YEAR 9 OPTIONS
1. Introduction to making decisions
2. Decision Making Process – SWOT Analysis
3. Decision Making Process – Thinking Hats Process
4. Decision Making Process – Cost Benefit Analysis
5. Decision making process – Skills development
6. How can I use this information to make better GCSE BTEC Options
YEAR 9 OPTIONS BOOKLET 2024 TO 2026
CAREERS INFORMATION WILL BE NEXT REVIEWED IN JULY 2024
Staff Involved:
CAREERS LEADER
Name: Mr T Lambrianides
Email: t.lambrianides@bridgewaterhigh.com
Tel Number: 01925 263919
CEAIG & Alumni Officer
Name: Mr J Ridgway
Email: j.ridgway@bridgewaterhigh.com
Tel Number: 01925 263919
Statement of Provider Access
THE AIMS OF OUR CAREERS PROGRAMME INCLUDE:
Our Careers Education and Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) Programme helps to prepare pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life, in order to help them make a successful transition to adulthood.
Its aims include:
1. Educate the whole school community in understanding the importance of careers education and how all stake holders can support students on their careers journey.
2. Support pupils to be able to plan and manage their own futures.
3. Provide comprehensive information on options available.
4. Raise aspirations.
5. Promote equality, diversity, social mobility and challenge stereotypes.
6. Enable pupils to sustain employment and achieve personal and economic well- being throughout their lives.
SOME OF THE WAYS WE ACHIEVE OUR AIMS
- On – going CEIAG lessons taught by tutors as part of the Personal Development Program
- School wide Careers Week held in October (5 x one -hour career sessions)
- Presentations by post 16 providers including universities and colleges.
- Presentations by a range of employers throughout the year.
- Career Noticeboards around the school.
- Monthly drop- in sessions from local college providers
- Visitor assemblies to present on career pathways.
- Show My Homework used to distribute information on a regular basis.
- Apprenticeships lists distributed routinely to students.
- Individual one to one career interview for all Y11 pupils
- Y10/11 lunchtime sessions for students to provide guidance and information for C.V.’s, interviews, employability skills and applying for post 16 courses.
- Y10 visit to Priestley College
- Y10 virtual work experience event
- Priestley Year 9 option assemblies. National Careers Week promoted across the school.
- Individual subjects have careers dimension within schemes of work and teach about related careers.
- School now working towards the Quality in Careers Standards Award.
- Y10 ROAR programme delivered by Priestley College (RUSSELL or Alternative Routes)
- Y10 Law Factor Program
- Year 7/8/9/ weekly Careers Club which includes sessions on a range of employability skills
- Y10/11 lunch time workshops on T levels and apprenticeships
- All local colleges attended Y10 Information Evening
WAYS IN WHICH PARENTS/CARERS CAN ENGAGE WITH OUR CEIAG PROGRAMME
- Mock Interviews for Year 11 Students – Wednesday 19th October during our career’s week
- A Company Stand at Our Careers Fair – Thursday 20th October
- Employer Talks
- Feedback about our Programme
LINKING THE CURRICULUM TO CAREERS FOR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, PARENTS/CARERS AND EMPLOYERS
Please paste the subject links in the attached document into your web browser to access a full range of subject specific career guides. These excellent resources will help explain the skills and knowledge developed by each subject and how these can be applied in a range of contexts, including further study, paid work and volunteering.
This document is password protected. Please use the same password you would us to get on our school’s VLE.
Bridgewater High also have their own Page on the Learn Live Site
https://learnliveuk.com/partner/bridgewater-high-school/
HELP AVAILABLE IN SCHOOL
We currently use the Careers Service provided by Careers Connect for some of our Careers Programme.
1. At each of our Parents’ Evenings Years 9-11 and at all other important events and guidance evenings, a Careers Adviser from Careers Connect will be on hand to speak to parents and pupils.
2. All pupils in Years 10 -11 have access to a career interview via Careers Connect if they feel it would be useful. This can be booked via Pastoral Achievement Managers and our in- school careers staff.
3. A monthly drop in session for those who are interested in apprenticeships is held AT LUNCHTIME on the first Monday of every month. Warrington and Vale Royal College attend to answer any queries about apprenticeships or Mr J Ridgway can help.
4. Show My Homework is used regularly to update students/parents about useful careers info e,g, Career Events throughout the Warrington area, Open Evenings at local providers. Also, to inform Year 11 of apprenticeships which are available on a weekly basis.
5. Subject teachers provide information on careers related to their subject.
6. Careers Help is available in Upper School LRC from Mr Ridgway before school, during Monday to Thursday lunch and after school until 3.30pm each day.
