For Parents, Students, Teachers and Employers

In the sixth form, whilst the key focus is on applications to university, we provide students with information on all their options.  These are:

  • to pursue further education at a college
  • higher education at university
  • advanced, higher, degree apprenticeship
  • employment
  • gap year – deferred entry to university, organised gap year, employment gap year prior to entry to university, travel gap year travelling independently.

Sixth form students may ask for a careers interview, mock university interview and/or practise interview for employment.  They can arrange this via the sixth form office or ask Miss Halls, the Careers Co-ordinator.

There are lots of useful resources provided on the noticeboard facility on Google Classroom, including news and other careers related information, so make sure you check these regularly.

Who can I speak to?

Miss Halls, Careers Co-ordinator – email: shona.halls@sjwms.org.uk

The Careers department at SJWMS

There is a comprehensive careers education programme for all year groups delivered through Life Skills lessons, tutorials and across the curriculum. This includes activities on self-development, career exploration, and career management and explores further and higher education options. Students are also engaged in work related learning, including work experience in year 12. Impartial (unbiased) careers guidance interviews are available for access by any student and appointments can be made via Head of School or directly using the link below to contact Miss Halls, the Careers Co-ordinator. The Careers Office is in the Life Skills block (opposite room 1). Impartial advice can also be accessed from Medway Youth Trust and the National Careers Service, which helps adults too. Use their callback facility. In addition, students can access a variety of careers related information in the library and on the careers tab on all year group Google Classrooms. The latest news, including labour market information and job alerts, is posted onto Google Classroom. Unifrog enables students to check their skills, compile a CV and personal statement and to track their career plans. In 2019, SJWMS achieved the Investors in Careers Award. This demonstrates that we have achieved a quality standard for the management of careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) and we have demonstrated a commitment to provide impartial and independent CEIAG to all of our young people. Less than one third of secondary schools have achieved this prestigious award.

Student Entitlement

Through your time at SJWMS, you should get:

  • Clear impartial advice and information about all the options available, so that you understand what they involve.
  • Support and guidance to help you make choices and complete a career plan for the future.
  • Regular support and information on how well you are doing.
  • Help to decide what to do when you leave the school, including further learning, training or employment.
  • A programme of careers education helping you develop skills and knowledge to make choices and the transition to work and learning
  • An opportunity to set out an individual learning plan
  • An opportunity to learn about the world of work
  • Help at the appropriate time

Booking a Careers Interview

You can arrange a Careers Interview via your Head of School or by contacting Miss Halls. Your career interview is a confidential, impartial discussion with a qualified Careers Guidance Adviser. Don’t worry if you have no definite plans. We are here to encourage and support you while you are making decisions about your future. Depending on your needs, it may be helpful to have several discussions, so don’t think of your career interview as a ‘one-off’ event.

The school is an affiliate member of the Careers Development Institute (CDI) and the Careers Co-ordinator abides by their code of conduct.

What is careers education?

Careers education is a planned programme of learning activities that helps young people to think about, set goals and prepare for the future. It does this by helping them to develop the knowledge and self-help skills they will need to grasp opportunities, manage change and deal with success, disappointment and the unexpected. At the Math School careers education is provided through Life Skills lessons in the Lower School and in tutorials across all key stages.

What is impartial advice?

Impartial advice basically means that we will not tell you what to do. Impartial careers advice aims to provide young people with the knowledge and skills to make informed choices about what options they have key points in the school life. For example: in choosing GCSE options in year 9, A level options or suitable alternatives at year 11 and in year 13 whether or not to go into further or higher education, or enter the world of work. It aims to motivate and raise aspirations by providing clear goals and encouraging young people to participate in learning and to attain qualifications that reflect their potential. Qualifications are like keys – the more qualifications you have, the more doors are open to you. These doors represent opportunities.

