Careers overview

 

Careers Information, Advice and Guidance at St Dunstan's School:

 

St Dunstan’s School aims to promote a culture of high aspiration and high expectation. Careers Education is recognised as playing an important role in motivating our pupils, promoting equality of opportunity and maximising their academic and personal achievements. We are committed to providing a planned programme of Careers Education through PSHE lessons, planned tutor time activities as well as assemblies, work experience placements and relevant trips and visits to help prepare them for the opportunities and challenges of adulthood.

Careers guidance is of significant importance for young people today; the landscape of education, training and employment opportunities that students need to navigate is more complex and more challenging than that faced by previous generations. The raising of the age for participating in learning means that young people face a wider range of choices of courses and places to study. Qualifications such as GCSE and A level have changed, and opportunities in higher education extend now beyond the UK to other parts of Europe and further afield. Students need help to make choices and manage transitions: they need good quality careers education, information, advice and guidance.

Careers education does not just mean informing students about their options after school but also how their school career will affect their futures. It is our statutory duty to ensure that all pupils receive independent, impartial advice and guidance regarding all options within school as well as  how they will affect their options after school and which careers pathways will become available to them. Beginning Careers Education early means that students can make better informed decisions at transition stages and are more motivated in school in order to follow a particular pathway. By helping students with decisions at crucial stages, informing them of all their options and introducing them to the world of work, we aim to prepare them for life after school whichever path they choose.

 

St Dunstan’s School Careers Programme Rationale:

Our Careers Information, Advice and Guidance programme is available to help support your child make well-informed choices about their future as they move through St Dunstan’s School. This programme is delivered through our Curriculum, Tutor Programme, assemblies and enrichment.   

By the end of the programme we aim for all our students to be well motivated, confident and focussed on achieving their dreams, with high aspirations for their future careers. Our students will be excited and committed to improving their own future as well as the future of their local community. A St Dunstan’s student will be able to research careers and future pathways with confidence, write CV's, covering letters and application forms.  They will be able to talk confidently about their future; share subject specific knowledge, and be able to agree an action plan with an Independent careers adviser (Beth Church - Career appointments at St Dunstans) to reduce NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training).

 

You can view our Careers Programme here.

 

School Support:

As a school we work with Somerset Careers Hub, ASK Apprenticeship scheme, local colleges and for Year 10’s the  Somerset Work Experience Partnership to signpost and promote Post 16 opportunities. We use the Pathway Planner Tool Careerpilot to support students with further education and funding questions.

The Careers Hub at school has a range of books, magazines and prospectuses designed to help students make informed choices. Students can make an appointment with our careers advisor by emailing careersadvisor@stdunstansschool.com

We run a comprehensive programme of Careers Assemblies and Careers Events throughout the year. This is shared with our parents and students in our Careers News.

 

Parent Support:

Access Careersmag to support students with their choices.National Careers WebsiteApprenticeships and current vacancies. 

Careers Bulletin 1

Careers Bulletin 2

 

Recommended Websites:

Below are a variety of recommended websites which can be used to support pupils when making decisions about work experience and careers.

  • Careerpilot: https://www.careerpilot.org.uk 

  • Careerpilot is an award winning careers information website where you can research amongst other things:

  • Your choices at 14, 16 and 18

  • Information about different job sectors and up to date labour market information

  • Signposts to other recommended websites

  • Parentzone to provide support for parents

  • National Careers Service provides help, guidance and information: https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/

  • For careers that need a degree or similar qualification Prospects has information about job roles, qualifications required and what careers particular degrees can lead to: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/

No idea what you want to do?

Don’t feel like you are the only person who doesn’t have a clue what you want to do. Proof of this is in the number of quizzes and assessments designed to help you generate ideas. Here are some of the best:

 

 Post-16:

Strode College Website Click here

Bridgwater College Website Click here

Bridgwater campus  Click here 

Cannington Click here

Yeovil College Website Click here

 

Helpful websites:

The student and parent padlet is updated daily by the Somerset Careers Hub with a myriad of opportunitities and events students can attend to help develop their career ideas.

