Information, Advice and Guidance

Young people need support in four main areas to help them make wise choices about their progression through learning and work:

• Careers education – a planned programme in the curriculum that helps them gain the knowledge and develop skills for planning and managing their careers
• Work related learning – experiences within the curriculum and outside school which help them learn about, for and through work
• Personalised support and guidance – help for individuals to enable them to review, plan and manage their learning and progression to the next stage
• Careers guidance – help from specialist advisers with knowledge of opportunities and the pathways to and through them, so they can identify their long-term goals and plan steps to attain them

At Blundell’s we are committed to the provision of innovative and flexible ways to help the students make informed choices about their futures, develop the skills required to enhance their employability and contribute positively to the world they live in.

    

The Department

The department is situated centrally and open throughout the school day. It offers:

• A well-resourced Careers Library
• IT suite
• Careers office

Text resources (books, magazines and prospectuses), CD’s and computer software (also networked) are available.
Students and parents are encouraged to use the facilities of the department and to take advantage of the professional advice and guidance either by request or referral.
Parents are also kept informed through:

• Forums held prior to the parents meetings in Years 11, 12 and 13
• Mailings from the department
• A web-based newsletter
• Access to the ISCO Information Service

 

Staff

Miss Sue Norman – Head of Department
Mrs Lucy Chick – Services Liaison
Miss Jardine-Young – Oxbridge applications

The Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy/Marine Liaison Officers visit twice a year.
The school is also a member of ISCO (Independent Schools Careers Organisation), the DEBP (Devon Education Business Partnership) and the Exeter Careers Group.

    

 

Information, Advice and Guidance Programme

In Years 9 to 13 this is delivered within the PSD programme with additional opportunities for aptitude and interest testing, careers lunches, lectures, workshops, conferences and conventions.

Year 9 and 10

• Introduction to the department, staff and programme
• Introduction to and use of the information resources available
• KUDOS – software program offering an interest based questionnaire to  generate initial career ideas and linked sites for further research
• ‘Which Way Now’ – Connexions booklet on how to choose options in Year 9
• GCSE options briefing – implications of decisions
• Different career routes

Year 11

• Optional enrolment on FutureWise – the personalised careers guidance and planning service
• Individual guidance interview
• CV preparation
• Work Experience preparation day organised in conjunction with DEBP
• Mock interview
• ‘It’s Your Choice’ Connexions booklet on options post-16
• Options briefing and Academic Fair
• Visit to Careers Convention
• Work Experience placement – post GCSE

 

Sixth Form

Year 12

• Work Experience presentations
• Career Taster sessions
• ISCO Expanding Horizons courses and other taster/insight courses
• CourseFinder
• Conference - First Steps to Higher Education
• Oxbridge Forum – for parents and students
• Visit to Oxbridge Regional Conference
• Visit to UCAS Higher Education Convention
• Visits to University/College open days
• Workshops for applications to university, college, employment
• Gap Year Fair

Year 13

• UCAS briefing
• Mock interviews
• Sponsorship opportunities
• Student finance, budgeting, household management
• Career taster sessions
• UCAS – Decisions, Confirmation and Clearing

Many students also return to the department for post-A level assistance.

    

Further/Higher Education

In order to help with choices beyond school much advice is given and discussions take place between students, parents, Tutors, House Staff and the Head of Information, Advice and Guidance. A full range of prospectuses and Careers software is available, students have access to the Internet and College/University Open Days are encouraged. The majority of students proceed to Higher Education and much use is made of the Old Blundellian Club in the advising process. Popular destinations in recent years have included: Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Nottingham, Reading, Southampton and Oxford Brookes. Click here for a list of recent placements.

The Gap Year

Almost 50% of our students take a gap year. Whilst recognising that this may not be of benefit to everyone, a constructive well-planned Gap year can provide a wealth of experience and responsibility. This can enable students to make the most of a college/university course, gain in practical skills, grow up to take a more mature approach and enhance employability.

The department may be reached by email at san@blundells.org.

Further resources

Higher education placements

MottMEC issue 5, June 2007 (PDF, 1 MB), which includes a small report on the 'gap year and university sponsorship' of a couple of Blundell's pupils by Mott-MacDonald.

 

Teachers

Miss Sue Norman – Head of Department Mrs Lucy Chick – Services Liaison Miss Jardine-Young – Oxbridge applications

 

Top | Home | Site Map