CAREERS
Year 7-11 Advice
Key Stage 3
The best place to start exploring careers is by logging on to your Unifrog account.
Use the quizzes to realises skills, interests and abilities and use the huge database of careers videos to see to types of work and education available in your future.
In year 9 you will also need to choose the GCSE subjects you're going to study so it might be useful to look at some of the careers related to these subjects to help with your decisions. Don't worry though - it's unlikely you'll rule out many careers at this stage!
Year 10
Year 10 is all about research & preparation for Year 11 applications
It's essential to explore your career ideas further to help you to plan what you might want to do after year 11.
Work Experience - ideally you should try to get some work experience that's related to careers that interest you - see the work experience section for further advice about this and record your placement on Unifrog.
College Open Days - although you can leave this until year 11 there's no reason why you couldn't attend some of the college open days during year 10 - see college websites for details.
Year 11
Year 11 is about putting your plans into action
What you should be doing in Year 11:
Continue to research career ideas
No career ideas? Ask for a careers interview or explore using Unifrog
Go to 6th form & college open days / evenings - this gives you the opportunity to have a look around, talk to tutors & pick up course information. These start in October so from September check school / college websites for dates & further information. * Grammer schools & BOA have earlier closing dates so check.
At this stage it's best to keep your options open - explore all the options open to you, apply to all the places you're interested in & then decide later (August) where you're going to go.
It's OK not to have it all worked out yet BUT by the start of year 11 you should ideally:
Have some understanding about where the subjects you're interested in studying could take you
Have researched any career ideas thoroughly & have an understanding of those careers & the routes into them
Have started looking into the courses / subjects / apprenticeships that are required for the career(s) that you're interested in
Your Options After Year 11 - click on the links below for further advice and information:
Staying in full time education - A levels & vocational qualifications, school 6th form & colleges
Apprenticeships - how these work, the different levels & where to look for apprenticeships
Traineeships - might be an option for you if you fel you need further support moving from school on to the next stage & especially if you might need to improve your maths & English