Within the curriculum

Careers education is found across the curriculum in many different subjects, for all year groups and across the academic year,  for example: 

  • PE – leadership and teamwork 
  • English – communication skills needed in organisations 
  • Music – researching careers of music heroes 
  • DT – study of jobs involved in particular projects 
  • Art – image in the workplace 
  • Maths – data analysis is an employability skill
  • Psychology – presentation skills 
  • Drama production – you have to audition for parts or jobs like stage-hand /lighting  – these are like interviews for jobs
  • Prefect roles – you have to be interviewed for the role

Careers Roadmap 2023-24

Download Careers Roadmap 2023-24

Life Skills Lessons

Moving up

  • To recognise the stages in transition and identify how to cope with change (PPT)

Tutorials

Becoming an organised student

  • Organising my homework and revision
  • Dealing with change
  • 2 Tutorials

Unifrog Tutorials

  • Introduction to Unifrog
  • Careers library treasure hunt

Lesson Time

  • Careers library induction part of library induction (part of 1 English lesson)

Tutorials

Unifrog Tutorials

  • Who am I?
  • What are skills?

Tutorials

Unifrog Tutorials

  • Recording activities
  • What is a career?

Positive / Growth Mindset and Mental Health

  • Personal strengths
  • Helpful feedback vs unhelpful criticism
  • Careers case study
  • Careers case study
  • 4 Tutorials

Outside of Lessons

  • STEM Event
  • National Apprenticeships Week
    5th – 11th February

Tutorials

Unifrog Tutorials

  • What is a work-life balance?
  • What is an entrepreneur?

Outside of Lessons

  • National Careers Week
    4th – 9th March

Tutorials

Stories about Jesus

Unifrog Tutorials

  • Interests profile
  • Careers and the future

Tutorials

Money

Unifrog Tutorials

  • What’s your dream job?
  • Exploring possibilities: dream jobs

Tutorials

Unifrog Tutorials

  • Careers Library treasure hunt – 2
  • What are my interests?

Life Skills Lessons

Prejudice and Discrimination

  • To be able to describe what discrimination is and make a judgement on the ways in which it affects people (PPT)

Tutorials

Unifrog Tutorials

  • Career terminology
  • Challenges and rewards of work

Tutorials

Unifrog Tutorials

  • What does success mean to me?
  • Creating the life you want: making a vision board

Health

Outside of Lessons

  • National Apprenticeships Week
    5th – 11th February

Life Skills Lessons

Great Leaders

  • To explore what makes a great leader using examples from History (PPT)

Tutorials

Unifrog Tutorials

  • Your superhero CV

Outside of Lessons

  • Bright Futures Enterprise Event
  • National Careers Week
    4th – 9th March

Tutorials

Social Media

Unifrog Tutorials

  • Communication: What Makes a Great Communicator
  • Careers and the climate

Life Skills Lessons

Market stall activity

  • Describe essential life and employability skills
  • Explain what transferable skills are
  • Explain how to develop skills which are transferable (PPT)

Tutorials

The existence of God

  • Why do people work different work patterns?
  • 2 Tutorials

Unifrog Tutorials

  • Activities and skills bingo

Tutorials

Unifrog Tutorials

  • Identifying interests
  • Workings and earning: managing your money

Tutorials

Year 9 GCSE choices tutorial delivered by SXH

Apprenticeships

  • To be able to understand what apprenticeships are, how they work and where to find them (PPT)

Choosing your options

  • To understand and evaluate the different career options available (PPT)

Unifrog Tutorials

  • GCSEs Choices

Tutorials

Unifrog Tutorials

  • What are my skills?
  • Careers library treasure hunt – 3

Outside of Lessons

  • GCSE Options Evening
    Choose options by the end of term 3
  • National Apprenticeship Week
    5th – 11th February

Tutorials

Unifrog Tutorials

  • What makes a great leader?
  • Taking control of your career journey

Outside of Lessons

  • National Careers Week
    4th – 9th March

Tutorials

Unifrog Tutorials

  • Your skills, your team, your future
  • What is the labour market and why is it important?

