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Students

Careers

Our Lady’s Catholic College aspires to ensure that every student achieves their potential in full. The staff and governors recognise that an effective careers programme is vital to contributing to the raising of aspirations and enabling learners to make realistic and informed choices about their future employment and training options.

At OLCC we have an exciting careers programme designed to encourage students to reflect upon who they are and who they would like to become. In order to complete this journey, we provide a broad range of aspirational activities across all the year groups that support careers exploration and the development of skills. We provide an array of opportunities in varying careers and pathways to ensure every student can make an informed choice about their future, with targeted support from all staff in school and external providers. This is embedded in the curriculum through lessons, drop-down days, assemblies, careers presentations and workshops.  We run National Careers week events every March with subject specific career delivery.

Year 7/8

Introduction to Careers & Skills

  • Careers lessons PSHE - Developing skills: teamwork, enterprise. Raising aspirations. 
  • Pathway assemblies and visitors in school. 
  • National Careers week, focus on careers in the curriculum. 

Year 9

Future Pathways & Options

Year 9 students narrow their focus on future pathways as they decide on which subjects to choose for their GCSE options.   

  • Careers lessons PSHE -Employment rights & responsibilities, Options, managing emotions, employment and career progression. 
  • Assemblies on Options, making decisions & choosing subjects. 
  • Parent’s Information Evening 
  • National Careers week, focus on careers in the curriculum. 
  • Industry Day – Employer/HE encounters 

Year 10

Planning & Preparing 

Year 10 Careers education involves being ‘future ready’.  We start to plan post-16 routes and get ready for the world of further study and work.  

  • Careers lessons PSHE Work Experience, Work Preparation

  • Subject focussed trips and visits linking with local employers 
  • National Careers week, focus on careers in the curriculum, employer visits. 

  • Work Experience Programme planned for July 2024 

YEAR 11

Decisions & Applications 

Building on lessons learned throughout their schooling, students are now required to explore their options and determine the best route forward for their individual strengths. 

  • 1:1 impartial careers guidance interview with Louise Mosey/Jane Wann, Careers Advisors.  

  • Pathway assemblies – 6th form, college, apprenticeships 

  • Careers lessons PSHE – Pathways, LMI, Online Brand, Growth Mindset (Future U) 

  • EDF visit for pupils interested in STEM 

  • Targeted pupil visits to colleges 

SIXTH FORM

The exploration of careers continues in Year 12 & 13 with higher education, employment and apprenticeships being the focus of many talks, workshops and visits.  Volunteering opportunities are also encouraged and Year 12 take part in a week of work experience.

Also see Sixth Form

Useful Websites

Here's some useful websites to help inform career ideas and make those ideas happen!

https://www.unifrog.org/  

 https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/   

https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/

 

Information about university