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


Thursday 26 September 2013

Still uncertain about Apprenticeships?

Earlier this Autumn, the Daily Telegraph printed a feature article about the benefits of Higher Apprenticeships  -  ones you start after taking 'A' levels.  The article featured the story of a local student who took up an Apprenticeship at John Lewis in Welwyn Garden City.  Read his story here ...

Work Experience opportunities in Medicine, Nursing and Midwifery

East and North Herts NHS Trust is offering work experience, based at the Lister Hospital in Stevenage.  The student programme has been designed for students aged 16-18 who are working towards a career in medicine or adult nursing; and for people over 16 who are considering a career in midwifery.  Click here for more information.

Friday 20 September 2013

Calling all potential High Flyers

If you are interested in becoming a pilot, there's a Professional Flight Training Exhibition taking place at Sofitel T5, London Heathrow on Saturday 26th October.  It promises to 'inform and advise on what it takes to become an airline pilot including the costs, selection process, types of training and career prospects.  Leading pilot training companies and experts from the UK, US and Europe will be present, including several universities to explain how to combine a university degree with pilot training.'  For more information, click here.

"So you want to be a Doctor?"

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust is offering a one day course for students, Year 10 and above, who are interested in a career in Medicine titled Introduction to Life as a Medical Student, Junior Doctor, Career in Medicine and Clinical Skills in Simulation Day.  This will take place from 9.00a.m. to 5.00p.m. in Watford Saturday 30th November.  The cost of the course is £50.00 and you can get a booking form from Mr Cross.  Alternatively, contact Carolyn Evans, Deputy Education Manager on 01923 217984 or Carolyn.evans@whht.nhs.uk

Advice for your UCAS Personal Statement

Year 13 students should be working on their Personal Statements.  There's plenty of good advice available  -  most importantly from the Sixth Form pastoral team  -  but click here for some additional guidance.

Tuesday 17 September 2013

Year 11 Information Evening Presentation

Click here for the slides shown in the Careers Education, Impartial Advice & Guidance section of the Year 11 Parents Information Evening ( 17th September 2013 ).  If you have any queries about the Impartial Advice and Guidance available in school ( including Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 Options ), please contact Mr Cross.

Friday 13 September 2013

Vets on Tour

The RVC on Tour is a perfect opportunity for students who are interested in a career improving animal health and welfare.  Each RVC on Tour event will focus on our three undergraduate programmes: Bioveterinary Sciences (UK Top 10 for Biosciences/Society of Biology Recognised), Veterinary Medicine (UK/EU/US Accredited) & Veterinary Nursing (UK Accredited), to demonstrate that becoming a Veterinarian is just one of the many opportunities within the Veterinary Profession.

All guests attending will have the opportunity to take part in interactive practical activities from our state-of-the-art Clinical Skills Centre such as; bandaging, gowning, gloving, attempting a one-handed surgical tie and demonstrating your sense of touch on our state-of-the-art haptic laptop.  It's also a terrific opportunity for prospective students/parents/teachers to talk with RVC staff/students/Graduates to gain a realistic overview of life in the veterinary world and what life is like as a student at the Royal Veterinary College.

The nearest event on the tour is at Dame Alice Owen School, Potters Bar;
 
3.00 - 6.00p.m. Friday 20th September 2013

Each session is open to secondary school students, parents/guardians, teachers and careers advisors. www.rvc.ac.uk/rvcontour.

NB: These events are run free of charge.  Due to certain areas of the presentation containing admissions information these events are primarily aimed at students from Year 10 and upwards.

Criminology Taster Day

The Law School at Lancaster University is offering taster Sessions in Law & Criminology on Saturday 19th October 2013.  The ‘Taste of a Law School’ is designed to give students from Years 11 onwards the opportunity to get a closer look at what is involved in a university law or criminology degree and also to get a glimpse of life on a campus university.  The day will begin at 12.15p.m. with a welcome session in the Faraday building and is due to close with refreshments and an opportunity to talk informally with staff and students at 4.30pm.  The day will include a range of mini-lectures and seminars in law and in criminology. These include:

 • Press Regulation

• Proving Crime: The Law of Evidence

• A Death Lottery? US and European Views on Capital Punishment

• Anti-Social Behaviour 

• ‘So kill me now – why not?’ Should assisted dying be lawful?

• Hate Crime

The Taster Day is also open to any individuals and guests who wish to attend.  There will also be campus tours, a careers talk and general information about the law degrees and criminology degrees at Lancaster.

To register for this event please contact:  Wendy Doggett  Undergraduate Co-ordinator  on 01524 592465 or at w.doggett@lancaster.ac.uk

Thursday 5 September 2013

Impartial subject choice guidance for Year 11s

Subject choices made in Year 11 can have a major impact on the course options available at university.  Each Autumn, the University of Cambridge runs practical and informative Saturday afternoon sessions for Year 11 students.  The events, called The Subject Matters, highlight the importance of suitable 'A' Level (or equivalent) subject choices when making an application to a top research-led university and helps students access information to make informed 'A' Level choices.

The Subject Matters sessions for 2013 will take place in Cambridge on Saturday 5th October, Saturday 19th October, and Saturday 23rd November.  The sessions run from 1.30pm until 4.30pm, with registration from 12.45pm.  Further information about these events and booking forms are available here.

University workloads are not all the same ...

The Times Higher Education Supplement has analysed the data produced by the Which report ‘The academic experience of students in English universities’ and found huge differences in workload between university sectors and within courses.  In broad terms, the post 1992 universities have significantly lower workloads than the traditional universities and Oxbridge comes top in nearly all cases.  The average amount of study for architecture, planning and building courses was 40 hours per week, compared to 23 for mass communication and documentation.   [ source GTA Careers newsletter ]  For a table of comparisons, click here.