Tutorials

Unifrog Tutorials

  • Talking about your activities

Life Skills Lessons

Jackie Pullinger

  • Links to volunteer work to gain skills and experience to develop CV (PPT)

Street Pastors

  • To understand the work of street pastors and what this job role involves (PPT)

Tutorials

Money

Unifrog Tutorials

  • Reflecting on my career journey: past, present and future
  • WEX: How to research possible placements

Tutorials

Living in the Wider World

  • Helpful feedback vs unhealthy criticism
  • Prejudice and discrimination inc at work
  • 2 Tutorials

Unifrog Tutorials

  • Exploring employer profiles
  • WEX: CV’s and Cover Letters

Tutorials

Unifrog Tutorials

  • What type of career is best for me?
  • WEX: How to contact employers

Outside of Lessons

  • National Apprenticeship Week
    5th – 11th February

Tutorials

Unifrog Tutorials

Outside of Lessons

  • National Careers Week
    4th – 9th March

Life Skills Lessons

Ageism

  • To be able to explain how your age can impact on what you are able to do and how others perceive you (PPT)

Tutorials

Unifrog Tutorials

  • Teamwork: What makes a great team player?

Life Skills Lessons

When things don’t go to plan

  • To consider how to deal with the stress of exams, the run up to results day and what to do if things don’t go to plan (including advice on what to do if you don’t get into sixth form or college e.g. apprenticeships, traineeships – reminder of post-16 options) (PPT)

Tutorials

 

Unifrog Tutorials

  • Inperson, hybrid and remote: what works best?

Tutorials

Unifrog Tutorials

  • Decision making: choosing your Post-16 pathway

Outside of Lessons

  • Next Steps Evening

Tutorials

Unifrog Tutorials

  • A Level Choices
  • Money talks: apprenticeships vs. higher education
  • Researching volunteering and paid work
  • Our World
    • World of work
    • Economic wellbeing
  • 2 Tutorials

Outside of Lessons

  • Mid Kent College Assembly

Tutorials

  • Focus on numeracy and literacy

Outside of Lessons

  • Opportunities in the sixth form evening
  • National Apprenticeship Week
    5th – 11th February

Tutorials

Unifrog Tutorials

  • Wellbeing: Recognising stress and anxiety
  • Is AI a threat to our jobs?
  • Focus on numeracy and literacy

Outside of Lessons

  • National Careers Week
    4th – 9th March

Tutorials

Unifrog Tutorials

  • Revision: Good vs. Bad
  • Coping with changes: Leaving secondary school
  • Focus on numeracy and literacy

Tutorials

  • Focus on numeracy and literacy

Life Skills Lessons

Sexuality and gender

  • Employment law discussed regarding discrimination

Pressures and Expectations

  • Pressure from employers/managers discussed.

Tutorials

Y12 T1 Intended Destinations Survey

Post 18 Next Steps/Unifrog Tutorials

  • What should I do next?
  • Post 18: Choices choices
  • Using The Personality Profile
  • Wellbeing: balancing life, learning and work

Outside of Lessons

  • Next Steps Evening

Life Skills Lessons

Drugs alcohol and tobacco

  • The law and delaing with emergencies
  • Rights regading drugs and alcohol misuse in the workplace

Emotional wellbeing and stress

  • Brief discussion of stress relating to job loss

Tutorials

Post 18 Next Steps/Unifrog Tutorials

  • Setting Career Goals
  • Introduction to Apprenticeships in England and Wales
  • Degree apprenticeships -The right choice for you
  • Taking a Gap Year

Life Skills Lessons

Emotional wellbeing

  • Strategies and support

Tutorials

Y12 T3 Intended Destinations Survey

Post 18 Next Steps/Unifrog Tutorials

  • Oxbridge
  • UCAS offers explained (tariffs)
  • What is a Russell Group University?
  • What is the Sutton Trust and Sutton Trust 30?
  • WEX: How to contact employers

