Careers Programme
Careers Information
Careers information on our subjects can be found on individual subject pages on our curriculum page.
Careers
Ferndown Upper School careers programme runs through Years 9 to 13 with support targeted for students making key stage 4 option choices and post 16 options.
At Ferndown Upper School we ensure that all students have at least 1 meaningful encounter with an employer, are provided with information about the full range of options available to them at Key Stage 4 and 5 and beyond.
Ferndown Upper School students are able to access a wide range of high-quality education and training across the area during Years 9,10,11 and in the sixth form. This page offers links to useful resources to help the transition process and careers and guidance information. Important information, advice and guidance are available to all students.
Following student voice feedback Ferndown Upper School offer Careers education through a series of off timetable events which we call ‘Drop Down Days’. On these days students do not attend their regular lessons, but receive high-quality independent advice and guidance from trained professionals.
Ferndown Upper School has an impartial Careers Lead, Lucy Giles. If your child would like an appointment please contact Lucy via email LucyGiles@fernup.dorset.sch.uk.
Alternatively, students can book an appointment with their pastoral manager, tutor or Head of House. Sixth Form students should contact Nadia in the John Thornton Study Centre to book an appointment.
All students are surveyed annually to enable us to review the effectiveness of our careers programme.
Careers Education is so important to us that we begin careers input with all our Year 8 students in the local feeder schools. This includes activities on personal finance and the job market.
Ferndown Upper School has a nominated Enterprise adviser who works with the school to support us with effective employer engagement.
Ferndown Upper School has been recognised for its commitment to Careers Education and Guidance:
- NCS Champion School
- STEM Ambassadors Award
- The Careers and Enterprise Company Award
- RNLI Engineer Award
| Year | Careers Programme for Years 9 - 13 |
|---|---|
| 9 | Students have the opportunity to take part in the following: |
Assembly | |
| Careers off Timetable Events: | |
| Exploring skills | |
| Make informed decisions about KS4 Options/Transitions | |
| Attend Year 9 Options Evening | |
| What do I need to do and who do I ask? | |
Community Day – July When requested Year 9 are entitled to a 1:1 interview | |
| 10 | Students have the opportunity to take part in the following: |
Careers off Timetable events: | |
Careers and Finance drop down event | |
Developing personal profile | |
Employability skills workshop | |
What do I need to do and who do I ask? | |
| 11 | Students have the opportunity to take part in the following: |
Careers off Timetable events: | |
Decision making – what is available post 16? | |
Entry requirements | |
My Plan A and Plan B | |
Personal Statement writing | |
Interview Skills practice and preparation | |
Making a good Application | |
Application deadline dates | |
What do I need to do and who do I ask? | |
6th form lesson shadowing | |
Information on college Open Days | |
| 12 | Students have the opportunity to take part in the following: |
Careers off Timetable events | |
1 week of Work Experience | |
UCAS launch | |
Personal finance presentation | |
Apprenticeship launch | |
Bournemouth University HE fair | |
Progression Day | |
| 13 | Students have the opportunity to take part in the following: |
Careers off Timetable events | |
Support with applications to UCAS | |
Support with applications for apprenticeships | |
Support with applications for employment | |
UCAS student finance tour to help navigate student finance applications | |
FUS maintains accurate destinations data records on our Year 11 and 13 leavers.
We encourage parents and students to access and use up to date information about the labour market, future study options and career paths to inform support you can give to your child.
- National Careers Service website –https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk click onto the ‘Job Profiles’
- ‘Careersbox’ – job sector video clips and ‘Icould’ – try out the Buzz Quiz to get some career ideas for you. http://www.careersbox.co.uk/ www.icould.com
- ‘Start Profile’, website where you can explore job sectors/individual job titles in the ‘World of Work’ section, it has some information on job market data. Students can also generate career ideas in the ‘About me’ section. Users need to create an account to be able to use this free website – register first https://careers.startprofile.com/page/home-page
- Prospects website aimed at graduates and those aspiring to graduate level careers, contains lots of information on careers related to degree subject areas, graduate job hunting tips, vacancy job search and job market data https://prospects.ac.uk/
UCAS/HE:
- Prospects website https://prospects.ac.uk/
- UCAS – http://www.ucas.com/
- Which University – which.co.uk
- Russell Group website – Informed Choices – useful for Year 11s deciding on A level/vocational subjects as well as sixth formers: http://www.russellgroup.ac.uk/for-students/
- University of Oxford – http://www.ox.ac.uk/
- University of Cambridge http://www.cam.ac.uk/
- UNISTATS – https://www.unistats.ac.uk/
- UK Clinical Aptitude Test: http://www.ukcat.ac.uk/
- The Complete University Guide: http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/
- Government Student Finance Guide: http://www.gov.uk/student-finance
APPRENTICESHIPS:
UK website to search and apply for apprenticeship vacancies, students need to register on this site to be able to apply for vacancies: https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeshipsearch
Apprenticeships guide for parents https://successatschool.org/advicedetails/1204/a-parents-guide-to-apprenticeships
- Apprenticeship Guide – lots of info. on different types of apprenticeships/sectors and how to choose an apprenticeship: https://apprenticeshipguide.co.uk/
- Rate My Apprenticeship – includes information on Degree Apprenticeships: https://www.ratemyapprenticeship.co.uk/
- Target Careers – includes information on degree level apprenticeships and school leaver trainee schemes: https://targetcareers.co.uk/
- Most of the local/regional further education colleges advertise apprenticeship vacancies that can be applied for via their websites: e.g. https://www.thecollege.co.uk/, https://www.brock.ac.uk/, http://www.kmc.ac.uk/
- Government website to apply for ‘Traineeships’:- https://gov.uk/find-traineeship
- Information on Traineeships aimed at young people: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/traineeship-information-for-trainees. Some of our local colleges advertise traineeship vacancies via their websites.
- Sunseeker https://www.sunseeker.com/careers
LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION:
- Reed website – information on average salaries (UK wide) across different industry sectors: https://www.reed.co.uk/average-salary
- ‘Career Pilot’ website that has a section called ‘Careerometer’ where you can compare different job titles with regard to pay levels, hours worked per week, numbers of new recruits needed in the future, quite useful:- http://www.careerpilot.org.uk/information/careerometer
- As listed previously in this list, the ‘Prospects’ website contains job market information for graduate-level job types and the ‘Start Profile’ website also includes some general information on the ‘job market’ for specific job titles. National Careers Service job profiles has labour market trends.
Government report (LMI summary for 2012 – 2022) produced on the projected labour market/trends for Dorset https://www.dorsetlep.co.uk/dorset-labour-market-insights-july-2020