NEXT STEPS | CAREERS NEWSLETTER |OCTOBER 2023 | ISSUE 10
Welcome to our autumn term newsletter Welcome back to all our students and a warm welcome to all the new students and parents who have joined CGS. Our careers newsletter aims to give you an overview of the different career opportunities available. There are many activities and experiences you can take part in, which can help to enhance your knowledge and skills ready for any applications. It’s never too early to start thinking about careers! Talks on Tuesday
These are our lunch time drop-in careers talks. We try to hold one every week and find a variety of speakers across a range of sectors using our alumni network, parents and contacts through our school community. These are open to students across all year groups from Y7 upwards and are advertised on posters around school and on the school daily dispatch. A full list of speakers for this term is listed further down in the newsletter. Thank you to Siobhan Harper-Ryan (parent) for coming in to talk about her career in hair & make-up in the film industry and Ellie Carpenter (class of 2019) about her apprenticeship in PR & marketing.
We are always looking for companies, parents and Old Cheshamians to come in and talk in assemblies, lectures or a lunchtime drop in. If this is something you can help with, we would love to hear from you. Thank you for your continued support.
The Careers Team (Mrs Lovelace, Mrs Churchett, William Burrows Y13 & Oliver Painter Y13)
CAREERS SUPPORT: Autumn Term A quick summary of last term Congratulations to our two teams ‘Hydro Trains’ (Y7) & ‘Aunt Plant’ (Y10) for their great presentations at the National Careers Challenge Final which took place in July. This involved enterprise teamwork including marketing their product, budgeting, developing the sales pitch, working to deadlines, managing their time and important team work skills. Our students presented to a panel of judges and received fantastic feedback. They were up against nearly 200 schools and we are very proud of how they performed and represented CGS. 2022 winners ‘Around the World in 80 Games’ managed to go on their winners trip in June straight after their GCSE exams. They got to spend a day at Football Manager which is developed by British company Sports Interactive and published by Sega. They were hosted by the COO and met with staff from their different departments which gave the team a great insight into this sector and the wide variety of careers available.
Our Y8 students took part in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) careers workshop where they had the opportunity to work with volunteers from Pfizer, EKFB and GE Healthcare. Our visitors from Pfizer delivered a short presentation giving students an insight into the wide variety of STEM related careers within their organisation. In the session with GE Healthcare, students looked at the scientific process and the structure of the human brain. EKFB ran sessions where students were asked to construct a model bridge that could support the weight of a water bottle. Some of our students became very competitive when it came to testing and evaluating their designs! We were impressed with the way in which our students engaged with the presenters during the sessions and the follow up questions that were asked of our visitors about the routes they had taken in their careers and the roles in which they now work. We are very grateful to Emma from Pfizer (Y7 parent & CGS Enterprise Adviser) and all of the volunteers for taking time out of their working day and supporting this event. We launched Unifrog to Y7 students in their ICT classes and Y11 students took part in work experience after their GCSEs.
CAREERS SUPPORT: Autumn Term Year 7
Year 10
National Careers Challenge
Aspiration Day
This will take place the second week we are back in January. Students will be off timetable competing in small teams to win a place to represent CGS at the National Final.
Students will get the opportunity to hear from our alumni about their journey from CGS. We invite students from Class of 2023 to come in and talk to students about their university applications and apprenticeships. Students will also have the opportunity to watch several videos introducing them to these Post-18 options.
‘Enterprise/Careers Day’ is always a fun and exciting albeit a fast paced and hardworking day at CGS. Students will develop their enterprise and employability skills which are essential in the work place. Developing these skills is a high priority for government and employers and is a key strand in our own careers education programme. Year 8 Work Shadowing Day – 9th February We will be running an assembly to talk to year 8 students about their work shadowing day later this term. It will be run by Mrs Lovelace and our student career leaders Oliver Painter and William Burrows. Students will be asked to organise their work shadowing on the inset day on 9th February.
Personality profile – we see that 90% of students still need to log in and take the personality profile. Please can students log in and take 10 mins or so to take the test. They can then spend some time exploring the careers listed in their results.
Year 9 GCSE Options are in January/February. CGS will host a parents online information evening and an assembly for students. We encourage students to use Unifrog to help with their research and students can come and see Mrs Lovelace or Mr Ritchie for any support or guidance.
Year 11 Post-16 Options In October we have been running small group workshops with Mr Ritchie, our independent careers adviser. He takes the students through the various pathways that are on offer to them after their GCSEs. These include A Level choices, local college courses (BTEC & T-Levels) and apprenticeships. Following these workshops, appointments are available to meet with Mr Ritchie for students wishing to validate or discuss their options. Mrs Lovelace is also available to assist with support and information. Notes and follow up actions from appointments are always uploaded to students’ Unifrog accounts. Appointments can be booked by emailing careersoffice@cheshamgrammar.org or students can pop by our office opposite S8. Years 10 & 11 will be visited by West Herts College in November to learn about alternative qualification routes as part of our commitment to our provider access policy.
CAREERS SUPPORT: Autumn Term Year 12 & Year 13 Forensic Science Workshop – Criminology: Crime Scene to Courtroom Y13 psychology and sociology students took part in this practical and interactive crime and investigation day in September. The day started off with a 999 call directly from the scene of an alleged murder right through to a mock crown court trial where every student was given a role Throughout the day, students were introduced to a whole host of potential careers within police, investigation agencies, forensic science, law and the wider criminal justice system. The day inspired students, gave them focus, and provided inspiration from the real-world experience of criminal investigations.
Below is a list of lunch time career talks planned so far for the autumn term. All years welcome. 3rd October – Siobhan Harper Ryan (parent), Hair & Make-up Designer, TV & Film 17th October – Ellie Carpenter (alumni), Apprenticeships and careers in PR, All Spring Media 7th November – Daniel Mills, Met Police 14th November – Heather Freckelton (alumni), Jaguar Land Rover 21st November – Max McGarvie, Zenopa Apprenticeships 28th November – Chris Morris (alumni), Capgemini
The next workshop will run in July 2024 and will be open to Y12 psychology & sociology students. Pinewood Futures Festival
22nd September – Mark Smith (parent), Applications, CV writing & interviews (Y13) 26th September – Criminology Workshop (Y13 psychology & sociology students) 26th September – NCS assembly (Y12)
The Pinewood Futures Festival is the biggest careers event for students looking to start a career in the Film & TV industry. The careers festival aims to inspire and educate young people, about the incredible breadth of roles in Film & TV, supporting the industry’s growth. The festival provides opportunities for students to meet employers and industry professionals, take part in workshops and attend panels. Students will have the chance to meet exhibitors from all areas of the industry including major production companies and representatives from departments across film and TV Production, including Art Department, Costume, Props, Lighting, Construction, Camera, Producing, Script-Writing, Special and Visual Effects and much more. We have secured tickets to take Y12 and Y13 drama & theatre studies groups on Friday, 24th November.
29th September – WizeUpFinancial (Y13) 6th October – Options Assembly (Y11) 12th & 19th October – Post 16 workshops (Y11) 16th November – Sixth Form Open Evening 20th – 23rd Nov – Careers assemblies run by William and Oliver (whole school) 23rd November – West Herts College (Y10 & Y11) 24th November – Work shadowing assembly (Y8) 24th November – Pinewood Futures Festival (Drama students Y12 & Y13) 13th December – Aspiration Day (Y10)
CAREERS SUPPORT: Autumn Term Year 13 cont’d .. Thank you to parent, Mark Smith for coming in to speak to Y13 students about applications, what to include on a cv and interview tips. Mark is an HR Manager who regular recruits graduates and apprentices. He is kindly coming back in November to meet with students who have requested a 1:1 meeting to help prepare for upcoming interviews and applications.
Careers Adviser Appointments are available most Thursdays with Mr Ritchie, our independent careers adviser, should any students wish to discuss or validate choices. Please email careersoffice@cheshamgrammar.org if you would like to arrange an appointment or speak to your Head of Year. Notes and follow up actions from appointments are always uploaded to students’ Unifrog accounts.
Contact If you would like to contribute to our future newsletters or be involved in any careers related events, please get in touch. Please also contact careers for any career related support and advice. Kate Lovelace - Careers & Enterprise Leader careersoffice@cheshamgrammar.org
https://www.cheshamgrammar.org/3003/careers
Careers on Social Media You can follow careers on Instagram & Twitter. We share courses, opportunities and any news relating to careers. Please follow us Instagram: cgs_careers Twitter: @CGSInspiration
General Information/Work Experience opportunities RCN Nursing Cadet programme in November has been planned for Buckinghamshire partnering with HealthTec @ Buckinghamshire College Group as the Youth Partner & who will be hosting in their simulation centre. The programme is ideal for anybody wanting to have a career in Health and Social care and is suitable for aspiring and committed students who want to progress to perhaps nursing, paramedic, pharmacy, healthcare science, medicine, etc. There’s 100 hours of teaching and 20 hours of observational placements (similar to work experience) The teaching will happen on 4 Saturdays in November 2023 (at HealthTec). Placements will be during February half term with local employers. Please contact the careers department for more information/flyer for the above.
6-11 November 2023 is Green Careers Week, providing students with an insight into careers that specifically protect the environment and will help the UK achieve its pledge of reaching Net Zero by 2050. Young people want to be involved in finding solutions to our environmental challenges, so it's vital that we provide opportunities to show them how they can play an active role within the world of work. Knowing how they can find careers that play a significant part in improving our environmental credentials should contribute towards restoring their confidence in a positive and sustainable future. We’ve got a fantastic free guide for parents giving plenty of talking points about routes to green careers after GCSE or sixth form - click here to download
General Careers Information We receive a high volume of opportunities from work experience, volunteering opportunities, university info, apprenticeships and jobs. Please take a look at some of the following opportunities students can apply to.
