Careers

The Careers Department in Belfast Royal Academy is a busy and forward looking department. We aim to complement pupils’ academic study by helping to equip them with the skills, knowledge, confidence and decision making strategies that will help them as individuals to make choices and transitions appropriate to their individual circumstances and to succeed in an ever changing workplace environment.

Careers education, information, advice and guidance are considered very important aspects of each pupil’s school experience .The provision reflects the school ethos which encourages each pupil to have high aspirations and achieve their full potential. High importance is placed on individual guidance and provision of experiences of a variety of workplaces and professions.

We promote an interactive approach to developing skills and to encouraging our pupils to become independent learners. We aim to make pupils aware of as wide a spectrum of careers as possible, provide a range of opportunities for pupils to assess their strengths, personal qualities, achievements and potential, motivate our pupils regarding work; introduce pupils to outside agencies and to help pupils in times of doubt and difficulty. Pupils are encouraged to implement their career plans through review and evaluation of their decision-making. The Careers Department believes that these decision-making skills will equip our pupils with the self-confidence to make effective transitions not only from school to work but also throughout life.

Parents are encouraged to take an active part in helping their children to make realistic and informed decisions with regard to Higher Education applications and employment.

STAFF

Careers education, advice and guidance is provided throughout the school by the Staff of the Careers Department and Senior Staff.

Careers Department:

Ms. J Adams (Head of Careers)

Mrs. Connelly

Mrs. D. Keenan (Work Experience Co-ordinator)

Mr. A. Moles

Mr. S. Murphy

Mr. M Patterson

Mrs. H. Tate

RESOURCES

The Careers Department has an excellent Careers Library well equipped with a range of paper sources and software packages. This Resource Room is open to all pupils has and it provides an excellent opportunity for students to access up to date careers information and to evaluate the different sources of information.

The Careers Library contains copies of prospectuses from over 100 of the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland’s Universities and Colleges. There are copies of “The Good University Guide”, “Degree Course Choice” and many other books which help pupils to compare universities and courses. There are a number of reference books which provide tips for completing the UCAS form as well as others which cover topics such as interviews, presentations, job searching and GAP year opportunities. There are books giving advice about Student Finance/scholarship and Student Life in general

There are many books focusing on a particular career area, which provide more detailed information and many addresses and web site addresses for further information. Some of these books are aimed at giving our Junior pupils a taste of a career whilst others are more suitable for older pupils who are researching the qualifications and training they may need. There is a section containing literature from the various sections of the Armed Forces

A section containing books such as “Choosing Your GCSEs” and “Which A Levels?” offers advice at crucial decision-making periods in a pupil’s life.

6 desktop PCs and 10 laptops offering internet access are available for pupil use. Access to software packages such as “Pathfinder” and the “Job Explorer Database” is available. We also have a Careers Interview Room/DVD viewing room with a soft seating area, TV and DVD player.

The Library also has a wide range of magazines and CD-ROMs. A Catalogue of those is available for consultation.

planned programme for Forms I - MVI

Form I

· Pupils receive one period of Employability (LLW) for 18 weeks. Pupils have the opportunity to examine their own skills and qualities, aspects of the global economy and the changing world of work and the concepts of enterprise and entrepreneurship

· Your School Your Business (YENI) – intended to develop pupils’ awareness of the need to set goals and monitor success and demonstrate enterprising skills.

Form II

· Introductory Talks to pupils and parents on the need to focus attention of the impending choices. Details of the choices will be provided and discussed.

· Pupils receive one period of Employability (LLW) for 18 weeks.

Form III

· Introductory Talks to pupils and parents on the need to focus attention of the impending choices. Details of the GCSE choices will be provided and discussed.

· Weekly Careers classes help pupils identify personal traits and aptitudes.

· Explanation of the job classification index. Pupils will develop a personal career plan and investigate a variety of careers, undergo a range of exercises linked to intelligence/personality/job inventories, gender issues and the link between examination success and prospective careers.

· Formal interviews on an individual basis if required.

· Opportunity to attend careers conventions eg Convention organised by the NBP.

· Learn to Earn (YENI) – Pupils will examine various careers and the direct link between their education and future financial success.

Form IV and V

· Formal interviews on an individual basis.

· Advice, help and guidance on subject choice including introductory talks to pupils and parents on the need to focus and consider carefully the impending choices.

· Opportunities to attend various careers conventions of interest. A series of optional careers presentations such as the Army presentation, Navy presentation, Engineering your future, Y do IT, Chartered Accountancy Careers Convention, etc.

· Informal discussions with Careers Teachers.

· Access to the Careers Library and to computer programmes to enhance awareness and facilitate a realistic choice.

· As part of the Employability strand of LLW, pupils undergo discrete timetabled sessions to cover Local and Global Economy, Enterprise and Employability and Career Management in both years.

· Use of outside agencies such as Sentinus, INI and YENI to increase awareness of the opportunities in the self employment field. Eg, Entrepreneurship Masterclass – pupils will gain an appreciation of the personal qualities of an entrepreneur as well as the practicalities of becoming a success in business.

· Attend an advice interview following GCSE results.

· Presentations from Colleges of Further and Higher Education for interested pupils.

LVI and MVI

· Work experience week – Some pupils have the opportunity to travel to Malawi and Bangladesh for work experience.

· Opportunity to be selected onto the IOD (Institute of Directors) Work Shadowing Scheme.

· A series of optional careers presentations.

· Video presentations for major universities/career options.

· UCAS, CAO, Personal Statement and University Funding presentations to pupils and parents.

· Subject specific talks from experts eg Pathology, Pharmacy, Engineering, Computing, Success in Medical Interviews, Health Science etc.

· Presentations from Universities eg School of Computing/Health Sciences etc.

· Personal assistance with completing applications for Further and Higher Education.

· Ability to attend Open Days and UCAS HE Convention (some organised by school, others personally).