The Careers Education Programme, along with PSME and Citizenship, aim to provide an environment and opportunities whereby students can

a) discuss the options concerning their future education,

b) prepare for Further Education and the Labour Market, and

c) be encouraged and helped to explore options concerning their future well-being.

Aims of Careers Guidance

a) to help prepare students for a responsible working life;

b) to help support the school mission statement

Objectives

The Alton Covent School Careers Programme aims to enable students to:

a) understand themselves and the influences on them;

b) investigate opportunities in learning and work; and

c) make and amend plans to manage change and transition,

and further, seeks to

d) develop decision making by logical and informed process; and

e) develop the concepts of opportunity awareness.

Strategies for providing Careers Guidance

The Careers Education Guidance (CEG) Programme is delivered in two ways

a) through the pastoral programme, in conjunction with PSME

b) through the extra-curricular activities

Partnerships

CEG cannot occur in isolation, and any CEG programme must complement the PSME and Citizenship programmes. The Careers Co-ordinator should meet regularly with the heads of these programmes to ensure compatibility. External organisations are also important in the delivery of CEG. Alton Convent School currently has links with two professional CEG bodies:

a) ISCO (Independent Schools Careers Organisation, Contact Stuart Day)

b) Connexions (the Government sponsored agency, Contact Chris Woods)

ISCO - Provides a range of services including the Morrisby Psychometric Tests for Vth Form, which provides a profile of the student and a suggestion of 12 careers to consider. Once tested a student has access to ISCO and its considerable resources for a 7-year period. Parents are informed annually about this service and may choose to pay for this service for their daughters.

Connexions - provides a range of services including assistance in the funding of the careers library, in job descriptions, and work experience opportunities.

Alton Convent School has a relationship with a number of employees who give advice at the biannual Careers Fair, and offer work experience opportunities for the Vth form. This contact list is updated regularly.

Careers Guidance

a) Guidance and Interviews

All girls from III^rd form up have the opportunity to produce a basic Careers Action Plan with the Careers Co-ordinator, or other professional CEG organisation. All students in the senior school may book an individual appointment with the Careers Co-ordinator to discuss careers issues. In addition, individual interviews are provided for all V^th form by the Head of Year, the Head Mistress and Deputy Headmistress. The Upper Sixth have an opportunity to have practice interviews prior to work/university application either by ISCO or with an independent person appointed by the Head Mistress.

b) Careers Clinics

The Careers Co-ordinator runs regular, informal drop-in sessions in the library during lunchtimes. These are available for all girls in the senior school to discuss career issues, course options etc, and to gain knowledge of the resources available in the careers library.

c) University Applications Process

Whilst this remains the responsibility of the VI^th form tutors and the Head Mistress, the Careers Co-ordinator will work with the students and the Head to ensure that supporting careers information is available and current.

d) Work Experience

i) All students in the III^rd form will have an opportunity to experience work during a day at work with a relative or friend (Take Your Daughters to Work) This is organised by the Careers Co-ordinator.

ii) All students in the V^th form will have some work experience in a field that is of interest to them during the school holidays. This is organised by the Careers Co-ordinator.

iii) All students in the Lower VI^th form have at least a week's work experience in a field that is of interest to them usually in the summer vacation. This is currently the responsibility of the Director of Stuent Services.

The Careers Co-ordinator will catalogue work experience opportunities for future reference.

e) Careers Library

i) This is available to students at breaks and lunchtimes. The Librarian is available to assist girls in their research

ii) The Library is well stocked and kept up to date with relevant information on FE courses, and career entry, training and opportunities.

iii) Careers books, leaflets, university prospectus and course information are catalogued in the library according to standard systems.

f) Career Planning and Recording Achievements

This must be actively encouraged for all pupils, by Form Tutors, commencing with their folders and decisions in Year 9 regarding their Option choices. Files will be held by the Careers co-ordinator, and updated as needed. Specific careers' issues are covered as part of the PSME program.

g) Careers Fair

i) This is organised biannually with a number of companies and professions providing first hand information regarding careers. It is customary to invite other Sixth Form students to the Fair for at least part of the time. Currently all girls attend this event.

ii) On the ‘off' year it is customary to attend the Salesian College Careers Fair, where speakers talk on a variety of careers and professions. Currently V^th and VI^th form attend.

iii) Sixth Form girls attend some Higher Education Fairs, and some group Open Days to aid HE applications.

h) Morrisby Psychometric Tests

These tests are offered to girls in the V^th form. They provide a detailed analysis of each girl's aptitudes and preferences and then try to relate this to a number of careers options. This is normally offered at the end of the IV^th form, and is conducted by ISCO.

It is important that the tests and their results are actively followed up to ensure that the girls understand the options and investigate the areas suggested.

i)ICT

In the ICT room, all girls have access to the Cascade program, KUDOS. In Year 9 they are actively encouraged to work through the program, and to keep the results. Girls may repeat the program at any time as their ideas change and develop. Those students who have joined the ISCO program are also able to access the ISCO resources on the internet.