Careers

Careers Mission Statement and Aims

Mission Statement

Inspiring, encouraging and enabling students to make informed choices and to prepare for their future and the world of work.

Aims

Together with local employers, alumni, careers education providers and universities, the Careers Department supports students at every stage throughout their school life.

The careers provision enables students to:

  • Explore careers and the job market
  • Develop self-awareness, employability & enterprise skills
  • Make informed decisions about their education including apprenticeships, university, traineeships.

Providing our students with opportunities to develop their key skills and undertake guided research will help them to become more confident and employable and will equip them with the skills and knowledge to be successful in their future careers.

Sixth Form students are given support in making important career decisions. Mrs Hibberd, Head of Careers, is on hand to guide them and they have open access to our the careers room and its vast array of resources. They are given careers advice from the start of Sixth Form and are encouraged to build their CVs. We make use of the ALIS (Durham University) prediction scheme which allows students to track their progress against their potential which is estimated using an independent test which is taken at the beginning of Year 12.

Many careers nowadays require work and other experience beyond A Level. We assist all students in securing a work placement for our designated work experience week and we do expect students to be proactive in arranging further placements in their holiday time. We enter Sixth Form teams in competitions, participation in which will enhance a student’s CV. Examples are Business competitions such as BASE, Biology and Chemistry Olympiad and the UK Maths Challenge.

Careers advice is on hand through Alumni careers presentations, ‘Career of the Week’ activities and a biennial careers convention which brings in experts from a variety of fields. We also organise a biennial Higher Education Fair and attend external University conventions. Parents have access to the Head of Careers at Parents’ Evenings and are welcome to arrange daytime appointments or to make contact via telephone or email.

Paths to Professional Careers – A Parent’s Guide

The 2020 edition of Paths to Professional Careers contains information and guidance for parents to help their child explore career options and weigh up whether to go to university or earn and learn at the same time as an apprentice or on a school leaver programme. The guide includes apprentice, graduate and parent profiles, as well as advice on getting into finance, business, engineering and IT.

Click here to download the Paths to Professional Careers – A Parent’s Guide

Career of the Week

Come along to the careers room at lunchtimes 12:55-1:25pm to find out more about jobs and opportunities in the career area of the week. We will explore a variety of different roles in a particular field of work and then find out more about course the entry requirements and progression routes into the job of your choice.

Career of the Week Spring 2021

Sixth Form News

Spring Concert 2023

15 May 23

The late, great Aretha Franklin said that music is “transporting…it can take you right back to the very moment certain things happened in your life. It’s uplifting, it’s encouraging, it’s strengthening.” This was certainly the case on Thursday 28 April as we hosted our annual Spring Concert in the Croston Theatre.

Sports Awards 2023

01 May 23

On Friday 28 April we held our magnificent annual Sports Awards Dinner at Ewood Park, the home of Blackburn Rovers FC.

INSPIRED Diploma gets off to a flying start

02 Feb 23

This year, we are delighted to be launching our INSPIRED Sixth Form Diploma. After the success of the Holistic Award programme which launched for Senior students last year, the INSPIRED Sixth Form Diploma celebrates key 21st Century skills and abilities, rewarding those who show commitment and engagement to all aspects of INSPIRED Sixth Form life.