7. Careers Club is available on a Friday lunchtime at Lower School.
MEASUREMENT OF OUR CAREERS PROGRAMME
To achieve the aims of our Careers Programme we have adopted “Gatsby Charitable Foundation Benchmarks” to develop and improve our careers provision. The Gatsby Benchmarks are not a statutory framework but by adopting them, as other secondary schools do, we can ensure we can measure our progress in fulfilling/exceeding the legal requirements which must be met by the end of 2020.
GATSBY BENCHMARKS
There are 8 benchmarks which our Careers Programme follows:
- A Stable Careers Programme
- Learning from Career and Labour Market Information
- Addressing the needs of each student
- Linking Curriculum learning to Careers
- Encounters with employers and employees
- Experiences of workplaces
- Encounters with further and higher education
- Personal Guidance
Bridgewater uses an online self-evaluation tool COMPASS to compare against the Gatsby Benchmarks and the national average, this allows us to compare and consider opportunities to improve our programme on an ongoing basis and measure the impact of our programme.
USEFUL RESEARCH FOR STUDENTS/PARENTS/CARERS
For up-to-date information on jobs and training opportunities click here or here.
Pupils/parents/carers may also wish to search many of the very useful websites below that are available to provide advice:
CAREER RESEARCH SITES
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/ – information on making choices, career planning, courses, apprenticeships and information on writing CVs and completing application forms
www.gov.uk/jobs-jobsearch
www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
www.amazingapprenticeships.com
www.notgoingtouni.co.uk
www.getmyfirstjob.co.uk
www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-parents-guide-to-apprenticeships
www.prospects.ac.uk – what careers are open to you with a specific degree
www.icould.com Real-life career videos, advice and information to inspire your career
www.careersbox.co.uk/ – online library of careers films, news and information
COLLEGES
Priestley College – https://www.priestley.ac.uk/
On the Priestley College site there is Course Information where there is Labour Market Information about the course including the type of jobs you can progress onto, salary information and also includes real-time live jobs available in the area.
Warrington and Vale Royal College – https://www.wvr.ac.uk/
Reaseheath College – http://www.reaseheath.ac.uk/
Cronton Sixth Form College – http://www.cronton.ac.uk/
Riverside College – http://www.riversidecollege.ac.uk/
Sir John Deane’s College – https://www.sjd.ac.uk/
UNIVERSITIES
www.ucas.com – this site is used to apply to uni and you can check what qualifications you need to study a particular degree
www.gov.uk/student-finance
www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk
www.unistats.direct.gov.uk
www.whatuni.com
www.university.which.co.uk/
www.bestcourse4me.com
www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk
www.ukcoursefinder.com
www.thestudentroom.co.uk
LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/careers-of-the-future
https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/1946157074/report.aspx?pc=wa4%205nu
Priestley College – https://www.priestley.ac.uk/
On the Priestley College site there is Course Information where there is Labour Market Information about the course including the type of jobs you can progress onto, salary information and also includes real-time live jobs available in the area.
OUR CAREERS PROGRAMME IN ACTION
One of the most active days in our Careers Programme is our Careers Day where 40 organisations share their experiences with our students and 30+ parents interview over 300 Year 11 students
Former Students volunteer to represent their companies, which is wonderful to see!
Students that have attended Bridgewater and been to our Careers Fair themselves, come back to help other students.
Parents engage by showcasing their companies and providing invaluable first-hand knowledge of particular sectors:
Parental volunteers with crucial experience (Capita Business Services) presented workshops to Year 10 and Year 11 on “How to write a CV”. These volunteers are experts with CV’s and review hundreds annually. As you can appreciate this makes their knowledge up-to date and invaluable for students.
Feedback from Capita was:
“I just wanted to say thanks for yesterday –we often attend job fairs which are so much smaller so well done – I think the pupils at Bridgewater are really well provided for, and this is such a great opportunity for them to consider the world after school.
I did tell the classes that I was delivering to, that if anyone wants any help with a CV, I’m happy for you to pass on my email address and they can get in touch with me directly. I’m more than happy to help where I can.”
Feedback from Mock Interviewers
“I was at the school today performing mock Interviews with the Y11’s.
It was a fantastic day.
I am so glad I was part of it and found the day, personally, very rewarding.
Not only do you have excellent staff, Mrs Winstanley did a great job by the way, the whole Bridgewater team worked really hard to make this a vibrant and successful event.
It was your excellent students whom I had the privilege and pleasure to meet today, who really impressed me.
The students I interviewed were; polite, confident, prepared, organised, articulate and inspiring.
I loved every minute and I hope the students I interviewed got as much from the day as I did.
Please pass on my regards and best wishes to all staff and students involved in today’s event.”
POST-16 DESTINATIONS
Click here for post-16 destinations 2021.
Click here for post-16 destinations 2020.
CAREERS TALK
See below for online assemblies provided for us by ex-students during National Careers Week 2024: