Careers

Careers Information

Careers Education, Information Advice and Guidance (CEIAG)

At King Edward VI School, we are committed to providing our students with careers education, information, advice and guidance at key stages of their school life. The careers information and support provided is designed to empower students to enable them to make realistic career choices and decisions that they feel confident about. We do this by raising their awareness of what is available, increasing their aspirations and by encouraging them to recognise their strengths and weaknesses.

We work closely with students at the key transition points of their school career. At Key Stage 3, (Years 7 to 9) the focus is on looking at the wider job market, employability skills and GCSE options.  Whilst at Key Stage 4 (Years 10 to 11), the focus is on career profiles, understanding and identifying their own skills and planning for their immediate post-16 future. To enable this, students in Year 10 undertake a week of work experience, to help them understand the world of work and the skills that are required in the workplace. There is a more pragmatic focus in Year 11, with students experiencing mock interviews, preparing CVs and completing their Record of Achievement folders. There is also the opportunity for Year 11 to discover the academic and vocational post-16 options open to them. Finally, the focus in the 6th Form is on university choices, job seeking, higher apprenticeships, gap year opportunities, etc.  All students follow a careers programme from Years 7-13 within the fortnightly PSHE lessons.

All students will have a careers interview during Year 10 or Year 11, and they will receive an action plan after their appointment to help direct their next steps. Careers appointments can be useful for making choices whether that be options at 14, 16 or 18. Helping to work out a career path, discovering career routes, university choices, finding apprenticeships, job opportunities or work experience/voluntary work.

Apprenticeship opportunities/vacancies or open days are advertised in school, on the school website, or on the school weekly bulletin.

As well as providing impartial advice and guidance in school we offer activities and workshops to supplement guidance in school. Such as:

  • Mentoring from the local business community
  • Careers talks
  • Apprenticeship talks
  • National Citizen Service
  • National Apprenticeship Service
  • Workplace visits
  • Careers fair
  • UCAS HE exhibition
  • University visits

 

Unifrog

Unifrog is our fantastic new online careers platform currently being rolled out to students in Year 9 upwards.

Unifrog brings together a whole range of careers information in one place, helping students to not only research college courses, university courses and apprenticeships but also allowing them to easily explore career profiles, build employability skills and competencies and take part in enrichment opportunities.

We also use the Unifrog Placement Tool to help manage our work experience programme.

Sign In – Unifrog

 

You can keep up-to-date with the school’s careers service on Twitter by following @kescareers1 

Gatsby Benchmarks

King Edward VI School’s CEIAG programme is aligned closely to the Gatsby benchmarks, which is a framework of good practice in careers education and guidance (www.gatsby.org.uk). The benchmarks are as follows:

  1. A stable careers programme
  2. Learning from career and labour market information
  3. Addressing the needs of each pupil
  4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
  5. Encounters with employers and employees
  6. Experiences of workplaces
  7. Encounters with further and higher education
  8. Personal guidance

 

Employer Links and Work Experience

We welcome employers and outside speakers to King Edward VI School and we recognise how this can help to inform and inspire our students. If you would like to introduce your company, organisation or service to our students, please get in contact. Through the year we have a careers fair, work experience, assembly or lunch time talks. We also welcome employers to help our students in preparation for working life with interview practice, CV skills, mentoring, enterprise activities or workplace visits. Work experience is also offered to our Year 10 in July. Please get in touch if you are an employer or are self-employed and would like to be involved at the school by contacting Martin Shaw at  mshaw@keslichfield.org.uk

Provider Access Policy: http://www.keslichfield.org.uk/?page_id=13558

Year 10 letters to parents – December 2023

 

Careers Team

Careers Lead: Martin Shaw – mshaw@keslichfield.org.uk  – careers and work experience strategy, careers education, employer links,  liaison with local careers hub. Based in Johnson.

Sixth Form Careers Coordinator: Jemma Williamson – jrwilliamson@keslichfield.org.uk – UCAS and personal statements, KS5 PSHE programme, Higher Education and post 18 education. Based in the 6th Form block.

PSHE Coordinator: Rachel Baggott – rbaggott@keslichfield.org.uk – KS3 and KS5 PSHE programme, employability and enterprise skills. Based in the office above the LRC.

KS4 Careers Advisor & Work Experience Coordinator: Kelly Baker – careers@keslichfield.org.uk – impartial careers advice, Y10 work experience and employer links. Based in the office above the LRC.

KS5 Independent Careers Advisor: Bob Keen – based in Mr Butler’s office in the 6th Form block and in school for one day a fortnight, students can request an appointment with Mr Kean by contacting Mrs Gillson – bgillson@keslichfield.org.uk

 

Useful National Careers Websites

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/– National Careers Service gives information, advice and guidance for learning, training and work.

www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship – National Apprenticeship Service, provides listings for vacancies and useful search tool by area and level of apprenticeship.

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ – detailed careers information on a wide range of jobs.

https://www.informedchoices.ac.uk/ – helpful in matching A Level courses with Russell Group universities

www.steptintothenhs.com – over 350 careers in the NHS and work experience.

www.careermap.co.uk – search for courses, training and apprenticeships.

www.icould.com – over 1000 video stories form people working and their roles.

www.lmiforall.org.uk/widget/ – useful tool to compare salary, working hours and projected employment growth.

www.barclayslifeskills.com – useful interactive CV builder, cover letters, job quizzes.

 

Useful Labour Market Information 

https://www.lmiforall.org.uk/careerometer/ – a portal that provides high quality, reliable labour market information (LMI) to inform careers decisions.

 

Useful Local Further Education Websites

www.bmetc.ac.uk – Sutton Campus (Birmingham Met College)

www.bsdc.ac.uk  – Burton & South Derbyshire College

www.staffordcoll.ac.uk – Stafford College

www.southstaffs.ac.uk – Lichfield, Tamworth and Rodbaston

www.walsallcollege.ac.uk – Walsall College

www.ucbcourses.com – University College Birmingham

www.boa-academy.com – BO Academy Birmingham

www.netherstowe.staffs.sch.uk –  Nether Stowe School 6th Form (Lichfield)

www.friaryschool.co.uk Friary School 6th Form (Lichfield)

www.keslichfield.org.uk – King Edward VI School 6th Form (Lichfield)

 

 

Useful Local Training and Apprenticeships Websites

www.equality-training.co.uk – local training provider

https://www.junipertraining.co.uk/ – local training provider

http://www.lichfieldcityfcacademy.com/ – football program

http://www.darttraining.co.uk/ – for land-based and animal training programmes and apprenticeships.

 

Useful Higher Education Websites

www.ucas.com – options at 16, 18 and alternatives to University. Applying for University, personal statements, applications.

www.sacu-student.com – good for job market information and for those considering Higher Education.

www.notgoingtouni.co.uk – make informed decisions about non university choices such as apprenticeships, Higher and Degree apprenticeships, gap years, job opportunities.

 

Useful Gap Year Websites

www.gapyear.com – gap year ideas for volunteering, working abroad, travelling.