Apprenticeships www.swc.ac.uk/engage/business-engagement/Higher-Level-Apprenticeships.aspx
Decided not to go to university? Explore your other options. www.notgoingtouni.co.uk
Volunteering & Gap Years:
Millennium Volunteers www.volunteernow.co.uk
Advice & Application packs for Western Health & Social Care Trust Volunteers www.westerntrust.hscni.net/Volunteering
Volunteering Opportunities in Northern Ireland www.nidirect.gov.uk/volunteering
Volunteer with Barnardos Northern Ireland www.barnardos.org.uk/northernireland
Friends of Africa www.friendsofafrica.org.uk
Volunteer Ireland www.volunteer.ie
TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) www.i-to-i.com
BUNAC work & volunteer programmes www.bunac.org
Camp America www.campamerica.co.uk
Contains information on Medical Schools in the UK, Medical work experience, Making your application, Interviews & What to do if you don’t get in. www.gapmedics.com
Gap Year Directory www.gapyeardirectory.co.uk
Year Out Group www.yearoutgroup.org

UCAS Information

Click on the link below for some advice on applying to Higher/Further Education:

 

UCAS Parents Information Booklet Sept 2023

Student Finance Applications

The online application for student finance is now available and should be completed by 24th April 2020.

Use the links below for some advice on how to complete your application.

Student Finance – Information to Parents

Year 14 – Student Finance Presentation

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