The Careers department supports pupils to actively seek, engage and reflect in relevant and meaningful careers activities to inform career choice for their future career paths. We do this by ensuring that all children follow an educational pathway which is appropriate for them and to inform students of potential career opportunities available, for example with STEM qualifications.

All staff are encouraged to take responsibility for careers within their subject,  this information has been collected through a career audit on career activities experienced by our pupils in their school subjects.

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Aims:

• To enable students to make informed choices about their future career paths.
• To be committed to giving students an insight into developments in careers information, including social media and networking.
• To maintain and develop links with a range of external and community organisations to provide students with opportunities for Work Placements, mentoring etc.
• To provide comprehensive information, advice and guidance in all student’s career education.

Objectives:

• To provide opportunities for students to identify their strengths, aspirations and options through a variety of means, including discussions with subject teachers, class teachers and career staff.
• To help students understand and develop the necessary skills to equip them for whatever career path they choose, this is an important aspect highlighted in their LLW classes.
• To research and provide up-to-date information about employment, labour market trends, FE courses, undergraduate courses and work experience.
• To ensure and promote the importance of the Careers Service and ensure that all pupils at KS4 have interviews with a DEL adviser.

Staffing:
Mr B Adams                          LLW Subject Leader & Career Teacher
Ms J Russell                         Entitlement Framework & Career Teacher

All staff will contribute to CEAIG through their roles as class teachers and subject teachers.  Specialist sessions are offered through Learning for Life and Work (LLW), under the co-ordination of the LLW Subject Leader.  Specialist Careers Information and Guidance is provided in collaboration with Careers Advisers from DfE.

Student Entitlement:

As a minimum entitlement all students will have the opportunity to:

• Identify their career interests through their LLW programme.
• Discuss career plans in individual interviews, class discussion and with careers staff and DEL advisers.
• Access a range of materials for careers research for example handouts, software programmes and internet.
• Information, advice and guidance on application forms, CVs, and interviews.
• Attend information evenings, Career Conventions, open days etc. which are relevant to their needs.
• Access university and FE prospectuses.
• Additional information, advice and guidance given to those pupils with Special Needs.
• All students to be given advice and guidance on their chosen career pathway and the opportunities and progression routes associated with their choice.

Key public agencies, employers of all sizes in the private, public and voluntary sectors, schools, colleges, universities and training organisations, guidance practitioners and individuals all have a specific and important role, individually and together in assisting with the promotion of CEIAG in Ballyclare Secondary School.

Key Stage 5 Programme

At Sixth Form level, support and advice is available to all students. Our aim is to help the students to make realistic and informed decisions about their future beyond the 16 – 19 Curriculum and to help students to manage the transition from the sixth form into Higher Education, Training or Employment.

Careers for Special Education Needs (SEN)

To provide advice and support to pupils aged 14+ with a statement of special needs a transition plan is drawn up. The Transition Plan meeting aims to put in place all necessary measures to ensure a successful transition, identifying and overcoming barriers or difficulties in the process. The Transition Plan will be reviewed along with their statement at each annual review meeting within their last years of school.

There will be various people that may attend the transition plan meeting:

• Parents/Carers
• Pupil
• Principal
• SENCO
• Careers Teacher
• Careers Advisor DfE
• Education Transition Co-ordinator
• Representative from your Health & Social Care Trust
• Other Voluntary Organisations

On leaving school the pupil‘s skills, talents, communication and personal care needs are met by the allocation of a suitably tailored career pathway.

Past Pupil Success

Click to see our Graduates from Ulster University 2022