This blog is designed to keep you up-to-date with Careers Education, Information and Guidance (CEIAG) available locally, nationally and through the school. I’ll be posting information about employment and training opportunities available locally as well as details of open days and useful websites. The world of education, employment and training opportunities is changing rapidly so keep checking in for the latest information.

Mr Cross


Monday 25 February 2013

Useful Information for Year 9 Parents and Pupils

The deadline for handing in the Key Stage 4 Options Form is Monday 11th March.  If you are still not sure about which courses to choose or where they might lead, here are some websites which might help you:
  • Careerscape and Kudos at Cascaid  -  these are two interactive tools with questionnaires, videos and case-studies to help inform your decision-making.  You'll need the code provided with your Options Booklet to access the software;
  • i-could  - a site with videos and a 'careers wizard' to get you thinking;
  • Growing Ambitions  -  a guidance site aimed at parents as well as pupils;
  • BestCourse4Me  -  a site which helps you to map out possible pathways from Year 10 to university and beyond;
  • Parent-Adviser  -  a site aimed at helping parents support their children's decision-making;
  • The National Careers Service  -  a Government site with guidance about all aspects of study, training and employment.
Remember, there's still plenty of time to get the impartial advice and guidance you need.  Don't forget that you can book a meeting with Jackie Duffy, our Youth Connexions Personal Adviser, through Mr Cross, Mr Sievewright or Mrs Darnell.
 

Tuesday 12 February 2013

Free Accountancy training taster days

GKF Business School in Watford is offering free taster days this Spring.  They offer AAT Accounting courses at Levels 1 to 4 and also fast-track courses to enable quick progression for students wishing to go on through the university route or intending to gain professional chartered status. Furthermore, they 'guarantee to offer work experience based in their own Accountancy Practice'.  For further details, click here.

Friday 8 February 2013

Increase in numbers in Apprenticeships

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) announced last month that Apprenticeship starts have topped half a million.  In the 2011-12 academic year, 520,600 people started an Apprenticeship  –  an increase of 13.9% on the previous year and 86.1% since 2009-10.  Engineering did particularly well, with starts up 21.5% to 59,480.  Growth in Higher Apprenticeships was also strong, increasing by 67.6%.  The £25 million Higher Apprenticeship Fund has resulted in 29 projects set to create 20,000 Higher Apprenticeship places over the next three years in careers such as engineering, law and accountancy.  For more details of the report, click here; for further information about local and national Apprenticeship opportunities, follow the Useful Links at the left of this page.

Monday 4 February 2013

Careers Guidance for Parents

The Youth Connexions website offers a range of guides and useful information for students in Years 9 to 13 as well as their parents or carers.  There is a very informative leaflet, particularly aimed at parents, containing information on topics such as local employment and the costs of entering Higher Education.  Paper copies will be made available at school events later this year but an electronic copy can be downloaded here.