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.
Apprenticeships
Please click here to view more information about apprenticeships
Please click here to view more information if you are looking for an alternative to University
Please click here for the link to an introduction of Higher Apprenticeships
Please click here for the link to the Job Crowd top companies for apprentices to work for 2020/21
Please click here for top apprenticeships companies
Please click here for the Which? Complete guide to Higher and Degree Apprenticeships
Two Westholme students were successful in securing Business Management Apprenticeships at BAE Systems from September 2016.
Please click here to read more.
Sixth Form News
Annual Open Evening 2023
On Thursday evening 5 October, we were delighted to open our doors as we held our annual Open Evening: it was great to see so many faces, both new and old, enjoying an evening of discovery, learning and fun!
Morocco Earthquake Appeal fundraising day
On Wednesday 4 October, the Inspired Sixth Form Charity Team raised money for the Morocco Earthquake Appeal by holding a green and red, Moroccan themed day for the whole school.
Mr Warren Gell of Vision Linens INSPIRES students
On Monday, Vision Linens’ Group Retail Director Warren Gell visited Westholme, to talk with our INSPIRED Sixth Form students studying Business and Economics. Mr Gell focused on brand and sales strategy, and how to overcome business issues whilst growing a business. The presentation was held in the LRC and included other Senior students as well.