Careers Room
The careers room is a resource for the whole school. Every student is welcome to pop in at any time as the room is usually left unlocked. The junior forms visit the careers room on a formal basis during some of their PHSE classes and are taught how to use the resources effectively. The careers room is particularly useful for the 6th form during the UCAS application process and so its locality right next to the 6th Form Centre is ideal.
Interviews
All students can book a 1:1 interview with Mrs Margaret Simper, the Careers Co-ordinator, and these are always confidential if the pupil wishes. Later on, tutors and teachers can be included in the discussions if necessary. Parents are welcome to attend with their child if that is appropriate, and there can be as many follow-up meetings as required. In the 21st century job market, our students have to come out of St. Bees School with the necessary “skills set” which is more than just academic achievement. Employers these days need “good thinkers, people-managers and problem solvers”. I try to encourage students to plan ahead, rule out obviously poor decisions, weigh up alternatives and accept that certain decisions have irreversible consequences.
6th Form Briefing
The Careers Co-ordinator attends the 6th Form briefing every Monday morning break This provides the opportunity to highlight latest mailings and to book interviews and generally to be “visible”.
Centigrade Tests
These are questionnaires designed for L6 Form students who do not know what they wish to study at university or what career they wish to follow. It is approved by the careers advisers, Cambridge Occupational Analysts, who are themselves backed by the University of Cambridge. The test costs £18:75, which includes a comprehensive reply package detailing suggested university courses and possible careers and professions suited to a particular student's strengths and abilities.
Careers Talks
These are held four times throughout the year and are an opportunity for our 6th Form, or younger students if interested, to attend a presentation by someone representing a particular career or profession. They are introduced to day-to-day life in that particular job and what courses at university might lead towards it. Over the years we have had visits from solicitors, occupational therapists, chemical engineers etc. and all have been willing to leave an email contact so that students can continue raising questions that come to mind after the talk.
Higher Education Fair
This is held annually in Carlisle at the end of the summer term and is for all the L6 Form. It is an opportunity for the L6 Formers to talk to representatives from universities from all over the country and to pick up prospectuses and course literature.
Careers Convention
This is held at St. Bees School every 2 years and is attended by delegates from over 20 universities, mostly from the north of England. There are also over 20 professions represented, mostly by firms from the local area, many of whom are staffed by old St. Beghians.
Medlink
Medlink workshops are hosted by The Workshop and take place in the Christmas and Easter holidays at the central campus of the University of Nottingham. These are 2-3 day residential courses particularly designed for those in the L6 Form and give them an insight into studying certain subjects at university. Subjects covered are Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Physics, Chemistry, Business and Management, Law, Criminal Law and Forensics. Our students are encouraged to attend these workshops and all bookings are made through school.
Oxbridge Trip
Every year, in the last week of the summer term, the school takes a group of the more able students from the L6 Form on a trip to Oxford and Cambridge to visit the universities. The accommodation is in university colleges in the centre of the towns and help to give our students a taste of college life. We meet the college Admissions Tutor who talks to the students about requirements for entry to the university and there is plenty of time for everyone to explore the cities. The highlight of the day in Cambridge is always the punt trip along the River Cam.
Work Experience
St. Bees School has a good working relationship with the local Connexions Career Office in Whitehaven. They always send a representative to our 3rd and 5th Form Options evenings and are there to encourage students to think ahead, rather than make short-term decisions when choosing what to study. Connexions are also there for less able students who are not suited to studying at 6th Form level. They will arrange an interview with any of our local day pupils to help them make sensible post-GCSE decisions. Unfortunately, this service is only available to students whose home is in Cumbria.
St. Bees does not follow the lead of many schools these days, who arrange a week of work experience for all of their L6 Form students every year. It is generally regarded that work experience is only useful if it is relevant to the course of study a student wishes to pursue. Here at St. Bees we encourage all students wishing to follow practical training, such as Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Physiotherapy, and courses in Hospitality or Tourism to gain some experience in the working environment. This does not always have to be hands-on experience as observation in the workplace is highly regarded and causes fewer insurance and health and safety problems for the employer. At present, the school is compiling a register of parents, members of Friends of St. Bees School and Old St. Beghians to provide a network of employers who would be able to give our students a taste of life at work.