NEXT STEPS | CAREERS NEWSLETTER |FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 6
Welcome – Careers in full spring! Welcome to our Spring Term edition of our Careers newsletter for parents, carers and students. It is jam packed! It has been a busy start to this term for career events. We have started the year with in-person career talks for Y12 as part of their lecture series and our “Talks on Tuesday” lunch time slots which are open to all students. It has been great welcoming alumni and speakers into school again. You can see the full list of talks for this term in our What’s On section. We’ve also been fortunate to have the National Careers Challenge (formerly National Enterprise Challenge) back as a full class event in the hall for Y7 and Y10 students. We had two very successful days where the students were tasked with challenges that are designed to build on their skills. We have two successful winners, Dr Filter (Y7) and Around the World in 80 Games (Y10) who will now go on to represent the school in the national finals in July. This term we also have Y12 career workshops running, Y8 work shadowing, Y9 GCSE options and a trip to the Bucks Skills Show planned in March (information to follow to parents) and hopefully a rescheduled Aspirations Day for Y10. It’s also National Apprenticeship Week (7th-13th Feb) and National Careers Week (7th – 12th March). We will be sharing online events that are available during these weeks with students and through our social media accounts and we list some here in the newsletter. However, we will be focussing on our own events in school over the coming months (see What’s On section). We are always looking to meet new parents and employers who are willing to help with our careers programme. Please email kate.lovelace@cheshamgrammar.org if you are willing to be a part of our careers education. Thank you for your continued support. Kate Lovelace, Careers & Enterprise Leader
CAREERS: Spring Term
January Year 12 - Post 18 Career Workshops running from January – March. 18th Jan – Alumnus Rob Evans from UBS Bank joined us to talk about his career after CGS and the opportunities available within the banking & finance sector. We were fortunate to have Rob for the afternoon and he did three separate talks for us. 25th Jan – Almuna Alexandra Kirk joined us for a Y12 lecture followed by a lunch time talk which was open to all year groups. Alex is currently a partner at Blaser Mills Law and she took the time to talk to students about her Law degree and the options available in this industry. 26th & 27th Jan – National Careers Challenge for Y7 & Y10
February 1st Feb – Alumni Charlotte Booth joined Y12 to talk about her career in Project Management for Mace, working with big brands such as Tiffany, Nike and Adidas. 15th Feb – LMI (Labour Market Information) presentation for Y12 from our Enterprise Adviser and CGS parent, Ravi Chauhan. 17th Feb – Work shadowing day for Y8
March 1st March – Jackie Campbell from Screen Skills is coming in to talk about careers in the creative industry, one of the biggest growing sectors. Jackie will be talking to Y12 in followed by a lunch time talk which will be open to other year groups. 9th & 10th March – Bucks Skills Show at Westcott Venture Park, Aylesbury (Y9) 15th March – Degree Apprenticeships Talk from David Ritchie (Y12). 16th March – Apprenticeship show, Milton Keynes (Y12) 17th March – Demystifying Apprenticeships – Online Talk for Parents from David Ritchie - 6pm 21st March – UCAS Fair, Farnborough (Y12) 22nd March – Apprenticeships in Accountancy Talk from Martin Taylor, First Intuition (lunch time talk open to all)
April 5th April - Forensic Operations, National Crime Agency – how to get into this field April – Aspirations Day for Y10 (tbc) We will also be asking year 11 students & parents to notify us by 7th April of what work experience has been arranged for the summer. Information regarding y11 work experience will follow next week via parentmail.