 

Legislation:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QZ7RRNLXQ1XQjaTy0xOuX9hffshJfwdt-DjWM5IoMZs/edit?tab=t.0 

Employers & Training Providers

At St Dunstan's School we are busy growing your employees of the future.  We welcome the help of local businesses to raise the career aspirations of our students, develop their employability skills and learn more about the exciting industries in Somerset.

We welcome Training Providers and employers to come into school and talk to our students.

How Employers and Training Providers Can Help Our Students:


 Book to attend our Careers Fair which we run each summer


 Give a short careers talk about your company, apprenticeship scheme, your role and career path and answer students’ questions. 


 Providing Work Experience to our students. Year 10s complete a five-day placement in July which they start arranging from February.


 Assisting with the Year 10 Mock Interview event. This is in May and around 20
interviewers are needed to give all our Year 10 students an interview experience.


 We aim where possible to bring the careers and workplace application into curriculum lessons. We welcome links with employers who can contribute to a specific subject department by either allowing students to visit their company on a school trip, or come into school to deliver an aspect of subject curriculum to a class.


 If you have an apprenticeship you wish to fill please inform School Reception who will speak with our Careers Team. 

 

Staff

Our Personal, Social, Health, and Economic (PSHE) curriculum from years 7 to 11 plays a
crucial role in equipping students with essential employability skills and workplace knowledge. It helps students develop key competencies such as problem-solving, communication, creativity, leadership, and adaptability. These skills are highly valued by
employers and are fundamental for success in the modern workplace. Additionally, PSHE
provides students with vital information about the world of work, including understanding
employment trends, workplace rights and responsibilities, and the importance of work-life
balance. PSHE ensures that students are not only academically prepared but also ready to
navigate and thrive in their future careers. 


All teachers include careers into their lessons and develop student’s employability skills with their link to 'Real World Scenarios'.


Teachers are encouraged to implement the below into the curriculum:


 Have a prominent display that links subject learning and skill development to
different careers.


 Develop links with businesses and organisations.


 To invite alumni and other external speakers to come into school.


 Where appropriate to organise external visits for students to local businesses.


 Record careers learning opportunities for students in schemes of learning.


 Take part in whole school careers events, such as the Careers Fair by actively engaging with the exhibitors, building links in their own curriculum areas.


 Consider the needs and interests of all students and ensure that information challenges career stereotyping including gender, race and disability.

 

School Careers Advisor

 

Beth Church - CEIAG Adviser - We pride ourselves on offering all students specialist independent and impartial Career Advice and Guidance through our dedicated Careers Advisor, Beth Church. Beth holds a level 6 qualification in Careers Guidance and is based St Dunstan's once a week. Any students wishing to book an appointment can do so by informing their tutor or Mrs Kench, or emailing directly at careersadvisor@stdunstansschool.com.

 

1:1 interviews with Beth can happen at any stage of your journey at St Dunstans.  You may wish to talk to Beth in Year 9 about choosing options and how these options can link to possible post 16 courses.  During year 10 you will be starting to think about Work Experience and the many options available to you after year 11.  In year 11 you might need some support with College/sixth form/apprenticeship application forms.  Or you may be undecided about your next steps.  Perhaps you have a clear plan and want to discuss University entry or degree apprenticeships.  All these can be discussed during your 1:1 meeting with Beth.  Beth will produce an Action Plan and Information Sheet following your careers meeting and these will be shared with parents and school staff so that you can be fully supported in your careers journey during and after St Dunstans.

 

 

Contact details for the staff responsible for overseeing the careers programme:

Careers Lead – Miss A Kench 

SLT Careers Link - Mrs N Watson 

Independent Careers Advisor – Beth Church

Somerset Careers Hub Enterprise Co-ordinator - Louise Friend

The Enterprise Co-Ordinator supports St Dunstan's school implement and evaluate the Gatsby Foundation's eight Career Benchmarks of good practice.

Millfield Director or Enterprises - Holly Angelinetta

Director of Enterprises offers support from a busisness perspective on our Careers Curriculum