The Careers Programme at NSWL aims to help our students develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to make realistic and informed decisions about their futures and to make positive transitions during their education, training and work. We aim to raise the aspirations of what our students and their families believe is possible and to facilitate students realising these aspirations. In line with our faith-based and values driven approach, the Careers Programme aims to ensure that our students can have a positive career. A positive career is defined by the Career Development Institute as a career in which the individual is “happy with how they spend their time, make contributions to the community and have a decent standard of living”.

Our Careers Programme is:

• Universal – All students at NSWL have access to all aspects of the Careers Programme
• Progressive- The Careers Programme follows a spiral curriculum model where they learn about careers in each academic year from Year 7-13. Each year, students will build upon knowledge from the prior academic year so that their careers knowledge develops progressively over time.
• Outcome focused-All students will be able to make informed choices about their post-16 and post 18 education and employment options.

Information for Students

The current careers market is changing, and it is important students are informed about careers and possibly entry routes. To ensure that students can access this information the school has subscribed to Unifrog. 

Unifrog is an excellent online learning platform which all students will have access to.   Unifrog brings into one place information about all post-school opportunities, including every UK university course, apprenticeships including degree apprenticeships, and college courses in the UK, as well as other opportunities, such as School Leaver Programmes. This makes it easy for students to compare and choose the best opportunity for them.  All students will receive their login details in Autumn Term. 

There are also a number of other websites available which students might find useful when exploring careers and options.   Below are links to documents and websites which give useful information and guidance. 

• National Careers Service-A government careers website which allows you to assess your skills and match them to potential new careers, explore over 800 careers and find local learning and training opportunities.
• Amazing Apprenticeships-An extensive website which helps you to explore apprenticeships in a wide range of career sectors
• I Could- A free to use website which contains over a 1000 videos of people talking about their careers.  Topics such as job roles, career paths, salaries and possibility for future employment opportunities.
• Careerometer- A tool which allows you to compare the working hours and average wages for job roles across the UK
• The Careers Podcast-LMI has published a podcast which combines useful and inspiring personal development with practical insight into a whole variety of career opportunities, explained first-hand by those who are currently in that role.
• Success at School is the place for young people to explore careers, get the lowdown on top employers, and search for the latest jobs, courses and advice. Lots of helpful advice in the advice section on employability skills, work experience, apprenticeships, university and different career paths.
• How2Become.com is the UK’s leading careers and educational information and development website. From their website, you can learn how to write a CV, how to complete an application form, how to pass psychometric tests and also how to pass any job interview. Since 2005 they have been helping people to secure their dream job. Now it’s your turn. They are the UK’s largest and most successful career information/development specialists. They have now been online for over 14 years and have won numerous awards in the process.

 

What is Labour Market Information?
LMI websites can help you to compare different career areas by looking at their predicted growth/decline rates, average salaries, working hours etc – all to help you make an informed decision.  Exploring local labour market information is an excellent place for students to start researching their post-18 options.  The websites below provide up to LMI which students will find useful.

• Careers of The Future! A helpful publication to help you with researching your future careers – 
• 
  LMI for All is an online data portal, developed by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, which brings together existing national sources of high-quality labour market information (LMI) that can inform people’s choices about their careers.

 

University/Higher Education

Many of our students aspire to move onto university degrees after Sixth Form.  This is an opportunity for them to further develop their academic skills and knowledge in a subject that they are passionate about.  Choosing a university and the course to study is often one of the most important decisions that a young person will make.  It is therefore important that alongside the support students receive in the Sixth Form with their applications that they use a range of resources to research and make informed decisions.  The websites below all provide excellent sources of information on university and degrees.

• UCAS -Organisation responsible for managing applications to higher education courses in the UK. They also provide innovative online tools which make it easier for students, and higher education institutions (HEIs) to manage applications and offers. There is also a parent’s section where parents can find all the information needed to support you with your choices and application.
• bC4me is independent, free and shows the link between what you study, what you earn and the jobs you can get.
• Graduate Prospects is the UK’s leading provider of information, advice and opportunities to students and graduates and provides an extensive graduate careers website.

Apprenticeships & Employment

So, what is an apprenticeship? Apprenticeships are a way to earn and learn at the same time.  With the rising costs of university many students are now exploring alternative routes through higher education including apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships.  Students at our Sixth Form will learn about the wide variety of apprenticeship routes and how they compare to employment and university degrees.  This will be through assemblies, personal development sessions, Unifrog lessons and interactions with Apprenticeship providers.

As with choosing a university degree, it is equally important for students to research the right apprenticeship for them.  The websites below contain a wealth of information which students will find useful when researching and applying for apprenticeships.

• National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) supports, funds and co-ordinates the delivery of apprenticeships throughout England.
• Not Going to Uni-If you are thinking of not going to university – then the ‘notgoingtouni’ team are here to help you find the options that work for you, and they can give advice, inspiration and tools to make an informed decision about your future.
• Rate My Apprenticeship – A website where most leading apprenticeship providers will advertise apprenticeships which you can apply for.  You will also be able to see reviews of the employers and see if they are the right fit for you.
• UCAS – not just for applying to university! The UCAS website offers advice on choosing apprenticeships, finding potential employers and have regular seminars educating young people on how to apply for apprenticeships
• Multiverse –  Multiverse are a recruiter who target individuals specifically looking to apply for apprenticeships and can help match you with the right employer.
• Unifrog- All students at NSWL’s Sixth Form have access to their own Unifrog account.  Through their Opportunities function, students will be able to search and apply for apprenticeships.

 

Further Information

For further details about on our careers provision and its impact, please click here for our Careers Policy.

You can also find our Provider Access Statement (often referred to as the "Baker Clause" ) by clicking here. This sets out the opportunities available for technical and vocational providers to speak to our pupils about the many opportunities available. 

Our Careers Leader is Mr Kerrisck. If you would like further information about our careers programme, you can contact Enquiries.NSWL@nishkamschools.org or call 0203 141 8760.