S Jobbins, Careers and Employability Advisor, with Careers Lead Responsibilities

As I am approaching a year in post, I wanted to first share the work I have been doing that complements my training towards the Certificate in Careers Leadership. Learning the careers lead role has helped me better understand how careers activities can be applied to the Gatsby Benchmarks. Careers lead responsibilities have seen me helping out in PHSE and Careers lessons, compiling and monitoring feedback from careers events, and providing teachers with subject specific careers posters. These are just some of the ways that I have been adding to the profile of careers in school and ensuring students can best access careers support.

January has perhaps been the busiest yet for careers. Our school careers fair welcomed 14 organisations, including local colleges, universities and employers. Those present included Willmott Dixon Interiors, Dovetail Games, University of Creative Arts, Canterbury Christchurch and The Police and RAF to name a few.  Students in Year 9 tasked to speak with at least five organisations, while students from years 10-13 were also invited to attend and made the most of the event.

For the annual ‘Careers Week’ Mr Price oversaw the arrangements for local employers and providers to deliver lunchtime careers talks. Students had the opportunity to attend talks by representatives from Portsmouth University, who delivered a talk on university interviews and KPMG discussing finance careers. Meanwhile those sixth formers considering making apprenticeships applications benefitted from a talk by the Kent Apprenticeships Training Organisation. Its representative came equipped with local and national apprenticeships knowledge on degree apprenticeships.

Also this month, Year 9s and year 12s were involved in a Business Enterprise days overseen by Miss Purcell. They worked in teams to produce and present a pitch for university football and technology courses. These are to be held at a new university stadium location that is being built in Asia. Those involved in a winning pitch will be invited along with other finalists from the other 38 schools involved to present in London. It was an extremely fun and productive day, involving live music, and lots of good ideas. The organisers personally commended how exceptional and driven the students were.

Last but not least, plans are being put in place once again, for the Year 12 trip to the UCAS Higher Education Exhibition in March. The Detling Show Ground will once again be host to hundreds of university representatives and some helpful university talks. This will be a great research opportunity for students considering university. It was deemed a helpful introductory activity by those who attended and fed-back last year.

A reminder that students are able to arrange careers meetings on Wednesdays or Thursdays by adding their names to the list of appointments displayed on my office door, in sixth form area, or emailing sjobbins@rmgs.org.uk.  I have been particularly busy with discussing options choices with Year 9s and Year 11s considering their post-16 options.