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Careers

"If you don't know where you are going you will probably end up somewhere else" (Laurence Peter)

Aims of the Department

To help pupils to develop the knowledge and skills they need to make informed choices about learning and work through a coherent cross-curricular approach. Pupils are encouraged to take the time to understand themselves and the influences on them, as well as exploring learning and employment opportunities to enable them to manage their own career progression.

Careers Resources

The careers library is situated directly above the school library and is open to pupils each day. Sixth form students are encouraged to use the resources during individual study periods and pupils from any year group may use the room at morning break and most lunchtimes from 1.15pm.  There are drop in sessions on Monday and Thursday lunchtimes when Mrs F Wilson, the school’s careers co-ordinator, is available to answer questions and help students find the resources they require.

Resources include books and information sheets on a large range of careers providing information about the type of work involved, skills required, entry requirements and related occupations. Leaflets are catalogued using the CRCI system (Connexions Resource Centre Index) and may be photocopied for individual use. We also subscribe to eCLIPS careers information leaflets that can be accessed at www.eclips-online.co.uk.  There is a good stock of up-to-date prospectuses and a range of Trotman and other publications containing information and advice about choosing and applying for higher education courses. Licences are held for Kudos, an interactive careers matching programme which provides career ideas based on individual interests and Careerscape which has detailed careers information, real-life case studies and current articles covering education, training, student finance, employment and labour market information. These programmes can be accessed at www.cascaid.co.uk using the passwords available from the Careers Department and the IT Department.

Pupils are shown how to use these packages in year 9 and a user guide is available in the careers section of learning resources on the school network. Pupils who would like to discuss their own career and learning choices in more depth can make an individual appointment with Mrs Wilson by calling in to the careers library or e-mailing wilsonf@ripongrammar.co.uk.  Similarly form tutors can refer a pupil for an appointment if a particular need is identified.   Appointments can also be made with Linda Howard or Louise Longbottom Smith who are the external careers advisers from igen, which is the company that currently holds the careers contract for North Yorkshire Schools.  An igen careers adviser visits the school most weeks and will arrange to see all year 11 pupils to discuss their post 16 options. Mrs Wilson and an igen careers adviser will be available to discuss career ideas with pupils and their parents at a number of parents' evenings.

Key Stage 3

Careers education forms part of the PSHCE curriculum and pupils start to look at their own personal skills and qualities in year 7.  They also start exploring different careers and begin to examine the links between their academic subjects and the world of work.  The Building Bridges project undertaken in year 8 enables pupils to work in teams to solve a work related problem.   During the project pupils encounter many job related and career issues ranging from filling in application forms to acting as a critical part of a team.

Prior to choosing GCSE options, year 9 pupils undertake a unit of careers work and are encouraged to further develop their own self-awareness and they spend time using Kudos and visiting the careers library to access resources which are available to support them in their decision making process. All year 9 pupils receive a copy of "Which Way Now?” a booklet produced by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) to help with option choices. The DCSF Guide for Parents and Carers is also sent to each family to support and encourage discussion at home prior to pupils deciding on their GCSE subjects. Interactive versions of both these booklets can be found at www.connexions-direct.com. Year 9 pupils and their parents are also notified about the York and North Yorkshire area 14-19 prospectus which is available on-line at www.futures4menorthyorks.com.

Key Stage 4

Pupils are encouraged to continue to think about their own skills and interests and to take an active role in their career learning by developing the skills to investigate opportunities. All year 10 pupils participate in a co-ordinated programme of work experience, which lasts for up to two weeks during the summer term.  Year 11 pupils receive a copy of the annual DCSF publication "It's Your Choice" which forms the basis for discussion in form periods prior to deciding on post 16 options. Pupils are strongly encouraged to research post 16 options in detail and are given a number of opportunities to do this including the chance to speak to current sixth form students about their A level courses.  All year 11 pupils receive guidance interviews with a qualified careers adviser who will assist them to investigate opportunities and to make and adjust plans in the light of their developing knowledge and skills. Information about courses across the region is available from the North Yorkshire14 - 19 Area Prospectus on www.futures4menorthyorks.com. Most pupils decide to stay on for the sixth form and they are encouraged to give careful consideration to choosing AS and A2 subjects that reflect their interests, aptitudes and career aspirations.

Sixth Form

Students are encouraged to be pro-active in developing their career exploration and management skills and in taking advantage of opportunities for adding to their experiences and achievements. Careers education and guidance forms part of the general studies programme and includes talks by admissions tutors, gap year companies, voluntary organisations, representatives from businesses and professional bodies and past pupils. Visits are organised to the UCAS Higher Education conference and a number of university open days, and students undertake a week's designated work experience in the lower sixth. Where possible practice interviews are arranged for sixth formers who are required to attend for interview as part of the selection process for their chosen courses.

All sixth form students are encouraged to make full use of the careers library resources and arrange individual appointments with Mrs Wilson to explore courses and career options.

Higher Education

Students who want to go to university are encouraged to start looking at the official Universities and Colleges Admissions website www.ucas.com well in advance of making an application. The site contains details of over 50,000 courses at more than 300 institutions together with guidance on how to apply, student finance, clearing and many related issues. There is also information for parents on how to support students with their choices and there are links to all of the websites of higher education institutions that recruit through UCAS. When choosing suitable courses it is important to understand the UCAS tariff system which for AS and A2 is currently as follows:

The AS points only apply to those subjects which are not being continued to A2 level as they are included in the final A2 grade if the subject is continued beyond AS.

Further information and websites that contain information to assist pupils in making informed choices about their career progression can be accessed via the following links:

• Higher Education
• Higher Education Destinations
• Careers Information
• Work Experience (opens PDF brochure in new window)
• Gap Year and Volunteering
• Job Hunting
• Studying Overseas

Information summarising careers education and guidance is also contained in the Student Planner and the Ripon Grammar School Prospectus. A statement regarding the learner’s entitlement can be accessed via the following link:

• Pupils Entitlement to Careers Education and Guidance.

Staff and governors have been issued with the school’s policy document on Careers Education and Guidance.

Links with Parents and Carers

As in other areas of the school great value is placed on the relationship with parents and carers. We are most grateful to those parents who already offer an input to our careers education programme through their own employment experiences. We take the view that contact with employers can be of huge benefit to pupils as they prepare for their future and is often welcomed by organisations wishing to build up their own involvement with schools and young people in education. Any other parents who feel that they may be able to offer some input into this programme are invited to respond to the pro-forma, which follows the statement of entitlement for parents and carers which can be accessed via the following link:

• Parents and Carers Entitlement Statement

Internet Links