CAREERS

OVERVIEW

Careers Education is delivered to all students in Kilkeel High School through a designated careers lesson and on a cross-curricular basis. The majority of careers lesson are delivered ICT suites where students can readily access a range of online resources. Lessons are varied and motivating for our students. We also have a careers library which is well equipped with a range of documentation: books, prospectuses and information about a variety of careers. The school library also has a range of books available on career choice and applications.

MEET THE STAFF

Mrs. N. Stevenson

Mrs. D. Bailey

Mr. V. Coert

Mrs. S.J. Henning

Miss. J. Leitch

Mr. K. Mavridis

Mr. G. McLoughlin

Mrs. Y. Rybarczyk

Mr. S. Thompson

AIMS

The general aim of Careers Education is to prepare pupils for the choices, changes and transitions affecting their future education, training and life as adult members of society. To this end Kilkeel High School, through curricular programmes and other guidance activities, will help to promote the following aims:

Self-Awareness & Development – enable pupils to understand their own personal needs, abilities and interests together with a growing awareness of their particular strengths and limitations in order to choose and implement an appropriate career plan.
Career Exploration – foster opportunity awareness in order to understand the nature of work and occupations, paid and unpaid and how these effect people’s lives and attitudes.
Career Management – enable pupils to develop the qualities and skills to manage transitions, within education, from education to work and in life generally. The development of decision-making skills will enable students to be effective in a variety of adult roles and occupations.
Careers Education – provides a means of developing individuals’ knowledge, understanding and experience of opportunities in education, training and employment and the skills, which are necessary to make informed decisions.
Career Guidance – provides a means of helping individuals to apply relevant knowledge, understanding and skills to their own circumstances when choices have to be made.

KEY STAGE 3

Education for Employability is delivered to all Key Stage 3 classes. Students attend a 30 minute class each week where they complete individual, paired or group work. Students use a range of ICT applications, watch video clips and participate in thinking activities. Topics covered include Skills and Qualities; Learning Styles; the Local and Global Economy, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship and the World of Work.

YEAR 8 LEARNING OUTCOMES

Local and Global Economy

Describe different types of work and investigate the range of employment in the local area, including any changes in employment trends, taking account of the implications for career planning
Investigate the local impact of the global market
Investigate how environmental considerations are affecting work and work practices
Investigate how work organisations contribute to the community

Career Management

Assess personal skills and achievements to date; identify areas of interest and set targets for self-improvement
Explore the changing concept of career
Practise presentational and self-marketing skills
Investigate a variety of both familiar and unfamiliar jobs

Enterprise & Entrepreneurship

All students participate in the Young Enterprise programme – Your School, Your Business.
Understand the importance of innovation and develop strategies to promote an entrepreneurial spirit, considering possible implications for career planning
Explore the range of small businesses in the life of the community and consider possible implications for career planning

YEAR 9 LEARNING OUTCOMES

Local and Global Economy

Describe different types of work and investigate the range of employment in the local area, including any changes in employment trends, taking account of the implications for career planning
Investigate how technology is affecting life and work
Investigate how work organisations contribute to the community

Career Management

Assess personal skills and achievements to date; identify areas of interest and set targets for self-improvement
Engage in the personal career planning process to investigate and reach decisions about post-14 options, recognising that attitudes to work will change over time and are influenced by family and community values
Practise presentational and self-marketing skills
Investigate a variety of both familiar and unfamiliar jobs
Make use of appropriate information, advice and guidance to inform career management.

Enterprise & Entrepreneurship

All students participate in the Young Enterprise programme – YE9.
Identify and practise the skills and attributes which make one enterprising
Understand the importance of innovation and develop strategies to promote an entrepreneurial spirit, considering possible implications for career planning
Find out what makes an entrepreneur and develop an awareness of the challenges and benefits of building your own business

YEAR 10 LEARNING OUTCOMES

Local and Global Economy

Describe different types of work and investigate the range of employment in the local area, including any changes in employment trends, taking account of the implications for career planning
Investigate how an employer might deal with issues affecting work
Investigate how work organisations contribute to the community

Career Management

Assess personal skills and achievements to date; identify areas of interest and set targets for self-improvement
Explore the changing concept of career
Engage in the personal career planning process to investigate and reach decisions about post-14 options, recognising that attitudes to work will change over time and are influenced by family and community values
Practise presentational and self-marketing skills
Investigate a variety of both familiar and unfamiliar jobs
Make use of appropriate information, advice and guidance to inform career management.

