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

Key Stage 4 Prospectus 2024-26

Post 16

Post16 Prospectus 2024-26

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.

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

UCAS Parents Information Booklet Sept 2023

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