Careers Programme

During their first term at Thomas Telford School, students visit the Careers Resource centre located in the Reynolds Building and they meet the Careers staff team. Students are encouraged to focus on and improve their employability skills through their careers induction, during assemblies and tutor time. Students also take part in a ‘Dream Job’ poster competition, encouraging them to be aspirational with their career choices and allowing them to practise their research and presentation skills.

In the Spring term, there is a careers assembly to help students understand about the key decision points in their career at Thomas Telford School and advise them how they can continue to develop employability skills in and outside of lessons.

All students take part in a Careers & Activities Week at the end of the summer term which is an opportunity to try new things, develop their team building and enterprise skills, as well as identifying their skills and interests using Xello careers exploration software to help them to research different career pathways and jobs. Students will also meet an employer and have the opportunity to ask questions to find out about a particular job to sector.

In the Autumn term, students have the opportunity to come along to some Careers session 3s to help them prepare for making GCSE choices later in the academic year. Students will return to their Xello careers exploration accounts and start to learn about the variety of options available to them in the future.

In the Spring term, students make subject choices for their GCSE’s and take part in a number of taster sessions with subject staff to help them understand what career pathways their subject choices will link to. During a Careers assembly, they meet some of our ‘Careers Ambassadors’ who are older students who share their experiences in their chosen GCSE subjects. Students also have the option to access 1-1 advice and guidance from the Careers Team if they wish by visiting the Careers Resource centre or using the on-line booking system for appointments.

In July, students take part in Careers & Activities Week which involves a taster trip to a university, the opportunity to present their science work to employers and parents at the Science Fair, a workshop with an author, language taster sessions and a workshop which focuses on stereotyping and prejudice, and how these can affect career choice.

From year 9, students are able to access the numerous Careers Insight sessions which the Careers Team organise during session 3. These can focus on areas such as law, accountancy, real estate, esports etc.

In the Spring term, students will meet an ex-student or employer during an assembly and have the opportunity to ask questions to find out about a particular job to sector. Students also will take part in a ‘World of Work interview’ project. They will interview a parent or family member about their current job/career, which will develop their understanding of the roles and responsibilities within workplaces, and routes into employment. Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their learning by delivering a spoken presentation in a formal setting and will produce an engaging newspaper article to further demonstrate their communication skills.

During year 9 Careers & Activities Week in July, students will learn more explicitly about how their GCSE subjects link to the world of work. This year during the week they will be visiting the National Space Centre, taking part in a ‘Careers in the Curriculum’ carousel, and exploring the benefits of both higher education and apprenticeships with a guest speaker from a local University. Students have the opportunity to use Xello, careers exploration software to help them research and refine their career choices.

During year 10, are able to access the numerous Careers Insight sessions which the Careers Team organise during session 3. These can focus on areas such as law, accountancy, real estate, esports etc. They also take part in a CV workshop where they will write their own CV’s and an interview workshop where they will prepare for a virtual mock interview which will be conducted at the end of the Spring term by a local employer. This is a great opportunity for students to have a professional conversation with an employer about their skills, interests and experiences, and practise for the increasingly popular virtual assessments which many employers and universities are now using to assess applicants. Students will receive individual and personalised feedback from their interviewer, providing them with an awareness of their success and any areas for development.

Students will have the opportunity to attend the Careers and Higher Education Fair which will welcome over 45 organisations, including universities and employers, enabling students to learn more about their post-16 and post-18 options. In line with supporting students’ goals and aspirations, students are supported in making applications to the West Midlands UniFest Summer School.

In the summer term during Careers & Activities Week, students will undertake a work experience placement or take part in one of the employer-supported projects running in school. This year, we will be running an engineering project in partnership with UTC Collins Aerospace which includes a visit to the University of Wolverhampton’s engineering department at the Priorslee campus.

In year 10, students take part in a financial capabilities programme which is run as part of their Maths lessons. Students learn about tax, national insurance, mortgages, and loans – they have to find a job, work out how much money they will take home, apply for a mortgage, and prepare a weekly budget!

The focus of the careers programme in year 11 is to support students to make informed decisions about their post-16 options by providing guidance on qualification routes, subject combinations and 1-1 support for careers planning.

