Dr Gillian Allcock explains why schools’ careers departments are so valuable when your child is preparing to leave education
When it comes to choosing a school for your child, most parents have a good idea of what they should be looking for. Location, high-quality teaching standards, excellent facilities and pastoral support all have their own part to play, but what about when your child is ready to leave their education behind" While they might still be years off deciding what they want to do as a career, a nod to the future is always worth thinking about.
The careers and higher education guidance available in independent schools can be rich and varied, depending on the resources available and the experience of the advisors. Before starting any research, it helps if the pupil already has a good understanding of what their skills and interests are ? without this, the sheer volume of information they are greeted with can be unmanageable. Not only will this identify areas of interest, but is also critical for a career path that could well involve jobs which do not exist yet! Good advice guaranteed
Higher education and careers departments, like that found at Bishop?s Stortford College in Hertfordshire, are the go-to places for pupils wishing to find out more about apprenticeships, taster courses, internships and work placement opportunities.
The team here produces regular and highly-comprehensive newsletters for parents and pupils, keeping them up-to-date with the...