Careers Guidance

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At St Francis Xavier School, we believe that good quality careers education, information, advice and guidance give young people a flying start in life by helping them to develop the knowledge and self-help skills required to grasp opportunities, manage change and deal with success, disappointment and the unexpected.

By focusing on Careers education through the PSHE scheme of work from Y8 onwards, it is intended to:

• raise pupil aspirations - it broadens young people's horizons and challenges their stereotypes and preconceptions by increasing their knowledge and understanding of possible opportunities
• increase pupil motivation and achievement - it boosts self-esteem and self-confidence and develops the self-help skills that are essential to individual progression and lifelong investment in their own learning and career development
• improve success, attendance and retention rates - it helps young people to understand how what they are learning now will benefit them in the future and enables them to find out exactly what an opportunity entails and what the world of work is really like.

The school always aims to provide accurate, up-to-date and objective information on opportunities, progression routes, choices, where to find help and advice, and how to access it. The school uses a careers adviser to provide impartial guidance and specialist support to help young people understand themselves and their needs. A variety of Teaching and Learning experiences are incorporated into the delivery of this area of the curriculum, including careers conventions, post 16 Fayres and other business and enterprise activities. As part of the Y10 Pastoral scheme of work, pupils will also be taught to write effective CV’s and practice interview techniques. All our careers activities are supported by a wide range of resources available to all pupils including prospectuses, careers books and guidance pamphlets through the Learning Resource Centre.

Shine Careers Service currently provides students with independent and impartial careers information, advice and guidance at St Francis Xavier School.  Their role is to support young people in planning their next steps, helping them to make the choices that are right for them.

 How does Shine Work?

•  In Year 11 all students are offered an individual interview with the Shine Careers Adviser, which results in an Action Plan, and support with Post-16 options.
•  A Lunchtime Drop-in Advice Clinic in the Careers Room is offered to all SFX students.
• The Shine Careers Adviser meets with young people individually to discuss their ideas and plans.
• We deliver group work sessions on a range of topics to help students understand the different options open to them.
•  The Shine Careers Adviser attends Parents Evenings for students in Years 9 -11 as well as Year 9 Options Evening so that parents and students can ask for advice.

  If you are a parent or carer we can meet you

• At parents evenings/consultation meetings
• At your son or daughter’s careers guidance interview
• You can contact the Shine Careers Adviser via the school to discuss career option choices. Or email kate.bowers@aspire-igen.com

Shine leaflet for Parents