Careers & Pathways

The support available to pupils when making choices for the next steps in their education is very effective.

Ofsted 2019

We run a varied programme of careers education, support and guidance for all of our students. The programme fulfils the requirements of the Government Careers Strategy (Dec 2017) and resulting Statutory Guidance (Jan 2018).

Activities across all year groups of the school inform and inspire students about a wide range of career areas, and help to build essential employability skills so they can move forward in their career journey. Trips and events are organised to understand where studying particular subjects could lead in the future, and to illuminate the wide range of opportunities for further study and future employment. 

As a qualified careers professional I run workshops and offer careers interviews and counselling to all students, in addition to running weekly drop in sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday lunchtimes.

Mrs Pearce, Careers Lead

01737 764356 extension 231

Mrs Pearce's recent email (dated 13 May) about the Taster Days at our two Partner Colleges, can be found HERE

East Surrey College, Tuesday 28 June, 09:30 – 14:30

Students will try out two subjects on the day from 4 choices

Use THIS WEBLINK to select the subjects they’d like a taste of; make choices before 27 May

Students are not expected at school after the event finishes

Browse the subject options for tasting HERE

Reigate College, Tuesday 12 July, 08:30 – 12:00

Students will try out 3 subjects on the day, and need to select 6 in order of preference

Use THIS WEBLINK to select the subjects they’d like a taste of; make choices before 27 May

Students are not expected to come to school in the afternoon

Browse the subject options for tasting HERE

7-11 February is National Apprenticeship Week.

STUDENTS - Read this letter from the Skills Minister about Apprenticeships

PARENTS - Read this letter from the Skills Minister about Apprenticeships

Watch my interview below with Tom Simmons who left the Warwick School in 2020 and is now absolutely thriving doing a Customer Service Apprenticeship with Jewson's Builders Merchant in Redhill.

 Understanding University Opportunities

To help our students understand what opportunities lie ahead when their time at school and Sixth Form College is over, we offer some interesting events during Key Stage 3 and 4.

Next up: A group of our Year 8 students are off to the University of Surrey in Guildford later this month, with Mrs Pearce, to take part in the Exploring Higher Education Programme.

University of Surrey Letter to Year 8 Parents, May 2022

University of Surrey Year 8 Student Information Form, May 2022

Some of our students' recent destinations

• Anam Achhwa, Business & Marketing, Surrey University
• Lucy Bartlett, Applied Anatomy, Bristol
• Harry Winchester, Computer Science, Bristol
• Marcus Thorpe, Bioengineering, University of Sheffield
• Jessie Morgenstern, Ancient History & Classical Archaeology, University of Warwick
• Mariana Jackson, Midwifery, University of Surrey
• Jacob Bennett, Product Design, Loughborough

Links

NCS Summer Programme 2022

Parent Information Pack for the Summer 2022 Programme

Start Profile

An online careers platform with lots of useful information about what and where to study along with details of the world of work and how to build employability skills.

National Careers Service

Lots of useful information on the ‘Aged 13-16’ tab including job profiles, points to consider when choosing your subjects to study, and available options including apprenticeships.

icould

Video stories about lots of different jobs themed in all sorts of ways.  Good to get an idea of the range of jobs out there.  The Career Buzz Quiz is a great way of starting to identify your career skills.

Careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths)

There are a growing number of job opportunities in these career areas.  Visit these virtual careers fair to inspire you about the career areas available.

Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship offers a mixture of on and off the job training giving you the skills needed to get ahead in your chosen career. Apprenticeships can be a wide range of employment areas.

Further education colleges often offer Traineeships designed to provide further qualifications, confidence and work-related skills for those wishing to start an apprenticeship.

University choices - UCAS

If you are thinking that after you are 18, university might be something you would consider, you can find out what A level and BTEC subjects are required to gain entry onto specific courses on the UCAS (University College Admission System) website. Look on the ‘undergraduate’ tab, then ‘find a course’.  This will allow you to search for specific courses at specific universities and will let you know what the entry requirements are. The website http://www.ukcoursefinder.com/ is linked into the UCAS website.

Which? University also provides free university advice to help students find the right degree course and university for them

Barclays Life Skills

A useful website showing films and providing tools to help young people understand and develop the key skills they need to go forward into work.

Careers Programmes

Year Group Careers Programme and Activities
All Years
  • All year round: Careers Drop in Sessions in the Careers Office on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday lunchtimes
  • Structured monthly programme linking curriculum subjects to careers (trips, poster displays, careers talks and workshops)
  • Widening Participation & Outreach events at the University of Surrey
  • Information available on careers noticeboard
  • Information & guidance available under the careers section of the school website
  • World of Work assemblies
  • PD lessons – self-development, exploration, career management
  • Tutor time booklets – ‘Passport to Success’ – tracking building of employability skills
Year 9
  • Trip to Surrey Careers Fair at Epsom Downs Racecourse (by invite only)
  • Group work sessions with Tutor Groups on Subject Option Decision Making
  • Year 9 Careers Week – employer careers talks from a wide variety of careers areas including STEM employers
  • Options information booklets
  • Options assemblies
  • Options information evenings
  • 121 Careers Guidance interviews (invite only)
Year 10
  • Trip to local Careers Fair at The Harlequin
  • PD session on value of employability skills, volunteering, community spirit and social action
  • Presentation on Apprenticeships
  • Group work sessions with Tutor Groups on Post-16 Decision Making
  • 121 Careers Guidance interviews
  • Taster days at Reigate College & East Surrey College
  • Year 10 Enterprise Day
  • PD session on Higher Education
Year 11
  • 121 Careers Guidance interviews
  • Presentations by local colleges on college applications
  • College Open Days/evenings
  • Year 11 Mock Interview event
  • Year 11 CV Writing and Interview Skills in PD
  • Workshop on Apprenticeship applications
  • NCS The Challenge presentation about summer programmes post GCSE

Mrs Pearce's email to students and parents/carers dated 20 September which can be read HERE, explains the decision-making process in detail and has all the dates needed for current Year 11s making their decisions.

These documents and video presentations are also useful:

Beyond Carrington School: Self Help Guide

Post 16 Choices - Local Schools and Colleges

College and Sixth Form Open Events 2021

Reigate College Guide to Online Applications 2021-22

Reigate College Year 11 Assembly Presentation September 2021

East Surrey College Guide to Online Applications 2021-22

East Surrey College Year 11 Assembly Presentation September 2021