Careers and Work Experience
Careers at DRHS
Aim
At Denmark Road High School, we aim to support students, so that they can make informed decisions about their future, by raising aspirations, offering and promoting varied opportunities and providing impartial and independent information and guidance.
DRHS is committed to providing all students in Years 7-13 with a Careers Programme that has been developed in line with the eight Gatsby benchmarks for ensuring best practice and to meet the requirements of the Department for Education’s statutory guidance 2018.
Jane Steele, Assistant Headteacher - Curriculum and Careers is the Careers Lead for Denmark Road High School. 01452 543335, steelej@denmarkroad.org. Jane Steele is currently working towards the Level 6 Diploma in Careers Education and Guidance.
Careers Programme
The Careers programme at DRHS has been planned across Years 7 – 13 to support students in gaining the skills and knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their future.
The core programme is delivered through the Careers in Tutorial Programme. This programme has been specifically arranged to enable progression and development, through the use of Unifrog, from Years 7 and 13 and to meet the Gatsby benchmarks. Each student has their own account.
Unifrog
Unifrog is a fully comprehensive, impartial careers platform that allows students to become further immersed in learning about their future options. It is used as a key tool in the delivery of Careers within the Learning for Life programme throughout the whole school.
Every student has their own account which they can access at any time from any device. The tools, activities and opportunities presented by Unifrog are supported by Form Tutors. Every term, students are asked to reflect on their key competencies and activities within Unifrog. This helps students to chart skill development and allows them to reflect on the opportunities they have both at home and at school to personally develop. If any parent/carer would like a trial account then please contact Jane Steele.
In addition, there are other events and activities that are planned alongside the Tutorial programme to support Careers at DRHS. For example:
- STEM INVEST days, competitions and activities
- Arts INVEST days, workshops and visiting artists
- Year 9 Options Evening – for students to discuss GCSE options with subject staff
- 1:1 KS 4 pathway meetings with SLT for all Year 9 students to discuss their options
- 1:1 Post-16 pathway meetings with SLT for all Year 11 students to talk through their post-16 plans
- Maths Inspiration
- GCSE and A Level Science Live
- Girls Get Set – national project with GE
- STEP Up Programme in Year 11 and 12 to support students aiming for Oxbridge
- Year 11 and Year 13 practice interviews carried out by professionals from a range of career areas
- Sixth Form Open Evening – for students to find out more about each course, life in the sixth form and the support available (e.g. with UCAS)
- UCAS and Apprenticeship open days
- Support with UCAS and Apprenticeship applications and personal statements
- Access to employers, business and work environments through trips and events
- Future Proof – access to support and guidance from professional mentors
- FE, HE and Employers Careers Fair [from 2020/2021] for students to find out more about further and higher education, apprenticeships, employment and training
Careers Programme @ DRHS
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Year 7 |
Year 8 |
Year 9 |
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Careers in Tutorial Programme (Unifrog)
Medical Research Zone (within Science) Live Chat with scientists to find out what they do.
STEM Day
Girls Get Set (Jan – June) |
Termly use of Unifrog Competencies Tracker
Careers in Tutorial Programme (Unifrog)
Maths and STEM Day (October)
Careers in NHS Project (Term 2)
Arts Day (January)
Cyber Day STEM Employers (June)
Year 8 Challenge Award – thinking about employability skills and ambition (Term 6) |
Termly use of Unifrog Competencies Tracker
Careers in Tutorial Programme (Unifrog)
Quadcoptors STEM Employers (Sept - Dec)
Dragon’s Den [Geography] (November)
Girls Get Set [Jan – June]
GCSE Options Evening (March)
1:1 GCSE Pathway interviews with SLT (March)
Assembly on Law and Employment (Term 4)
Careers Fair NEW (Term 4) |
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Year 10 |
Year 11 |
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Termly use of Unifrog Competencies Tracker
Careers in Tutorial Programme (Unifrog)
GCSE Science Live [October]
Careers Programme as part of Learning for Life [+ RS lessons Term 6]
Careers Fair NEW (Term 4)
Work Placement (July) |
Termly use of Unifrog Competencies Tracker
Careers in Tutorial Programme (Unifrog)
1:1 Careers Advice
Morrisby On-line Careers
Signposting to Apprenticeship Open Days
STEP UP programme for Oxbridge (October – February)
Practice Interviews (January)
Sixth Form Open Evening (January)
1:1 Post-16 Interviews with SLT (Term 3)
Careers Fair NEW (Term 4)
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Year 12 |
