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).

 

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

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

Enterprise Co-ordinator - Louise Friend

Enterprise Adviser - Holly Angelinetta

 

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:

https://padlet.com/SomersetCareersHub/students-parents-carers-1pxjr1trglt7hjmz 

 

Documents:

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