Careers Information
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”0″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-users” title=”Departmental Staff” tab_id=”1459809849923-f6ac1712-a798″ add_icon=”true”][vc_column_text]Head of Careers: Mrs Corona McMorrowPost-16 Careers Teachers:
- Mrs Corona McMorrow
- Mrs Oonagh McCrory
- Mrs Maria McKenna
- Mrs Anita Breen
- Mrs Anne Gallagher
Careers Advisers:
- Mrs Martina McCaughey
GCSE
Key Stage 4 information to Parents & Student Booklet 2019-21
Post 16
Post16 Prospectus 2020-21[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-file-word-o” title=”Work Experience” tab_id=”1459810127632-b0f3c543-75e9″ add_icon=”true”][vc_column_text]
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 Mrs Martina McGaughey, Careers Advisor or Mrs Corona McMorrow, Head of Careers.
| 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 |
| University of Ulster | 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 |
| Student Finance: | |
| Student Finance NI | www.studentfinanceni.co.uk |
| Student Loans Company | www.slc.co.uk |
| 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 Parents Information Booklet Sept 2019
[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-money” title=”Student Finance Applications” tab_id=”1585748682040-85c5b5b6-4c6e” add_icon=”true”][vc_column_text]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[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row]