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.
Welcome to the Careers section of the website, offering a flavour of the work of the Careers Department throughout the school. We are proud of our Careers provision at Westholme, which aims to offer every student appropriate information, advice and guidance at each stage of their journey through secondary school.
Students have all day open access to the Careers Room and are encouraged to drop in at any time if they need assistance with any questions about options choices, career opportunities and university courses. There are also structured lunch time activities where students are supported in their research.
Careers Corner
The Careers Room has a library area with a range of publications for all ages to research a variety of careers, apprenticeships, gap years and study skills including preparation for the UKCAT. There are also prospectuses for UK Universities.
Students are supported in making important decisions at each Key Stage. The careers programme at Westholme is a combination of curricular and co curricular provision with formal careers input to PSHE lessons in terms of GCSE option choices, work experience, A Level subject choices, careers development and UCAS application planning and preparation.
Enterprise Day
Year 8 students take part in the Real Game morning and follow-up, as well as an Enterprise Day with facilitators from the world of work. Year 9 have careers related PSHE lessons including the Morrisby Aspirations Questionnaire, in preparation for making their GCSE option choices. Year 10 are introduced to the online resources for exploring careers, HE courses and apprenticeships and take the Morrisby Online assessments to support their post-16 career planning. The Morrisby website can be accessed by clicking on the icon below. Every Year 11 student has an individual careers interview which can be followed up at lunchtime with further research. The Careers support programme continues into the Sixth Form when students take part in Work Experience and have the opportunity to attend a Higher Education Fair.
We organise three biennial events for a range of year groups to provide opportunities to talk to employers, universities, apprenticeship providers and other training providers.
The Careers Convention and Universities Fair invite students from all key stages and their parents to chat to professionals and representatives and gather information and advice. Students are inspired to pursue their career aspirations and receive invaluable guidance and support in making key decisions.
At the Beyond Westholme event, Year 11 and Sixth Form students have the opportunity to network with Westholme Alumni for an evening of inspiring conversation focussing on career paths. Our alumni are keen to pass on their knowledge, experience and advice from the world of work and students value the guidance and suggestions they receive.
Career of the Week
Come along to the careers room at lunchtimes 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.
Lunchtime Careers Seminars are organised throughout the year, providing a range of fascinating presentations from former Westholme students and parents to motivate and inspire our students who benefit greatly from the advice and information they receive.
Alumni Careers Seminars
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. A qualified careers advisor from Morrisby also attends some Parent’s Evenings and is available to offer independent careers information, advice and guidance to parents and students.
National Careers Service
National Careers Service provide access to independent careers advice from qualified careers professionals via a range of option including a telephone service and all students and parents are welcome to use this service. More information can be found at nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk or 0800 100 900.
Paths to Professional Careers – A Parent’s Guide
The 2019 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
The Job Crowd Top Companies for Graduates to Work for 2020/21
Please click here for the Job Crowd top companies for apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are an alternative to College or University and allow young people to combine study with working, earning a salary and developing key skills. Apprentices study for vocational, technical or academic qualifications relevant to their role by attending a College or University while working for a company on a daily basis. More apprenticeship opportunities are becoming available with multinational companies to smaller local businesses in a wide range of career areas including Business, Finance, Engineering, Healthcare, Technology, Construction and many more.
There are different levels of apprenticeships which include:
- Intermediate – Level 2 – Equivalent to GCSEs
- Advanced – Level 3 – Equivalent to A Levels
- Higher – Level4-7 -Equivalent to Foundation Degree & above
- Degree – Level 6-7 -Equivalent to Degree (Bachelor’s or Master’s)
Advantages of apprenticeships include the development of relevant key skills and valuable experience working in a particular role. You will receive the benefits that other employees receive and continue to be employed by the company after the apprenticeship has been completed. However, studying for a qualification often takes longer than if you attended College or University full time as only some of your time is spent studying while the rest is spent working.
