Where we fit in

Throughout their education, students need to make considered decisions before making subject option choices or finally moving on to university or work and training.

At these key times it is important that they have access to a sound network of support in order that these decisions may be as well founded as possible.

Impartial careers education, information, advice and guidance aimed at helping students to find information sources and to reflect on their abilities, interests and aspirations is often a crucial part of this process and is what we are about.

Careers information advice and help

Mrs J Lynam (School Performance Associate) is the Senior Leadership Team member with responsibility for Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance.

You may contact Mrs Lynam by email for career information queries you may have: lynamj@mansheadschool.co.uk

Students can get careers advice and help from:

• Mrs S Hawkins – WRL / Careers Adviser (Level 4 Diploma in CEIAG)
• Mrs L Mullins – 4YP (Matrix accredited) External Careers Adviser (Level 6 Diploma in CEIAG)

Mrs Hawkins works closely with the KS4 and KS5 attainment team and  is in the academy every day, seeing students by prior arrangement or at short notice as necessary. All students are welcome to speak to her at any break or lunchtime and to make an appointment if preferred. Parents / carers are welcome to attend.

Mrs Mullins from 4YP is in the academy most Wednesdays and generally sees students by prior arrangement.

Our team can provide information, advice, guidance and support to young people on a range of issues that might affect their lives

As our students start making these vital choices in Year 9 with their GCSE options we begin our careers education in Year 7. Over the course of their time with us our students will have the opportunity to have guidance sessions, bespoke assemblies and workshops all run by professionals, lessons taught during tutor time, careers fairs, trips out of school and support in writing application forms and university applications (UCAS).

Throughout their time at Manshead, every student has the opportunity to access information through the taught curriculum time as well as outside of school hours.

Students have access to resources available from the Careers Office (located in Room D4), the Library and from a range of online resources.

Crucial to students in Years 12 and 13, is access to 'Unifrog' a computer aided Careers Guidance Platform which enables them to explore careers, search and apply for courses and log all careers related interactions. They can access a library of university Prospectuses and information about courses necessary for the university application process. 

SEMLEP School Labour Market Information

For Parents / Carers

We understand how difficult it can be to navigate through the large amount of information concerning careers. Choices available to your child are likely to be very different to those you had at school. However, parental guidance significantly influences decisions made by our students, so it is imperative you have access to current information. Our programme sets out the kind of support we offer to help widen students’ horizons and assist them in making informed decisions.

For careers information and advice specifically for parents and carers, you may find these websites useful:

www.parentalguidance.org.uk

https://ukcareers.ey.com/students/career-advice/parental-advice/

https://www.talkingfutures.org.uk/

If you have any careers-related concerns for your child, please contact Mrs J Lynam (Careers Lead) or Mrs S Hawkins (Careers Adviser) on 01582 67911 or email lynamj@mansheadschool.co.uk or hawkinss@mansheadschool.co.uk

For Employers and Training Providers

Here at Manshead, we endeavour to give each of our students as many opportunities as possible to engage with the world of work.  Organisations who are able to assist us in our efforts to strengthen student’s employability skills would be warmly welcomed. We would appreciate your involvement in activities such as:

• Workplace visits
• Career talks
• Work experience placements
• Mentoring
• CV writing advice
• Interview preparation / mock interviews

If you are able to support the academy with any of these activities or have ideas which will promote further employability, please contact Mrs J Lynam on 01582 679411 or email: lynamj@mansheadschool.co.uk

Teachers:

Staff may find the following links useful in supporting students with their careers education and find inspiration on how to bring the workplace into the classroom. More career resources are available in the Careers folder in the school staff shared area’.

https://www.c360.org.uk/gatsby-benchmark-4-linking-curriculum-learning-to-careers

https://www.careersandenterprise.co.uk/sites/default/files/gatsby_benchmark_4.pdf

Useful Websites

http://www.4ypuk.com/usefulinformatio.html

4YP are commissioned by Central Bedfordshire Council to provide impartial careers information and guidance to students. The link above will take you to a list of useful web contacts resources, and to direct contact information for 4YP themselves.

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/

The National Careers Service provides information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work opportunities.  It has lots of useful information including the Job Profiles section which explains the skills and qualifications needed for over 750 jobs; it details what the work would be like, the average salary you could expect and the career prospects.

www.neuvoo.co.uk/  This website aims to identify possible career directions and outline future options.

www.apprenticeships.gov.uk This website helps young people find apprenticeships in the area of work most suited to them.

www.notgoingtouni.co.uk A website dedicated to helping young people make informed decisions about their future by showing the opportunities that exist outside of university. It lists apprenticeships, ways to get a degree debt-free, alternative forms of study, employer funded study and so on.

www.push.co.uk An independent guide to UK universities, student life, gap years, open days, student finance and lots more. Push is the only organisation to visit every university in person every year to provide the most detailed, most independent guide to all the UK’s universities. Use Push’s Uni Chooser to sift and sort through the universities to create your own personal short list and find the best one for you.

www.prospects.ac.uk Graduate Prospects is the UK’s leading provider of information, advice and opportunities to students and graduates. In their extensive careers website, there is an Options With Your Subject section which gives career information about various subjects and what area of work graduates have moved into. This may be useful to students who are trying to decide which subject to study at university.

www.ucas.com The UCAS website offers all the information you will need about applying to university, courses offered, fees, entry requirements and lots more.

www.ukcoursefinder.co.uk  Locate your ideal university courses.  Quickly complete the study interests questionnaire to pin-point your interests in 150+ degree disciplines.  Choose the location, study style, type of university or college and let Course Finder search through over 50,000 university courses from 500 UK institutions.

careermap.co.uk Careermap is an online career resource that provides live post-16 opportunities, such as apprenticeship vacancies, college courses, university and graduate options. We also offer career advice and guidance so young people can make well-informed decisions to enhance their futures!

https://www.findyourfuture.org.uk/