CAREERS: Spring Term Careers Adviser Any students wishing to discuss subjects, next steps and pathways (including colleges, apprenticeships, universities), please email kate.lovelace@cheshamgrammar.org or pop by the careers office to make an appointment. Notes and follow up actions from appointments are uploaded to students’ Unifrog accounts. Careers in the Age of Covid In an ever-changing world, the future can feel more uncertain than ever before. Even if you have ideas about what you would like to do in the future, searching for the right next step can feel daunting or even overwhelming. This is why we have come up with 5 tips to help you take back control and create positive and productive steps towards your future. This is why we have come up with 5 tips to help you take back control and create positive and productive steps towards your future: 1. Grab yourself a pen and paper and reflect on some of the things you are good at. Start with some of the skills you know you have, for example, teamwork, organising yourself, being self-motivated etc. Make sure these are logged on Unifrog. 2. Once you have this list, start to compile another of the skills you want to work on. 3. List all of your career and education related qualifications and achievements and review your CV - making sure it’s up to date, relevant, concise and sells you perfectly! 4. Research into what jobs are available locally - what roles are in demand? What roles match your qualifications? Use Unifrog for your research and visit all our labour market information on our website https://www.cheshamgrammar.org/3011/labour-market-information 5. Speak to our independent careers adviser. Pop by to see Mrs Lovelace or email (see above) to book an appointment. Please can we remind and encourage students from Y8 upwards to log activities such as work shadowing/work experience plus any competencies & skills. It is a huge benefit to students to log this information for when they come to do their personal statements, CVs and UCAS applications. Aside from UCAS.com, Unifrog is the best in the market for careers information and a great platform to consistently use. We will be working with all year groups over the coming months to continually encourage regular logins and research.
Careers on Social Media You can follow careers on Instagram & Twitter. We share courses, opportunities and any news relating to careers. Please follow us cgs_careers
@CGSInspiration
EVENTS
Upcoming Online Events 5th & 6th Feb - FREE, Live, Virtual Insight & UCAS medical conferences. If students have any questions about their subject choices, extra-curriculars for medical school, personal statement, UCAT, BMAT and interviews then please do encourage them to attend because we can clarify their doubts. These Get into Medicine conferences are essential to attend from an application knowledge perspective and also a wonderful motivational boost. Every student who attends the entire morning session will be awarded with a Certificate of Attendance which they can include in their UCAS application! UCAS Get Into Medicine Conference Students years 10-12 - England & Wales can register for FREE using the coupon code: teacher22 https://medicmentor.co.uk/medicine-national-healthcare-weekend/ Insight Into Medicine Conference Students years 10-12 - England & Wales can register for FREE by completing the online application form https://medicmentor.co.uk/insight-into-medicine-conference/ The Bucks Skills Hub are organising two live online evening sessions, hosted by Speakers for Schools. Wednesday 9th February 6-7pm, KS3 students and parents as well as the Thursday 10th February 6-7pm for KS4/5 students and parents. Janssen, Cisco, Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust, Morgan Sindall, Buckinghamshire Council, Flannery and CapGemini are among the companies joining us. Amazing Apprenticeships will provide the context, the different levels of entry and how to apply, with current apprentices joining us live to share their experiences and take questions. Book your place here 11th Feb - Women’s Engineering Society Apprentice Showcase. https://events.hubilo.com/engineeringapprenticeships-showcase/register
Invitation for Parents: Success Beyond School Investin are running free-of-charge, live online seminars featuring career experts, designed to help parents amplify their children’s career potential. They have 5 fantastic seminars this term, including topics such as 'how to help your child choose their career' and 'how to inspire young women to become entrepreneurs.' These events are for parents of students aged 12-18 and are free to attend. View All & Register
CAREERS: Spring Term
Buckinghamshire Council is holding its first jobs & apprenticeship fair and it’s in Chesham! The first-ever Buckinghamshire Council Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair will take place on Saturday 5 March, 10am-3pm at The Elgiva Theatre in Chesham. It will be a chance for businesses and organisations to showcase their career opportunities to those looking for an apprenticeship or job, as well as those who are looking to reskill or explore new horizons. Around 30 employers will be attending, including: Aldi, BBC, Buckinghamshire Council, Greggs, Morgan Sindall Group, National Grid, Ocado, Papa Johns, Pinewood, Thames Valley Police and The Army. To register your interest and secure a free place now visit
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/buckinghamshire-jobs-and-apprenticeships-fairtickets-227699203447 Universities A vast majority of universities are now offering in person visits and open day events. Students should be encouraged to visit at least 2 higher education campuses.
