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Take advantage of the Careers Programme
Secondary schools and colleges operate a structured Careers Programme and must publish their plan. This will include careers events and activities, some of which are targeted at students while others are for you and your child to attend together.
Discover the plan on your child’s school or college website and learn about the range of outreach initiatives taking place. Whether that’s communications from further and higher education providers, such as colleges, universities, apprenticeships and training providers, visits from employers, or talks by past students about the career paths they’ve taken.
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Linking the curriculum to careers
Subject teachers in schools and colleges are now encouraged to link what is taught in the curriculum with potential careers. This helps students understand the relevance of subjects they’re learning to the world of work they will one day enter.
Making these links is an important strand of the Careers Programme operated by your child’s college or school. It helps to build engagement in subjects, while opening young people’s minds to different career possibilities.
Schools and colleges will also try to offer work experience opportunities.
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Connect with the Careers Leader
Your child’s school or college will have a Careers Leader who is responsible for planning and coordinating the Careers Programme. You can find their name on the school or college website or get in touch with your child’s form tutor or head of year. The Careers Leader will be pleased to support the conversations you’re having with your child, whether your child has clear ideas about what they want to do or is still exploring ideas.
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Meet with a Careers Adviser
By the age of 16, your child can expect to have had at least one personal guidance session with a Careers Adviser and a further session by the age of 18. The adviser might be an external specialist, or alternatively a member of school staff trained to provide careers guidance. Your child may also receive support from their tutor in form time and subject teachers will make links between what’s being studied and future careers.
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Stay connected
Events and activities take place throughout the year, so make sure you stay connected with the school or college. They will promote the Careers Programme in a variety of ways, through communications home or via the school or college website. There may be opportunities for you to share your feedback and aspects you’d like more information on. Don’t forget to get in touch with the Careers Leader if there’s something specific you need.
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Additional resources
Communications from your child’s school or college will signpost where you can find extra information on different jobs and careers, further study options, and local employment opportunities. There may be a careers section on the school or college website specifically for students, with dedicated pages for parents as well. A library of printed information should also be available for students to explore, holding literature provided by local employers and colleges, and UK-wide universities.
