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


Tuesday 7 June 2016

Applying to Medical School

Applying to study Medicine is always a potential "minefield", with conflicting advice from different sources. That said, the more information you have at your fingertips the better.

You can view slides from a PowerPoint, titled Applying for Medicine, which was delivered at a recent national careers conference, here.

Also useful, is a table of information about which Medical Schools will take any A/S level qualifications you have into account when applying for Autumn 2017 entry.  View it here.

Monday 6 June 2016

Two pathways planned at 16+

The first skills white paper in a decade will bring an end to mixed provision and make 16-year-olds choose between academic courses leading to university or a new Technical Professional Education (TPE) route into work. The leaked, government  paper, is likely to be controversial for fear the plans will create a two-tier system between academic schools and vocational colleges. A three-year course could also be an option, with the first year preparing students to start on TPEs. There will be a substantial work experience element within each college-based TPE “pathway”, within its relevant industry.

Impact of the Digital Revolution

Students should be able to take Computer Science instead of a language at GCSE and schools should offer a 'technical stream' for 14-18 year olds, according to a new report, which also says the Ebacc is forcing students into a “19th century diet of academic subjects for all”. In The Digital Revolution, former education secretary and chair of the Edge Foundation, Lord Kenneth Baker writes that radical action is needed to help prepare children for the the impact of the digital revolution, which he terms the "fourth industrial revolution".

“The economy is changing at an unprecedented pace,” he said. “Every day, jobs are being lost in professions we used to regard as careers for life. artificial intelligence, robots, 3D printing and driverless vehicles will impact on sectors as varied as the legal profession, transport and construction.

“The UK’s future workforce will need technical expertise in areas such as design and computing, plus skills which robots cannot replace – flexibility, empathy, creativity and enterprise.

“Right now, this thinking is almost entirely absent from the core curriculum in mainstream schools.”

His report was prompted by the Bank of England’s prediction that up to 15 million jobs are at risk of automation across the UK economy.