Year 13 |
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Termly use of Unifrog Competencies Tracker
Careers in Tutorial Programme (Unifrog)
1:1 Careers Advice
FUTURE PROOF Professional Mentor
Signposting to Apprenticeship Open Days
Weekly work experience
Introduction to STEP UP programme for Oxbridge [October]
Oxbridge Support Programme [January - July]
Girls Get Set [Jan – June]
Careers Fair NEW (Term 4)
UCAS Fair (April)
Work Placement (June)
Unifrog – writing your personal statement (June/July) |
Termly use of Unifrog Competencies Tracker
Careers in Tutorial Programme (Unifrog)
1:1 Careers Advice
FUTURE PROOF Professional Mentor
Signposting to Apprenticeship Open Days
UCAS support (September/October)
MAT support (September - October)
Oxbridge Support Subject Interviews (Sept – Dec)
CV Writing (October)
Medics Support MMI Practice (November)
Practice Interviews (November) |
7 – 13 Careers in Tutorial Programme (Unifrog)
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Term 1 |
Term 2 |
Term 3 |
Term 4 |
Term 5 |
Term 6 |
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7 |
Onboarding Intro to Unifrog Treasure Hunt [Gatsby 2 + 8] |
What are skills? [Gatsby 3] |
Identifying interests [Gatsby 2 + 3]
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What does success mean to you? [Gatsby 1 + 3] |
What is your dream job? [Gatsby 2 + 3]
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Independence [Gatsby 3]
Careers in STEM [Gatsby 4] |
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8 |
Listening Skills [Gatsby 3]
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What makes a great communicator? [Gatsby 8]
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What makes a great leader? [Gatsby 3 + 8] |
What makes a great team player? [Gatsby 8] |
Resilience [Gatsby 3]
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Analysis [Gatsby 3] |
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9 |
Problem Solving [Gatsby 3] |
GCSE Choices, Choices [Gatsby 1 + 3]
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Career Terminology [Gatsby 1 + 2] |
Your skills, your team, your future [Gatsby 2 + 6]
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Leadership [Gatsby 3] |
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The BIG 50 OFFLINE [Gatsby 3 + 8] |
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10 |
Two sides of a coin [Gatsby 8] |
Revision: Good v bad [Gatsby 3]
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Employment Rights [Gatsby 2 + 6] |
Subject Library Treasure Hunt [Gatsby 2 + 8]
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CV Card Sort CV- Your Experiences [Gatsby 5 + 6] |
Volunteering x 3 [Gatsby 2, 5 + 8] |
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The BIG 50 ONLINE [Gatsby 3 + 8] |
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11 |
Maximising Your Potential [Gatsby 1 + 5]
Post 16 Choices [Gatsby 3 + 7]
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Facilitating Subjects [Gatsby 7 + 8]
Time to review and develop CVs [Gatsby 1 + 5] |
Basics of Interviews [Gatsby 4 + 5]
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Revision - Getting Motivated [Gatsby 3 + 8] |
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The BIG 50 ONLINE [Gatsby 3 + 8] |
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12 |
MOOCs [Gatsby 1 + 3]
Intro to Work Experience- Research [Gatsby 3 + 5]
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Intro to Apprenticeships [Gatsby 2 + 3]
Study Abroad Week [Gatsby 3 + 7] |
Preparing for UCAS Convention [Gatsby 3 + 7]
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Apprenticeships Finding the best fit Busting the myths [Gatsby 2 + 3]
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Preparation for WEX How to behave in the workplace [Gatsby 5 + 6] University terminology [Gatsby 3 + 7]
Gap Year [Gatsby 3 + 8] |
Preparation for WEX [Gatsby 5 + 6]
Personal statements Jumbled Personal Statements [Gatsby 7] |
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13 |
Interview Skills – position specify questions [Gatsby 5 + 6]
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Become a LinkedIn Pro [Gatsby 2 + 8]
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Professional Networking [Gatsby 2 + 4]
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Professional Networking [Gatsby 2 + 4]
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Independent Advice and Guidance
At DRHS we work with two independent and highly qualified Careers Advisors who carry out at least one 1:1 30 to 40-minute career interview with all students in both KS4 and KS5.
Additionally, students can choose to purchase life-long access to Morrisby, an online careers platform and this is funded by the school for students eligible for support through Pupil Premium or Forces Premium. Our Careers Advisors are fully trained Morrisby Advisors.
Careers and Labour Market Information
We think it is very important that students (and parents) have access to a wide range of information about different careers and also the labour market.
