Aspirations

At Gillingham School we aim to help every pupil develop high aspirations and consider a broad and ambitious range of careers.  The school’s Aspirations programme encourages students to explore their next steps into the eventual world of work through presentations from and visits to colleges and universities.

Enterprise and Work Experience

We aim to inspire every pupil through real life contacts with the world of work, in order to help them to understand where different choices can take them in the future. To this end all our students undertake work experience in Year 10 for two weeks and then again, for one week in Year 12. This takes place at a wide range of local and not-so-local workplaces including: businesses, banks, libraries, offices, garages, hairdressers, schools and veterinary surgeries, to name but a few. The opportunity to experience a working environment first hand is invariably a valuable one.

Careers

We are committed to ensuring that students receive quality impartial advice and guidance related to subject choice and careers planning, from a broad range of sources. The school has a clear strategy for careers guidance which is linked to outcomes for students, with the aim of meeting the needs of all. This includes a variety of events and activities such as inspirational speakers from different areas of employment and mock interviews, careers fairs, trips to colleges and universities.

Students are encouraged to gain in confidence, to examine their strengths and weaknesses, set themselves targets and develop the ability to respond to learning opportunities and labour market trends.

Students will also have access to specialist, impartial support services to expand advice and guidance on an individual basis, for each young person to be inspired and motivated to fulfil their potential.

Next Steps Evening

We have numerous events thoughout the year to support students in making choices about their future.  The following pictures were taken at this year's Next Steps Evening.  A careers fair designed to show case all possible opportunities for a young person whether they choose to leave school after year 11 or after year 13.  Wheither they are thinking of employment after gaining vocational professional qualifications at college or whether they are interested in the graduate opportunites available after leaving university.

Careers Programme

The following document pulls all of the above elements together and itemises the activities and events that students have the opportunity to take part in, to help them develope their career aspirations.  The policy provides the guiding principles behind the whole of Information Advice and Guidance delivery in the school.

Careers Programme

Careers Policy

The Careers Leader is Emma Vallender M.Ed: evallender@gillingham-dorset.co.uk