Careers and Work Experience

Careers and Advice

In the current economic climate it is important that you give yourself the best possible chance to find information about all the education and training you can access when you leave school. At Belvidere we ensure that all our students and their parents are provided with useful information and guidance to help with those important career choices.

Independent IAG (Information, Advice and Guidance) is available in Belvidere School to provide advice on the following:
• options in years 9, 10 & 11
• career pathways
• study programmes / college courses
• apprenticeships / employment opportunities
• Higher Education and RPA (Raising of the Participation Age)

This is done in school, by Paul Stanton, a registered careers advisor from the independent Careers Development Institute (CDI). Paul is in school one day each week alternating between Wednesday and Thursday, during term time and can be found in the office between room 36/37. Appointments can be made and there is an additional drop in facility at break, lunch time and after school. Paul is also available during our options evening and parents evenings should you wish to seek advice. Appoitments can be made by contacting the school reception.

RPA is Government legislation where all year 11 leavers are required to remain in education, training or employment with accredited training until their 18th birthday.

If you would like further information regarding RPA, please contact the school’s careers adviser via 01743 235073, or see - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/raising-the-participation-age

National Careers Service Website : https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/

Belvidere School Destinations
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Provider Access Policy

Introduction

This policy statement sets out the school’s arrangements for managing the access of providers to students at the school for the purpose of giving them information about the provider’s education or training offer. This complies with the school’s legal obligations under section 42B of the Education Act 1997.
Student entitlement - All students in years 8 -11 are entitled:

To find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeships opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point;
To hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships – through options events, assemblies and group discussions and taster events;
To understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses.

Management of provider access requests

Procedure

A provider wishing to request access should contact Steve Thomas, IAG Lead
Telephone: 01743 235073
Email: reception@belvidere.shropshire.sch.uk

Opportunities for access to a number of events, integrated into the school careers programme, will offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to students and/or their parents/carers.
Examples of this are:

Career and option choices programme taught through PSHE
An opportunity for all students to engage with a one week work experience programme in Year 10
Access to a range of Post 16 providers who inform students about choices and support with application forms
An opportunity for Year 9 to visit the Skills Show offering information about a wide range of professions
The services of a specialist careers advisor who is based at Belvidere. All students in Year 11 receive an individual interview, along with additional advice sessions if necessary
Visits from Higher Education institutions who engage with KS4 students on choices in Higher Education and inspire them to consider their opportunities.
A planned visit to a Higher Education institution to allow students to experience the world of HE
Engagement with the National Citizen Service in which a number of our students obtain accreditation through participating in this scheme after completing their GCSEs

Careers Links
The web site for the new recently launched National Careers Service.
Take the Buzz test, find out your personality type. Icould
Cascaid website – The name for all your careers & life support needs. A careers / life support resource, implemented in local schools, it consists of two main support sections: -
Kudos website - Kudos boasts a wide range of features, each designed to support young people in planning for their future and exploring the world of careers, training and further education. Aimed at students aged 13-19, Kudos delivers a personalised experience.
Careersbox website is a free on line library of careers related films, news and information
CXDirect website - A wide range of support / careers resources designed to be of use / interest to all young people, including an opportunity to talk with a Careers Adviser on line one to one, in confidence about your career plans / ideas between 8:00 am and 10:00pam.
Shrewsbury College of Arts and Technology website. Lots of details about studying and student life, details of the courses available.
Shrewsbury 6th Form College website
North Shropshire College website - Details of courses/qualifications offered; AS & A2, BTEC, AVCE’s, land based, animals, equine, agricultural courses, and much more!!
Information about Apprenticeships’/’Work Based Learning website, constantly updated / changing details of current vacancies, both locally and nationally. IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT GETTING AN APPRENTICESHIP FOR YOURSELF THIS IS THE WEB SITE TO BE LOOKING AT / REGISTERING YOURSELF FOR VACANCIES, AND APPLYING FOR THEM!
Information about the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund website to help young people stay in education or training after 16. Those most in need will be eligible for a bursary of £1,200 a year. You have to apply directly to your college / training provider for a bursary.
The one-stop-shop for career inspiration and preparation. Explore Plotr website now and you can watch exciting videos, read awesome advice articles and get yourself ready for the next step.
NNCEE website - Another one-stop-shop for all you need to know about employment law and young people.

Work Experience

Work experience is an ideal opportunity for students to get a taste of the world of work and is offered to all of our Year 10 students at the end of the Summer Term. We actively encourage our students to find their own placements and help, advice and support is provided with this process. Often friends, family, neighbours or employers of parents/carers can be a great source of information. For those students who require further help, we maintain a database of employers who have been happy to take on our students in previous years.

All placements are checked out for Health and Safety as well as relevant insurance coverage by the Shropshire Telford and Wrekin Education Business Links with whom we have worked closely for a number of years. Students will not be allowed to go on a placement until it has been approved, it is therefore essential that they start looking early, especially as some of the most popular ones fill up very quickly. Once the student has the placement confirmed, they should return the relevant form to school and we will write to the employer to confirm this. Further advice is given to the students regarding their conduct and Health and Safety prior to the start of the placement and we also encourage them to make a personal visit beforehand to introduce themselves.

Our students normally gain a great deal from their placement and for many it helps them decide upon a career path. Even if this is not the case, it gives everyone a taste of what the world of work entails. In recent years some of our students have even been offered Saturday jobs, or holiday work by their work experience employer.

Mr Thomas overseas work experience and Mrs Naylor is our work experience coordinator. They can be contacted at school with any queries that you may have.

From work experience providers

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"It has been a pleasure to have your student with us. she has worked hard, taken ownership of tasks assigned to her and been cheerful and good natured. A credit to your school."

"Fantastic student, he should be extremely proud of the way he carried himself."

She always worked hard, listened well and was always on the look out for something else to do! A real asset.

"She was an absolute pleasure to have working with them. She was extremely mature, hardworking and full of questions and suggestions. The whole team were very impressed and she has a great future ahead of her, whatever she chooses to do."

She was a delight to host. She is very well mannered, bright and intelligent; an absolute credit to Belvidere School and her parents.

He has had an excellent week and communicated well with staff, patients and clients. He has shown a real willingness to get involved without being asked. His confidence has grown throughout the week and he has made a real contribution!

Wow, what a clever lad! He picked up tasks quickly. Very employable!

"He was consistently on time in the morning and happy to be working on tasks set, in what can be a busy agency environment. He is polite and willing to learn. We wish him all the best."

"He has proved himself to be a hardworking and popular member of the team. He has adapted to all aspects of the job with a positive and easy going attitude."

"She has been an exceptional work experince student who has delivered work of equal standard to employers. We cannot praise her highly enough."

She has been an absolute superstar! She has been so helpful at the busy end of term. She used her initiative and would be welcome back at anytime.

All tasks set have been completed to a high standard and we hope that she has gained an insight into a policing career. All students from Belvidere have been great ambassadors for their school.

"Polite, well mannered individual, shows genuine interest in his chosen placement (engineering), well done."