Careers
At Wirral Grammar School for Girls our goal is to raise aspirations, challenge stereotypes, inspire students and encourage them to learn about and consider a wide range of careers.
Preparation for employment, higher level apprenticeship and higher education is an integral part of everything we do. We prepare our students to go to further or higher education or skilled employment and apprenticeships, enabling them to make a significant contribution to society, and we work to ensure that each individual is given bespoke advice and support so that they can make the right progression choices for them.
The provision of high quality, impartial and relevant careers information, advice and guidance has never been more important than it is today. We aim to ensure that all students are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to investigate, research and enter their chosen professions.
All students in Years 7 – 11 will:
- Find out about technical qualifications and apprenticeships opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available.
- Hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical and apprenticeships, through options events, assemblies and group discussions, taster events and inspirational talks.
- Understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and apprenticeship courses.
Careers Education is delivered across the school curriculum by form tutors, subject teachers, Heads of Year and the Senior Leadership Team through a wide variety of activities and events. The Careers curriculum is mainly delivered through PSHE lessons and form registration, and has a particular emphasis during National Careers Week and National Apprenticeships Week. You can also discuss careers with Mr Trussell, Head of KS3 and 4 Careers.
The school also has a dedicated Careers office which can be used for research into universities and careers. All materials received by the School, including university prospectuses, apprenticeship guides, and journals relating to careers, are accessible in that room, which students can access except when booked for other activities.
Parents also have a big role to play in supporting their children through their careers choices. You will be able to meet the careers leaders at the following events:
- GCSE choices – Autumn/Spring Term of Year 9
- Work experience – during activities week of Year 10, summer year 12
- A Level choices – Autumn/Spring Term of Year 11
- Post 16 and 18 options – Apprenticeships/Further and Higher Education/Employment
- Biannual Careers Fair – for Years 9 to 13
Please contact either Mr Trussell or Mr Cox if you think you may be able to help us by coming into school to talk about your own careers, if you may be able to offer work experience placements to any of our Year 10 or 12 students, or help with mock interviews for Year 12 or 13 students in preparation for universities, apprenticeship or employment applications.
As an education establishment we ensure we use the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks as a foundation when planning our Careers Strategy. The effectiveness of our provision is inspected and audited by the Careers and Enterprise Company using the Compass Careers Benchmark Tool. This tool is used by schools and colleges in England to support the analysis and evaluation of careers activity against the eight benchmarks of best practice (known as the Gatsby Benchmarks). The Careers and Enterprise Company coordinate the audit deadlines. This ensures the development of our careers strategy is ongoing to ensure best practice. In line with the recommendations set out in Gatsby Benchmark 1, we as a school review the performance of the school using the benchmarking tool every term. In addition we aim to publish this information on an annual basis, inviting feedback from key audiences.
Good careers guidance is critical if young people are to raise their aspirations and capitalise on the opportunities available to them. To help our students make well-informed choices to enable them to progress into further learning, training or employment, the Careers Department works with Career Connect to provide advisory meetings for all pupils in Year 10. Mrs Elaine Meredith is the School’s Careers Advisor.
Elaine is in school every Thursday and interviews all students in Year 10,and some in Year 11, giving them the opportunity to discuss their post-16 options, including sixth form, college, or apprenticeships, and can provide support with application forms, CVs and interviews.
Students in Year 12 and 13 are able to make an appointment with Elaine to look at their options, including college courses, apprenticeships, employment or university. Students may also be referred for an interview by Pastoral teams. Parents/carers are welcome to get in touch at any time to discuss their child’s plans, or any concerns they might have about careers education. Please contact Mr Trussell or Mr Cox.
Every school must ensure that there is an opportunity for a range of education and training providers to access all students in year 8 to year 13 for the purpose of informing them about approved technical education qualifications or apprenticeships. At Wirral Grammar School for Girls we welcome requests from external providers, and recognise they can form part of a broader approach to ensuring that young people are aware of the full range of academic and technical routes available to them at each transition point.