Apprenticeships For some of the latest higher & degree apprenticeship opportunities available visit https://amazingapprenticeships.com/higher-degree-listing/
College Open Days Henley College Information Evening Tuesday 15th February from 6-8.30pm. Students and their families can visit the college and see the campuses for themselves. Teachers will be available to talk about the courses we offer and provide students with everything they need to know about studying A Levels or vocational subjects with us. Booking is essential >> Register
BCA College, Maidenhead Saturday, 5th March from 10am – 2pm Booking is essential https://www.trybooking.com/uk/book/sessions?eid=21669&embed=true
Bucks College Group Various dates available in March, April and May. For more information visit https://www.buckscollegegroup.ac.uk/enrol/open-days
CAREERS: Spring Term
Throughout their time at CGS, students are encouraged to gain at least 2 work place experiences by the time they leave school, work shadowing in y8 and work experience in y11. All students have a “work experience module” within the careers course on Canvas. We advertise any opportunities we come across so please take a look at the wide range of opportunities available on canvas and below. Free BarclaysLifeSkills
Springpod
Fledglink
Learn Live
The Forage
Young-professionals Speakers For Schools VWEX
At a cost www.careerdays.co.uk offer work experience days at a reasonable cost of £59 for the day. They include teaching, midwifery, architect, computer science, vet and more. InvestIn – Career Experiences Last term, we had students attend the following work experience programmes; Young Engineer Programme Young Engineer Summer Experience Young Lawyer Programme Future Vet Programme Young Accountant Programme ‘my favourite part was learning about the profitability of companies’ Young Doctor Programme Young Forensic Science Programme Young Psychologist Programme Young Software Engineer Programme Young Writer Programme InvestIn career programmes empower students aged 12-18 to take charge of their future careers through live and interactive sessions with top professionals both virtually or in person. Students can choose from 28 careers, with plenty of weekend courses available. Please remember to use our code CHESHAM10 to gain your 10% discount. Find out more > Once a placement has been completed, students should log the details as an activity on Unifrog as well as any competencies & skills gained.
CAREERS: Spring Term
NHS HEALTHCARE WORK EXPERIENCE - Book Today (6th Feb) if interested This weekend the NHS Allied Work Experience Programme is available for students in years 10-12 - England & Wales. Students who wish to participate in the session on 6th February still have until Friday to register and can register individual spaces or you can register them as a group online on the following link: https://alliedhealthmentor.org/nhs-healthcare-careers-virtual-work-experience/ All students will be awarded with a Work Experience Certificate for participating in the day. This is something that they can include in their UCAS and Apprenticeship Applications. The next Work Experience day is on the Sunday 6th February and will cover the following healthcare careers: - Nursing - Midwifery - Paramedicine - Physiotherapy - Occupational Therapy - Dietetics - Radiography - Prosthetics and Orthotics - Speech and language therapy - Pharmacy! The virtual work experience day will take place through an online portal and run LIVE from 10am-5pm, following 2 patients from their initial accidents through to recovery. Students will see them interact with a variety of healthcare professionals listed above so that they develop an understanding of the multidisciplinary team as well as insights into their own chosen career. Students will also have the opportunity to interact with the healthcare professionals via a LIVE Chat function and polls throughout the day! The cost to attend is £10/student per session, which is just an administrative cost to cover the set-up of individual portals, personalised certificates, safeguarding, the technology on the day, such as our servers and chat functions. If you have any questions about the programme, please complete the following contact form: https://airtable.com/shrM6UPT8Z2uxx7OL or give their team a call on 01530 417299 and they will happily get back to you with a swift response.