Personal Social Health Education
CAREER ACTION PLANNING
This is the essential vehicle on which students will be involved in determining the most appropriate steps that they need to take to prepare for their future. It asks them to reflect on the compulsory and voluntary activities that are part of our Careers Education and Guidance Programme and determine the most appropriate steps to be taken.
OPEN EVENING for Parents/Carers:"Options at 16+"
In conjunction with the Connexions Service we invite representatives from Further Education and Sixth Form, to explain the wide range of opportunities which exist within the options of 'AS'/'A2' Levels, Vocational Courses and employment with training. It is important to be aware of all the options available, as students frequently change their minds during Year 11.
CAREERS LIBRARY
Our well-resourced and up to date Careers Library is housed in one corner of the College Library. The materials are all well set out and easy to find.
This resource is available to students during PSHE sessions and at lunch and breaktimes. Please mention to the Librarian any career areas you find under resourced.
FASTOMATO is a comprehensive web based career-matching programme that all students have access to. There are also a variety of databases of both local and nationally available opportunities, all regularly updated. There are also some clear signposts to much of the wealth of careers material available on the Internet.
PROGRESS FILE
All Y11 students will continue to work on their Progress File, via our in-house KS4 Organiser. Interviewers in all areas expect a student to present written evidence of achievements at interview and it needs to create the very best of impressions. It is the sole responsibility of the student to ensure that it is complete, checked and printed before it is needed.
Students will be expected to complete a practise CV during term 1.
The Progress File is the personal property of the student for use as they wish. I strongly recommend students to take their KS4 Organiser files with them when they leave HVC so that they can continue to update their records, CV etc.
TASTER COURSES
Chesterfield College offers one-day taster courses during February half term when students can spend the day at the college on a course of their choice. Travel to Chesterfield is on the usual Chesterfield College transport and a bus pass will be provided for the day.
Any student considering applying for any course at Chesterfield is strongly advised to go on a taster course to discover at first hand what is involved. Applications (which are a firm commitment to attend) should be made to Mr Smith in the first instance in January.
OPEN EVENINGS
All of the 'A' level providers and both local FE colleges run Open Evenings for students and parents. A list of these dates will be circulated by the end of September. You could anticipate some evenings out in Nov and early Dec! These can be very useful ways of picking up current information.
National Insurance Cards
These are sent direct to students around their 16th birthday. Quite how the distribution is organised is a mystery to me, but don't panic they will catch up with you - eventually
Connexions Service
We work closely with the Connexions Service and our link Personal Adviser, Colette Harris, who is available to offer guidance to students during the coming months. They are always happy to be contacted by students or parents at any time in the year, including after examination results are posted in August. They can be contacted at:
Derbyshire Connexions
9 The Quadrant
Buxton
SK17 6AW
Tel: 01298 22322.
Or accessed from http://www.connexions-derbyshire.org/
GROUP SESSIONS
Group interviews start in September looking at aspects of the three options of Academic Education, Vocational Education and Work Based Training. Each student has the opportunity to attend at least one session.
CAREERS INTERVIEWS
Whenever a student feels that an individual interview with the Connexions Adviser (Colette Harris) would be useful they can book one by simply signing up on a sheet on the board outside Mrs Askey's office. An interview can usually be arranged within 2 weeks.
APPLICATIONS
Guidance and advice on applications and job seeking skills is an important part of the autumn term's PSHE programme.
FURTHER EDUCATION
All the local Further Education colleges; University of Derby (High Peak College), Sheffield College and Chesterfield College have an open access policy not wishing to turn away any student. However, some popular courses do get over subscribed. We therefore recommend applications being made before Christmas. There is no harm in applying for more than one course (or college), and deciding which to accept at a later date.
The one problem of early applications is that students often fail to contemplate other opportunities as they arise. We therefore advise flexible thinking - if something better comes up plans can always be altered.
'AS' LEVELS
'AS' levels can be studied at Lady Manners School, Buxton Community School, other Derbyshire schools, Sheffield Schools or Chesterfield College.
Applications are normally required before Easter, liaison with Lady Manners School (and others as necessary) starts after Christmas and a series of visits and interviews will be arranged.
TRAINING / EMPLOYMENT
Current vacancies can be found from http://www.connexions-derbyshire.org/ with applications and placements being processed by our Personal Adviser. It is also possible to organise placements through personal contacts, the necessary arrangements again being made by the Personal Adviser.
APPLICATION FORMS
All local application forms are available from Connexions Personal Adviser or from Mr A Rolfe.
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