All students receive a ‘Careers Planner’ in the Autumn term to help them to understand their options and plan what decisions they need to make and when. We encourage students to discuss their planners with parents and to make use of the information on the School’s careers pages, as part of their research, including labour market data.

This information is reinforced through a ‘Making Choices’ assembly in October and students will then be invited to a 1-1 interview with member of the Careers Team to support and inform their decision-making. All students will receive a Careers Roadmap, which outlines students’ decisions and signposts them to relevant labour market information, qualification routes, apprenticeships and recommended work experience or other enrichment activities which can help to build their skills and confidence.

Representatives from NCS (National Citizen Service) will talk to students in assembly to encourage them to apply for their summer programme aimed at developing young people’s employability skills and providing them with the opportunity to engage in meaningful projects in their local community.

In November, students and parents are invited to attend the Thomas Telford Sixth Form information evening to provide further detail about the A level and vocational programmes offered at Thomas Telford. The Careers Team will also signpost students to open events at other Sixth forms, colleges and training providers as well as emailing students with information about relevant apprenticeship opportunities.

Students will also take part in a ‘Taster Day’ giving them the opportunity to attend up to three ‘taster’ sessions for the A-level or BTEC subjects of their choice, take part in workshops on medicine or Oxbridge, and explore other post-16 options such as apprenticeships and T levels.

In the Spring term, students will have the opportunity to attend the Careers and Higher Education Fair which will welcome over 45 organisations, including universities and employers, enabling students to learn more about their post-16 and post-18 options.

To support students in the lead up to the summer examination period, ‘Positively You’ will deliver an educational workshop to teach them effective revision techniques and provide methods of coping with exam stress, equipping students with the skills needed to reach their full potential.

Over the summer and on GCSE Results Day, the Careers Team are on hand to give students personalised advice and guidance and this can continue, even if students progress to other colleges, schools, or employers.

In the Sixth Form, a full programme of careers advice and guidance is available to students to support them to cope with change and effectively manage their transition from School to continuing education, working and adult life. The Careers Team works hand-in-hand with the Sixth Form pastoral team to support and guide students during their time in the Sixth Form.

The Careers Team are located on the ground floor of the Reynolds Building and students are welcome to call in, email, or use the online booking system to make an appointment any time between 8am and 5pm (Monday to Thursday, 8am to 3:30pm on a Friday). Careers discussions can be in-person, over the phone or via Zoom/Teams to suit.

The careers programme includes:

Sixth Form careers induction workshop covering personal organisation and careers planning

Careers Insight sessions on specific jobs or industry sectors (usually held on Tuesdays during session 3, or during taught sessions)

MedSoc – invited speakers and workshops for students interested in healthcare careers

Guidance on the use of online careers guidance resources

Advertisement of university open days, pathway programmes, taster sessions, webinars, university summer schools to support students in making informed decisions and competitive UCAS applications

Opportunities to visit Universities and Recruitment Fairs – the Thomas Telford School Careers and Higher Education Fair will welcome over 45 organisations, including universities and employers, enabling students to learn more about their post-18 options.

A tailored programme of Higher Education talks will introduce students to the benefits of university study, an insight into university life, plus the alternative option of studying a degree apprenticeship

Job application workshops, support for students preparing for assessment centres and interviews

Work Placement opportunities – all students complete at least one in-person or virtual placement during 6.1

Weekly Apprenticeship bulletin distributed via email and advertised on the school website to support students who are seeking apprenticeships

Support with applications for university summer schools and other enrichment opportunities

Oxbridge Preparation Programme – for students aiming for the most prestigious universities

Participation in Careers Week preparing students for University, apprenticeship and job applications. This week includes a visit to a university for all students

In the Summer term, staff who teach sixth form will deliver tailored careers sessions on employability skills, super-curricular activities, and personal statements as part of our pastoral programme

8 lucky sixth formers will have the opportunity to participate on a voyage on the world famous Tall Ship ‘Jolie Brise’

Positively You will deliver an educational workshop to teach effective revision techniques and provide methods of coping with exam stress, equipping students with the skills needed to reach their full potential in their summer examinations