Careers related information and guidance specifically relates to careers, jobs and training. At DRHS this includes advice and guidance on choices and options at KS4, Post-16 and Post- 18 – for example applying for an apprenticeship, taking a gap year or going to university in the UK or abroad.
Labour market information is about current work and job/apprenticeship opportunities in specific locations. This includes information about companies and organisations, industries, occupations and professions. It also includes information on the labour market in terms of past and present trends as well as future demands which can be useful for students thinking about post-university opportunities.
There are a wide range of sources for this information and it is an area that changes regularly.
Some sources of information are included in our careers programme, such as Unifrog and UCAS.
There are also some examples of additional online and published resources can be found in the table at the bottom of this page.
Experience of the Workplace
All students in Year 10 (2020/2021 Activities Week) and Year 12 (June 2021) take part in a week’s work experience. In addition, Year 12 students can have a weekly work placement on Thursdays as part of our INVEST curriculum.
Signposting Opportunities
Throughout the year, the school is made aware of new and current opportunities that relate to careers that are not part of the planned programme.
Many of these are sent to the school by email and so we are not always able to verify the quality of the offer. However, we do our best to find out if other schools are aware of them or if they are from known providers. In most cases, we then pass the details on to parents and students.
For example, in September 2020 Mrs Dunnett, Progress and Wellbeing Coordinator for Year 12 sent out information from Trinity College, Cambridge about studying Maths/STEM or Languages.
Online Resources
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Resource |
Overview |
Additional information |
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Unifrog
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A comprehensive careers education platform that DRHS have purchased and use as the framework for our careers programme.
[Free to DRHS students] |
For staff:
For Students
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Morrisby
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A full careers platform with information to support choices post -16 and beyond. An assessment tool to support 1:1 career advice and information.
[DRHS students £30 fee – DRHS support for students eligible for Pupil/Service Premium]
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Students in Y11 and Y12 (Term 1) are offered the opportunity to purchase a lifelong subscription to Morrisby.
On joining, students undergo detailed assessment of individual skills and attributes that used by the student and careers advisor.
The platform has detailed careers information and includes courses in the UK and abroad.
Our Careers Advisor is Morrisby trained and uses the added info in the 1:1 interview.
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National Careers Service www.nationalcareers.service.gov.uk
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(Free) The national careers tool that has information for students and parents on careers, training and employment.
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I could
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(Free) Careers information website
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Career paths (starting from choosing GCSE options and includes revision, HE and Gap Year etc.)
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Careers Box
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(Free) Information on different careers – from the employee’s view |
Video clips to give an insight into some different careers. For example, if you use the search function and put in Chef – up comes a video of “A day in the life of a Chef de Partie” |
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Inside Careers
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(Free) Detailed information on specific careers related to Finance |
Sector overview, how to find the right job and employee profiles for what they term are ‘niche’ careers:
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Prospects
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(Free) Information on a wide range of career related areas.
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An introduction to HE and universities Includes information on work experience, volunteering, summer jobs and gap years. Current national and international employment and intern vacancies |
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Not Going to Uni
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(Free) Information on post – 18 alternatives to university as well as current opportunities. |
Provides information on lots of alternatives to university post-18: apprenticeships, training, FE, employment etc.
Current local and national employment, training and apprenticeship vacancies |
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HEAP Online
*There are also a set of HEAP books available and published annually. HEAP University Guide 2021 HEAP 2021: University Degree course Offers |
Information and comparison of degree courses and degree apprenticeship courses (new 2020).
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Takes a bit of surfing to find online advice pages but HEAP provides some information to help students:
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UCAS
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(Free to browse) Details of HE courses and information relating to applying, student life, finance and careers.
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Essential browsing for any Year 11/12 students who are seriously considering university or an apprenticeship post-18. Website includes information about studying for a year abroad as part of UK course or studying a degree abroad.
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Gov UK
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(Free) Information relating to apprenticeships at 16 and 18, HE and finance. |
Some relevant sections here include:
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University Webinars
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(Free) webinars – online events hosted by universities that feature talks by lectures, undergraduates and graduates. |
Universities are now providing a whole range of information and guidance through webinars.
Example - May 2020 MFL students attended a Bristol University Webinar - Careers in Languages that covered: - why study languages - the year abroad - gaining skills in the workplace - graduate employment opportunities
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Study EU
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(Free) Information on studying in the EU. |
Browse by subject to see and compare courses and institutions in the UK and rest of the EU.
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Study in Europe
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(Free) Information on studying in 24 different European countries |
Summary of information by country.
Or, search by course/subject to find information about studying a specific course in Europe – term times, EU and non-EU costs
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Erasmus Programme Erasmus Programme +
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(Free) Practical advice and information about the Erasmus Programme/Erasmus +
Study abroad as part of an exchange programme between intuitions - 5000 HE institutions in 37 countries.
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Programme involves 3 to 12 months studying abroad - either as part of a degree course or you can choose to do it to experience another country.
Good for students to be aware of the options. |
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European Commission of Education and Training
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(Free) Information on education and training throughout Europe. |
Lots of really useful information for anyone thinking of going abroad to study
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Hot Courses Abroad
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(Free) Information about degree courses worldwide. |
Study in Europe or beyond – 78 destinations and over 350,000 courses. Search comparison website:
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SACU
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(Free) LMI information for students. |
Simple introduction the labour market in an easy to use format – good for slightly younger students.
Information is up to date.
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LMI for All
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(Free) Website that offers UK labour market information in an easily accessible format.
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Another website offering LMI is an easy to access format.
Information is up to date.
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Target Jobs
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(Free) Information for graduates on how to get a job or internship in a wide range of sectors.
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Details of grants available and training opportunities.
Whilst this website is for graduates, it has some good information that Year 11, 12 and 13 would find helpful in terms of future planning.
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Career Smart
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(Free) Information on labour market trends |
Career and LMI information for a wide range of professions and industries Pay, conditions and prospects all covered on this website. Includes information on employment growth for STEM
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HECSU
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HEKSU – UK universities and HE Guild. Charitable objectives to provide careers and LMI information.
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Website features good articles on: - Careers advice, jobs and post-grad courses - Labour market information - Post-graduate data
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Data Hub www.datahub.rcultd.co.uk/blocks/labour-market-information
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(Free) Data dashboard that draws on LMI for all data.
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Labour market information on 100s of jobs in a wide variety of sectors. |
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European Trade Union Institute |
(Free) Labour market information to get a feel for trends in Europe. |
Job vacancies tab for current vacancies Topic tab – Economic trends and labour market and employment information |
Paper Resources [Available from DRHS Careers Library]
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Resource |
Overview |
Additional information |
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Careers 2020
Published annually by Optimus Education Resources
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Up to date information on careers and labour market. |
Detailed job/career profiles:
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Mandor Portman Woodward Getting into Law
Emily Lucas Published by Trotman
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Other titles include:
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Comprehensive careers information. For Law:
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The Times/The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020
John O’Leary Published annually by Collins
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A comprehensive guide to the process of choosing a course, university (UK/abroad) and the application process.
Compare universities. |
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University Prospectuses 2020 |
Having looked at The Times University Guide – a good follow up is to read the individual prospectus universities on your long/short list.
Arranged A – Z in DRHS Careers Library.
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Glossy guide to:
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Royal Air Force Sponsored in partnership with the National Apprenticeship Service.
The Apprenticeship Guide 2020 Published annually by Optimus Education Resources
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A comprehensive and up to date guide to a huge range of local and national apprenticeships |
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University Interviews – Top answers and insider tips
Ian Stannard and Godrey Cooper Published by Trotman
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A practical guide to preparing for interviews for university and apprenticeships – with details of recommended further reading |
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Impact and Review
Throughout the year, students are asked to reflect on their progress within careers through Unifrog. This helps students to chart skill development and allows them to reflect on the opportunities they have had to personally develop.
At the end of the academic year we will measure the impact of our careers programme:
We will review Unifrog, as our main careers tool in the school, to see the progress our students have made in terms of skills and experiences.
We also look at how our students and tutors have made use of Unifrog resources during the year and review this by key stage in order to refine our plans for the following year.
Additionally, we consider student engagement – for example we review the proportion of:
- Students in each key stage who encounter the workplace or higher education during the academic year
- KS4 and KS5 who have a 1:1 career meeting with a qualified Careers Advisor
- Year 10 (from 2020/2021) and Year 12 students who take part in work experience
- Year 11 and 13 students who take part in practice interviews
- KS5 students completing MOOCs
- Year 11 students going on to post-16 courses
- Year 13 students going on to post-18 courses
Our Careers programme is reviewed annually using the Compass Tool to ensure that our provision meets the Gatsby benchmarks.
In 2020/2021, Jane Steele, Careers Lead started working with the Gloucestershire Learning and Enterprise Partnership, LEP who have access to the Compass Tool results and are able to support schools in moving forward with careers.
Please see the latest Career Provider Access Statement.