Explore the latest careers opportunities with Speakers for Schools- click here to access. Meet Dentons: Life as a Solicitor Apprentice at the World's Largest Law Firm
Are you considering a career in law? Not sure that university is right for you but you don't know much about Solicitor Apprenticeships? Join our free insight webinar with Dentons to find out more about applying, what the programme looks like, and how you will be supported throughout. On: 21st November 2023 at 6.30 - 7.15 pm For: Students and parents of those in years 10 to 13. Register today!
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust invites you to … Discover careers in psychology: Thursday 19 October Interested in how people think and behave? Find out about both clinical and non-clinical (organisational development) careers in the NHS. • Who: Students in Years 9 and above • Where: In person career talk at the Sir Henry Floyd Building lecture theatre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury • When: 5 – 6.45pm (registration from 4.45pm), Thursday 19 October 2023 • Click to book your free ticket on Eventbrite Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust invites you to … Discover careers in the Allied Health Professions: Thursday 2 November Allied Health Professions (AHPs) are the third largest workforce in the NHS alongside doctors and nurses. Explore 14 professions whose unique skills and expertise play a crucial role in providing patient care. Particular focus on: physiotherapist, operating department practitioner (ODP), dietitian, music therapist, occupational therapist, orthoptist, podiatrist, radiographer, speech & language therapist. • Who: Students in Years 8 and above • Where: In person career talk at the Sir Henry Floyd Building lecture theatre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury • When: 5 - 7pm (registration from 4.45pm), Thursday 2 November 2023 • Click to book your free ticket on Eventbrite
Career Days -The days are designed to give students an insight into possible future careers with advice on how to apply to university followed by an afternoon session of work experience to help them see what the career may be like. Students will receive a certificate confirming their work experience. If you could let your students know who are aged 13-18, students can register to join the online days through the website. Midwifery Career Day - Saturday 21st October 2023 Dentistry Career Day - Saturday 28th October 2023 Business Career Day - Sunday 5th November 2023 Psychology Career Day - Saturday 11th November 2023 Architect Career Day - Saturday 18th November 2023 Vet Career Day - Saturday 25th November 2023 Law Career Day - Saturday 2nd December 2023 Computer Science Career Day - Saturday 9th December 2023
CAREERS SUPPORT: Autumn Term
General Careers Information cont’d …
PwC's Flying Start Programme is for young people that want to go to university but are also ready to begin their career 🚀 Studying at university students will get to experience the full-time student lifestyle but with integrated paid placements at PwC. They'll work with world-class clients and be part of highly skilled teams, gain a degree, and hopefully impress them enough to secure a graduate job with them! Choose from a degree in Accounting, Technology or Business Management. Programme locations: 📈 Accounting: Newcastle, Manchester, Nottingham, Reading, London 💻 Tech: Manchester, Birmingham, London, & Belfast 💼 Business Management: Belfast How to apply: These are degree level apprenticeships that students apply to through UCAS. For more information on the programme and how to apply click here.
At Springpod, we offer plenty of Virtual Experiences designed to give students more clarity about their next steps after school, such as Virtual Work Experience and University course experiences. Students completing our programmes will receive a certificate that they can reference on their CV or Personal Statement, elevating them beyond the competition when it comes to applying for jobs or universities. Referencing top universities and employers will help students when it comes to their apprenticeship applications or university admissions. We have created this shareable PDF that you can either send virtually to your students, or print out, which contains our available opportunities that students can apply for right now.
CAREERS SUPPORT: Autumn Term
Calling all aspiring legal professionals, solicitor apprentices and anyone who’s considering a career in Law, we have something VERY exciting lined up for you this October Half Term - Young Professionals x City Century Legal Work Experience is coming for you in London! This is an in-person Work Experience Day taking place on Wednesday 25th October at the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Centre in the heart of London! We are thrilled to announce that Young Professionals have teamed up with City Century which is a collaboration of over 50 leading London law firms who are all coming together to provide invaluable insight events, work experiences and solicitor apprenticeship opportunities for students up and down the country. Never before has the legal industry seen so many law firms all coming together with a mutual goal - to help thousands of students around the UK find out how to secure their dream jobs within a City law firm! This is your chance to be in the same room as some of the senior leaders at each of these incredible law firms to learn from their experiences, ask any burning questions, network and ultimately take the first step to secure your dream job! On Wednesday 25th October, we will be holding an in-person work experience day where students will get the chance to come face to face with the 40+ law firms, experience panel discussions, hear some inspiring keynote presenters, as well as have plenty of opportunities to network and build up your personal legal connections to help you start your journey to a very bright future. This is set to be the biggest in-person student law event to ever take place in London so spaces are in high demand and are very limited. Please note, there are two sessions taking place during the day, a morning session from 9:30 AM – 13:00 PM and an afternoon session from 14:00 PM – 17:30 PM. On the application link below, please select your preferred time slot. Please note, the sessions are exactly the same so please do not apply to both sessions. Please check with your parent/guardian, consider your travel arrangements, and check your diary to ensure you can attend before applying. Application Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CityCenturyLawEvents