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Careers

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Through a programme of careers education and guidance, the Careers Department aims to help every pupil at Francis Holland develop the skills to realise her full potential and prepare for the working world beyond school.

In line with the school’s overall aims, the Careers Department focuses on the last statement, ‘Preparation for Higher Education and the adult world’, where pupils will receive tailored advice corresponding to their needs.

We aim to:

  • Foster ambition
  • Provide guidance of the highest quality
  • Raise awareness of the huge variety of careers available and the qualifications and qualities needed to pursue them
  • Organise off-site learning opportunities
  • Provide top quality resources to support the delivery of Further Education guidance
  • Help pupils make sensible subject choices for A Level study
The following aims are shared by the PSHE Department:
  • Cultivate self-knowledge, self-esteem and confidence
  • Enable pupils to consider challenging issues that may face them at school and to prepare them to make responsible decisions in adult life

Guidance and Careers Education

The aims of Guidance and Careers Education are to
  • Improve self-knowledge and understand how various factors can affect choices
  • Increase responsibility for careers development
  • Develop careers exploration and management skills
  • Make learning and career choices that work for the students
  • Select GCSE options
  • Promote work experience through ‘Take Your Daughter To Work Day’

Starting secondary school can be a daunting process, but with the excitement of making new friends, learning about a new school and making plans for the future it can be very rewarding. This year pupils approach the following topics:
  • The importance of learning as a professional
  • Getting prepared for the future
  • Careers development
  • Self-awareness
  • Role of long-term goals and action plan
  • How stereotypes influence career choices and career development

Building from the previous year, pupils aim to develop a better understanding of the working world. This year pupils approach the following topics:
  • Learning about work
  • The role of transferable skills
  • Employability
  • Researching career information through specialised software

Finishing the last year of Key Stage 3, pupils have to consider which GCSEs to study next year. Therefore, we focus on decision-making and personal responsibility, linking subject choices with future jobs. Pupils take part in our ‘Take Your Daughter To Work Day’ (TYDTWD). This year pupils approach the following topics:
  • Stages of decision-making
  • Identifying influences
  • Self-awareness and personal responsibility
  • Factors to consider when choosing subjects
  • Research and decision-making skills
  • Identifying sources of help and support
  • TYDTWD

Having started the first year of GCSEs and completing first work experience placements, career planning becomes more real. This year our programme offers guidance on making a career plan according to personal preference and evaluating it. By this time, pupils have started thinking about different types of qualifications available post-16. This year pupils approach the following topics:
  • Steps in making a career plan
  • What can influence learning and career choices
  • Who am I? Self-awareness and career planning
  • My personal profile
  • Significance of qualification levels when making a career choice
  • Labour market and career plans

The final year of GCSEs is an exciting and daunting period. Pupils have to focus their attention on completing the syllabus, reviewing past knowledge, preparing for their examinations, but also selecting their A level options. This year’s programme prepares pupils by selecting the best options for their future. We discuss differences between school, colleges and the workplace, looking at a range of opportunities that are available. In order to select the correct A Levels, pupils use Kudos software and Heap online to see what the University requirements for their selected course are. We work closely with the Director of Higher Education. This year pupils approach the following topics:
  • Compare the working environments of schools, colleges and workplaces
  • What opportunities are available
  • Identify reliable sources of careers information
  • Select A level options
  • Attend subject fairs
  • Attend A level subject talks
  • Complete a psychometric test: MyCareersChoices
  • Meet an independent career advisor
  • Week-long work experience

The first year of post-16 education is always an exciting time; pupils study their favourite subjects and are expected to be more independent. Students revamp their curriculum vitae, review their personal profile and write an opening letter. We also offer interview practice in preparation for job interviews and part-time employment. Students also use a variety of software to inform their decision regarding post A Level courses. This year pupils approach the following topics:
  • Skills used in making applications
  • How to improve chances of being selected
  • Changing world, changing opportunities
  • Unifrog/Kudos HE/ Heap software

During this final year of study, many students will have their eyes on the next chapter of their education, their UCAS application, interviews and examinations. This year, we focus on self-presentation, resilience and financial planning. Students finalise their opening letter and update their curriculum vitae. Throughout the year students continue using the suite of software to support them in their next step. This year pupils approach the following topics:
  • Self-presentation and first impressions
  • Resilient behaviour and coping strategies
  • Impact of financial issues on their career path
  • Student finances
  • Unifrog/Kudos HE/ Heap software

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