More information about apprenticeships can be found by exploring the following links:
- www.getingofar.gov.uk
- www.gov.uk/topic/further-education-skills/apprenticeships
- https://www.ratemyapprenticeship.co.uk/
- https://www.apprenticeshipguide.co.uk/
- Which? University – The Complete Guide to Higher and Degree Apprenticeships
- getmyfirstjob.co.uk
- An introduction to Higher Apprenticeships
The Job Crowd Top 100 Companies for Apprentices to Work for 2019/20
Please click here for the Job Crowd top companies for apprenticeships
Westholme Apprenticeship Successes
BAE Systems
Claudia Keogh & Alicia Stebbings (Y13)
Advanced apprenticeship in Business Management
Tilly Sturgess (Y13)
Degree apprenticeship in Engineering
Lucite International
Rebecca Vose (Y13)
Technical Assistant with a funded Chemical Science Degree
James Hall Ltd
Charlotte Marshall (Y13)
Undergraduate Business Management Apprenticeship
Goldman Sachs
Hope Carr- Oddie (Y13)
Technology Degree Apprenticeship
3M Engineering
Tom Dixon (Y11)
4 Yr Engineering Advanced Apprenticeship
Steel Dynamics Ltd
Ben Rooney (Y11)
4 Yr CAD/CAM apprenticeship
Cyberfirst
https://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk/course-category/cyberfirst/
Courses for students aged 14-17 which allow them develop their skills and experience while gaining an insight into Cyber Security. Hope Carr-Oddie attended the Cyberfirst Advanced course at Edinburgh Napier University.
Smallpiece Trust Engineering Courses
https://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk/
The Smallpiece Trust offer a range of courses for students to give them an insight into the world of Engineering and specific branches of Engineering. The Ignition courses are for Years 8&9 and the Momentum courses are for Years 10-12.
BAE Systems Engineering Taster Week
https://www.baesystems.com/en/our-company/education/engineering-taster-week/warton
A free five-day residential course in Summer for students aged 16-18 to gain an insight into working as an Engineer. Small groups of students work together on an Engineering project which is presented to BAE Systems representatives at the end of the week.
Maddie Hopkinson took part in the taster week at Warton.
RAF World of Engineering
https://www.wisecampaign.org.uk/events/1155-raf-world-of-engineering-year-10-girls-5-day-residential-course
A free five-day residential course in Summer organised by RAF and Smallpiece Trust for girls in Year 10 to gain an insight into working as an Engineer and to encourage girls to pursue STEM careers. Students will work towards a British Science CREST Award and an Industrial Cadet Award.
BAE Systems
In the Autumn term, students in Years 11-13 are able to apply for a work experience week through school at BAE Systems, Samlesbury. Work experience is available in HR & Project Management, Engineering and Finance. Students are able to gain a valuable insight into working in a multinational company while developing their key skills and knowledge of career opportunities.
Behind the Scenes Work Week, Royal Exchange, Manchester
https://www.royalexchange.co.uk/work-experience
Students interested in careers in Drama & Acting or working behind the scenes in wardrobe, sound and lighting are encouraged to apply for the Behind the Scenes Work Week. Several Westholme students have benefitted from this fantastic opportunity to experience working in different areas of the theatre and have been inspired to pursue careers in Acting and in Sound & Lighting.
Anaesthetist
https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/system/files/CareersFairBrochure-6thForm-final.pdf
Arboriculture
https://www.trees.org.uk/Careers
Architectural Technologist
https://ciat.org.uk/education.html
Careers at Sea
Civil Engineering
https://www.ice.org.uk/what-is-civil-engineering
Construction
Equine Industry
Film, Games and Television
Football
https://www.careersinfootball.com/
Grocery Distribution Industry
https://www.igd.com/charitable-impact
Landscape & Horticulture
https://www.landscapeinstitute.org/education/landscape-architect-careers/
https://www.golandscape.co.uk/
Languages
https://www.lifehack.org/380912/the-10-coolest-jobs-you-can-get-learning-foreign-language
Law
www.thelawyerportal.com
www.thelawyerportal.com/e-learning/free-guide-to-law-booklet
https://www.allaboutlaw.co.uk/
https://www.lawcareers.net/Starting-Out
Health Careers
https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/
https://iseethedifference.co.uk/
Medicine
Motor Industry
Plastic Surgery
http://www.bapras.org.uk/professionals/training-and-education/careers-in-plastic-surgery
Property
http://www.propertyneedsyou.com/
Space Industry
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency
Underwater Technology & Science
VFX, Games and Animation
https://www.pearsoncollegelondon.ac.uk/escape-studios/careers/careers-guide.html
Useful Links
Useful Links
UCAS – www.ucas.com
Student finance information – https://www.gov.uk/browse/education/student-finance
Good Uni Guide – https://gooduniguide.co.uk