Careers
Career education and guidance begin in Year 7 and is mapped against the Gatsby Benchmarks and closely aligned to the CDI Framework to support the changing landscape for career guidance.
At the Marist we support every student in exploring their strengths to make informed, confident choices about their futures. We connect the classroom to rich learning experiences of the world of work, encouraging students to seek opportunities, take advantage of the opportunities and explore in a meaningful and inspiring way that ignites ambition and empowers them to be curious with purpose.
We have established partnerships with Springpod, Unifrog and InvestIN with pupils benefiting from a wide range of opportunities that see them engaging with employers and education providers to ensure they leave with the skills and confidence to build successful future careers.
The eight Gatsby benchmarks of Good Career Guidance
A stable careers programme
Learning from career and labour market information
Addressing the needs of each pupil
Linking curriculum learning to careers
Encounters with employers and employees
Experiences of workplaces
Encounters with further and higher education
Personal guidance
Careers Programme
Key Objectives
- To help pupils build, identify, and apply key skills essential to future progression.
- To give pupils the tools to research and develop essential career knowledge.
- To support pupils in identifying appropriate career choices by matching their qualifications, qualities, values and skills to their ambitions and goals.
Key Personnel
Careers Lead: Mrs H Nicholls
Oxbridge & MedSoc Lead: Mr N Lang
Aim Higher Co-ordinator: Miss M Parravano
Law and Erudite Society: Miss M Parravano
Careers in the curriculum
Through timetabled PSHE lessons and classroom subjects, we deliver timely career and work-related learning sessions to pupils from Year 7-13, giving opportunity to learn more about employability rights and responsibilities, financial choices, pathways and career planning. External speakers are invited to join on occasion, as experts in their field, to share their experiences and inspire inquisitive minds.
Careers Guidance
Pupils from Years 10 – 13 receive timely 1:1 career guidance and an action plan to support research and further exploration of their career choices. All guidance is supported by Unifrog, a comprehensive careers platform to encourage exploration and decision-making.
Unifrog forms part of our 1:1 career guidance delivery, supports the Oxbridge programme, UCAS applications and contributes to PSHE and careers in the curriculum.
For more information on parent accounts please contact Mrs Nicholls.
Oxbridge, MedSoc & LawSoc
These societies provide pupils with specialised career support through a series of workshops, presentations, events and visits.
Work Experience and Interview Skills
Every Year 12 student can complete a week of work experience in the summer term. Work experience is highly valued by employers and universities and highly recommended for those considering medicine, dentistry and veterinary subjects at university. As part of the work experience programme there will be an opportunity to attend interview skills sessions as well as our annual InvestIN assessment centre day.
Virtual Work Experience
Virtual work experience is being offered by a variety of industries and is a good way of keeping students engaged and focussed on their futures whilst also developing their transferable skills. As a Springpod partner we highly recommend and encourage students to participate in virtual work experience.
Springpod
Students in Year 10 complete a series of Springpod workshops throughout the year in the Marist Hub. From work experience with top organisations such as Airbus, NHS, Deloitte, Barclays, Jaguar Land Rover to degree tasters with leading universities such as University of Oxford, Queen Mary and University of London, students build their experience and explore their subject interests and career pathways, so they are ready to make informed choices about their next steps.
Apprenticeships
All students in the senior phase have access to apprenticeship workshops to explore the breadth of opportunity an apprenticeship pathway can offer. Additional support is offered in Year 12 with applications and interview techniques.
Visits & Events
Pupils will have the opportunity to take part in a variety of events and off-site visits, including careers fairs, university open days, apprenticeship events, subject specific experiences and workplace visits.
National events happen across the year to support young people through their career choices. We will endeavour to signpost students and parents to events of interest.
Careers Newsletter
A termly newsletter containing vital information to support students with their next steps. From labour market information to GCSE choices, super-curricular support to degree apprenticeships the newsletter keeps students and parents fully informed with timely information and resources.
Employers
Employers who would like to get involved with any of our events or have other programmes to offer please contact the careers coordinator via email: careers@themarist.com
Useful Resources
Russell Group Informed Choices | Informed Choices
Universities UK Jobs of the future
Thames Valley LEP Starting Out – The Berkshire Careers Guide
UCAS Discover Careers, Apprenticeships and University with UCAS
Forage Free virtual job simulations and career prep | Forage