Enterprise & Entrepreneurship

All students participate in the Young Enterprise programme – Learn to Earn (in collaboration with the Mathematics department).
Identify and practise the skills and attributes which make one enterprising

KEY STAGE 4

All students in years 11 and 12 follow a Careers Education Programme leading to the AQA Preparation for Working Life Level ½ Award. The course covers Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, the Local and Global Economy and the world of work (job applications, legislation etc.).
During the 2-year course students have many opportunities to develop their knowledge of career pathways. For example, during year 12, students participate in an Interview Skills Day. Students firstly complete a job application form and CV and are then given a formal mock interview by a professional in the field of work they are potentially interested in. Students received verbal and written feedback from the interviewer about their application form and interview technique.

YEAR 11 LEARNING OUTCOMES

To develop understanding of entrepreneurship, work in local and global economy and finance.
To make a realistic self assessment so that the student can make decisions on future lifestyles.
To update the Personal Career Plan.
To be able to evaluate the benefits of each of the post 16 options for future occupational choice.
To develop those personal transferable skills much sought after by employers by taking part in a school based one-week work experience scheme.
To participate in Health and Safety training pre-work placement,
To participate in the Young Enterprise Programmes, Project Business and Personal Economics.

YEAR 12 LEARNING OUTCOMES

To know what options are available to them post 16. They should be able to evaluate each option, make the necessary applications and prepare themselves for the next stage in their chosen career path.
To know how to respond to a job advert. They will be able to write an appropriate letter of application, fill in an application form and produce an up to date CV. In addition they will be able to prepare themselves for a formal interview as part of our Interview Skills Day.
To participate in Interview Skills Day. This will include a presentation about good interview practice followed by a mock interview by a outside professional.
To develop those personal transferable skills much sought after by employers by taking part in a school based work experience day-release scheme. (12.2 students only)
To present a summative Personal Career Plan drawn from their formative work throughout the year. This Plan will form an integral part of their Progress File.
To develop a career plan – usually after a careers interview with the NI Careers Service Advisor.
The student’s career plan will contain details of their plans so far.
The career plan will cover things that might help the student get nearer to making a decision if they are still unsure about what to do next.
If the student has made a decision about their career plan they will discuss the best way to go about it.
A career plan is useful to the student as a reminder of what was discussed. It will list the next steps the student needs to take

KEY STAGE 5

At this level pupils concentrate on life beyond A level. This may be entry to the world of work or going on to further or higher education.

WHY CHOOSE HIGHER EDUCATION?

Many higher education courses offer a vocational programme that is directly related to particular work areas, such as accountancy, sports science and teaching.
A higher education qualification is essential for some careers like medicine, chartered engineering and architecture.
A degree or HND can improve your chances of getting a fulfilling job and your financial potential.
Universities and colleges bring together students from a variety of backgrounds. This interaction can strengthen your understanding of different cultures and beliefs.
Higher education develops important transferable skills, such as numeracy, communication and information technology, which can give you an edge in the fast-changing world of employment.
If the course includes seminars, you can use this time to challenge each others’ views in a neutral and stimulating environment.
You may be at a stage in life when you can study a subject for the sake of personal satisfaction.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

NORTHERN IRELAND CAREERS SERVICE

All students in Year 12 participate in “Getting Connected,” operated by the Northern Ireland Careers Service. Mrs Ann McPolin provides a guidance interview to all Year 12 students.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Work Experience is offered to all Key Stage 4 students either as a one-week block placement at the end of year 11 or as day release during year 12.
We have developed excellent links with many local and regional employers. In the last year we have worked with over 160 organisations. Work experience is valued in our school, giving the students an insight into the realities of the workplace. We believe work experience enables our students to make informed career choices as they experience firsthand the world of work. Through the programme, students are given the opportunity to develop their knowledge about Health and Safety in the workplace, entry requirements and progression routes into a career and develop links with organisation.
During the placement students will complete a report on their Work Experience and the Employer will also fill in a report form on the student. These forms will be used by staff to assist them when they are writing student references and will form part of the students Progress File along with their Personal Career Plan and their C.V.

NEWS

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