Introduction

Alton Convent School (ACS) is an independent school which teaches in accordance with the principles of the Catholic Church and as such seeks to promote the education of the whole person: mentally, physically and spiritually.

This policy has been approved by the Governors and will be reviewed annually.

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

• i) to help prepare students for a responsible working life
• ii) 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
• c) make and amend plans to manage change and transition

and further, seeks to :

• d) develop decision making by logical and informed process
• 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 three professional CEG bodies:

• a) ISCO (Independent Schools Careers Organisation)
• b) Connexions (the Government sponsored agency)
• c) VT Management

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.

VT Management - supplies Hints folder and regular updates on hundreds of careers.

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

• 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 Head 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.
• 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. 
• 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. 
• Work Experience -  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.
•  Students in the V^th Form who say into the VI 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.
•  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 Careers Co-ordinator.

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

• 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.
• 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. Specific careers' issues are covered as part of the PSME program.
• 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) Sixth Form girls attend some Higher Education Fairs, and some group Open Days to aid HE applications.
• 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.
• 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.

Careers Guidance Programme                     

These are blocks of lessons, which are included in the PSME programme

IIIrd Form

Block of 6 lessons delivered prior to the girls choosing their options subjects.

The lessons focus on

• Understanding themselves and the influences on them
• Looking at skills required for various careers
• Understanding which subjects help to develop which skills

Vth Form

Block of 4 lessons delivered prior to study period for GCSE

The lessons focus on

• Understanding how they work/study
• Setting priorities
• Working to a plan and reworking a plan based on feedback

VIth Form

A block of 6 lessons delivered before they choose their university courses, focusing on

• exploring higher education courses
• comparing courses and prospectuses
• setting criteria to choose a course and university