Outside of Lessons

  • National Apprenticeship Week
    5th – 11th February

Life Skills Lessons

Personality identity

  • Being new in new places
  • Soft skills in the workplace

Communities

  • Prevent in the workplace

Tutorials

Post 18 Next Steps/Unifrog Tutorials

  • Using the UK Universities Tool to Find the Best Fit
  • US Universities
  • Visiting universities: open days
  • Choosing your degree
  • Applying to University

Outside of Lessons

  • National Careers Week
    4th – 9th March

Tutorials

Y12 T5 Intended Destinations Survey

Post 18 Next Steps/Unifrog Tutorials

  • Post-18 Research Tools
  • WEX: Social Media and Personal Brand
  • The 2025 UCAS undergraduate application

Lesson Time

  • Post 18 options
  • Life at university and alternatives
  • UCAS – researching courses, personal statement prep, university visits
  • CVs

Work Experience

 

Life Skills Lessons

You as a worker

  • Workplace etiquette, skills and codes of conduct

Money, bills and budgeting

  • Taxation and budgeting wages

 

Outside of Lessons

Tutorials

Post WEX debrief

  • 2 Tutorials

Post 18 Next Steps/Unifrog Tutorials

  • Dress codes
  • What to expect at university
  • Geeking out
  • Acing Your Personal Statement
  • The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers

Lesson Time

Y12 Life skills and Post-18 destinations day

  • WEX
  • Apprenticeships
  • Unifrog
  • Next Steps Profile
  • Personal Statements
  • RE
  • Life Skills

Last two days of term

  • Alumni Talks/Career Days

Tutorials

Y13 T1 Intended Destinations Survey

Post 18 Next Steps/Unifrog Tutorials

  • Application Tool
  • Structuring and composing a strong CV
  • World of Work: Professional Networking

Lesson Time

  • Oxbridge mock interviews
  • UCAS completing personal statement

Outside of Lessons

  • UEA personal statement workshop
  • Next Steps Evening

Tutorials

Post 18 Next Steps/Unifrog Tutorials

  • Finalising your personal statement
  • Revision: Good vs. bad
  • Basics of interviews

Tutorials

Y13 T3 Intended Destinations Survey

Post 18 Next Steps/Unifrog Tutorials

  • Assessment centres
  • Rights of Apprentices
  • Should all employers adopt a 4-day week?

Outside of Lessons

  • Mock Interviews
    Students are given the opportunity to have mock university/apprenticeship/job interviews with external professionals. Students receive feedback to help improve future performance.

Tutorials

Post 18 Next Steps/Unifrog Tutorials

  • Writing an effective cover letter
  • Being self-employed and working freelance
  • Confidently managing transitions

Outside of Lessons

  • National Careers Week
    4th – 9th March

Tutorials

Post 18 Next Steps/Unifrog Tutorials

  • Results day and Clearing: what you need to know
  • What makes a ‘good’ company to work for?

LAT Careers Education

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE LAT CAREERS EDUCATION WEBSITE

During their education pupils have access to careers education, information, advice and guidance. Each academy follows a structured careers programme which supports pupils to develop skills and attributes to prepare them for their future lives.

Pupils will

  • Gain knowledge and understanding of career opportunities and future career pathways
  • Develop personal skills and qualities
  • Explore, develop and manage their own future career aspirations
  • Develop employability skills

Support for pupils, parents, carers and teachers  

The Leigh Academies Trust Engagement Team has developed a website to support pupils, parents, carers and teachers. Here you can find careers related information and resources including frequently asked questions.

Team Structure 

The Leigh Academies Trust Engagement Team supports all academies and consists of Careers Learning; supports pupils through impartial careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) enabling them to make informed decisions regarding their future.