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Throughout the school, we encourage students to develop an understanding of themselves, their strengths and their skills in order to assist them in their future choices on leaving school. This is developed across all aspects of the school. All academic departments have excellent relationships with employers and their professional bodies to assist students with their investigations. Students are also encouraged to take part in voluntary activities in and out of school to give back to the community whilst developing their employability skills.
Mrs Jane Mackay, our Careers and Personal Development Officer, offers careers and higher education support and guidance within school assisting with the PSD programme. She is available for interviews Tuesday to Friday.
Our Year 9 pupils enjoy taking part in an Industry Day project where they are given the opportunity to solve a problem for a local company on a ‘consultancy’ basis. Several companies have used some of the ideas that students have developed. In February, students investigate their GSCE options through a range of PSD lessons and meetings with Mrs Mackay if required.
Our Year 10 students enjoy a work experience week. This experience gives them the benefit and understanding of the world of work whether it is in a related field of their career choice or not. These have ranged from the Army, to an undertaker to retail to a veterinary practice.
Whilst the majority of our Year 11 students move into the 6th Form, we ensure that we help them explore all the different Post 16 opportunities through PSD, Open Days, meetings with their tutors and the opportunity to have an interview with Mrs Mackay. Year 11 students also have an interview with a representative from a company so that the student has an opportunity to write a CV and receive feedback on their CV and interview skills. An important part of Year 11: giving them insight into what might happen when they apply for employment.
The majority of our Year 13 students choose to go onto Higher Education and we therefore have a tailor made programme, throughout years 12 and 13 specialising in their needs for Post 18 choices. Alongside this programme, we offer a personal development programme to include study skills, well-being and healthy living, employment opportunities and visits from ex- students. Our students excel at a wide range of Post 18 careers and to that end we work with students whatever their needs from completing their university application process (through UCAS), completing an application for employment or training, having a gap year or something completely different. In recent years our students who have chosen not to attend university have gained excellent positions with KPMG, IBM, Smith and Williamson, our local MP and other local employers. We aim to ensure that whatever they choose to do, they have firm plans for their future and the skills to excel at whatever they take on.
6th Form students are advised to have at least one interview with Mrs Mackay to help them explore their options and choose the right course of action, alongside their regular discussions with their tutors. Many students happily opt for more. Students can either email Mrs Mackay with a question or sign up outside the office (S4). Students are also encouraged to ‘drop in' whenever the door is open. All students of any year, are also welcome to see Mrs Mackay regarding any aspect of career choice, subject choice, work related questions or Higher Education.
In addition to the opportunity for one to one discussions, the PSD programme includes a range of careers and HE elements, briefings for parents, internal and external speakers, and a very comprehensive set of related resources.
Specific career calendars for your daughter's year can be found at:
We find that parents can play a pivotal role in the careers education of their daughters. In order to help, we have listed below a number of websites that parents may find useful. We use resourcecomp@nion careers resource which is updated internally and externally by Wiltshire Education Services. Here you will find many useful links to all career matters. It is available to students via the VLE and to parents via Parent Portal
www.prospects.ac.uk
Good information on graduate career destinations
www.apprenticeships.org.uk
Government portal to apprenticeships packed with apprenticeship opportunities and information, advice and guidance.
www.notgoingtouni.co.uk
Excellent information covering alternatives to university
https://www.nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk
National Careers Service – 0800 100 900
www.ucas.ac.uk
The official information on undergraduate courses. It also contains a Stamford Test to aid subject choice. The UCAS website also has a Parents section where you can get a variety of information and can sign up for a newsletter. It is worth registering.
www.thegooduniversityguide.org
This provides rankings on top universities by subject as well as overall.
www.ukcoursefinder.com
An online questionnaire linking students interest to degree subject areas.
www.unistats.com
Compare different universities and courses using latest National Student Survey.
www.push.co.uk
Independent guide to university
www.stepintothenhs.nhs.uk
Information on all careers in the NHS
www.wanttobeadoctor.co.uk
Information on applying for medicine
www.fulbright.co.uk
Information on studying in the USA
www.erasmus.ac.uk
Gives information on spending a year in Europe as part of a UK degree
www.braintrack.com
Websites for universities worldwide
www.studyineurope.eu
Information on course taught in English but taken in Europe
www.london.ac.uk
Subject taster days at London universities
www.medlink-uk.com
Four day course on studying medicine
www.workshop-uk.com
Careers conferences
www.headstartcourses.org.uk
Taster courses in science and engineering
www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/working_with_schools_and_colleges/uniq/uniq_courses.html
Summer Schools at Oxford University
www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/year12summerschools
Summer Schools at Cambridge University
Detailed careers information can be found on the Careers Department on the school VLE which students can access from home or school.
If you have any questions please either email Mrs Mackay on careers@swgs.wilts.sch.uk or call her. Please be prepared to leave a message as she is often with a student.
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