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Work Experience Studying and Revising Qualifications and skills Career Planning E Guidance Aimhigher College and sixth form Apprenticeships, jobs and training Money University Transport Gap year and time out Career Planning Career planning in year 9, Career planning in year 10, Career planning in year 11, Career planning if you're not attending school, Career planning at college or sixth form, Career planning during an apprenticeship (or a job with training), Career planning when doing a job without training, Career planning if you're not working or studying, Career planning websites and resources Career planning in year 9   As a year 9 you’ll be halfway between starting secondary school and being able to leave after year 11. Now is a good time to start looking ahead and planning your future.   You need to be looking at what careers may interest you and finding out as much about these as you can.   Your choice of career should match what interests you, what you would like to do and what you think you can do well.   Having a career idea at this stage is a good thing but don’t worry if you don’t have one. You are not alone in being undecided and there is still plenty of time to make up your mind!   Do some thinking ahead to beyond year 11. The main options for when you finish year 11 are to start your career through a full-time job (often through an apprenticeship), go to college or – if your school has one – carry on in the sixth form   An important part of your career progress is to pick which subjects to do in years 10 and 11. The section below tells you more.   Which Way Now - www.connexions-direct.com/whichwaynow - also tells you more about options. There is a parent's version at www.connexions-direct.com/parentcarer and booklets are available in school or by emailing info@connexions-somerset.org.uk CHOOSING YOUR OPTIONS FOR YEARS 10 AND 11 Sometime during Year 9 you'll get the chance to decide upon the subjects you'll be studying during Years 10 and 11. These split into two groups:   compulsory subjects. You have to do these   optional subjects. You choose these from a list Not every school offers the same choice of subjects. You'll get an idea of what is offered where at www.movingonmovingup.co.uk. 1.Compulsory subjects These are part of the National Curriculum and are studied by everyone. They include:   English   mathematics   science   ICT (computing) Some schools have their own compulsory subjects. These might link with the school’s specialist status. For example, a school with language status might make language study compulsory. You also have to do these (but not always for an exam):   religious studies   PE   careers education   sex education   citizenship   work related learning (enterprise education, work experience, etc) Careers education, sex education and citizenship are usually part of Personal, Health and Social Education (PHSE). 2.Optional subjects The choice varies between schools but you may choose a certain number of GCSE subjects from a list similar to this:   art and design   business   catering   child care and child development   dance   design and technology   drama   geography   history   languages   music   physical education   religious studies   social sciences You should also have the chance to do vocational subjects such as:   construction   engineering   hair and beauty   health and social care   motor vehicle   sport This could be for a GCSE, NVQ or another qualification (see below for more about Diplomas). Some of your work could be done at college, another school or through work experience. At some schools you will get the chance to do a young apprenticeship in years 10 and 11 (see further down the page for more about this). THE DIPLOMA – AN IMPORTANT NEW QUALIFICATION! The Diploma is a qualification that offers a mixture of classroom learning and hands-on experience. You can do a Diploma in years 10 and 11 in place of several GCSEs (although you would still be doing GCSEs in subjects such as maths, English and science). There are two levels of Diploma for years 10 and 11:   Foundation – equivalent to getting five GCSEs (grades D to G)   Higher – equivalent to getting seven GCSEs (grades A* to C) There is also an Advanced Diploma for people at college or in the sixth form. This is equivalent to 3.5 A levels. This means that, should you go on to college or the sixth form, you get the chance to progress from:   Foundation to Higher   Higher to Advanced You could also start a Diploma from scratch, at the best level for you, or switch from one subject area to another. By 2009 there will be Diplomas in:   business, administration and finance   construction and built environment   creative and media   engineering   hair and beauty   hospitality and catering   information technology   land-based and environmental   manufacturing and product design   society, health and development Public services, retail, sport and travel & tourism will follow in 2010. Humanities, languages and science start in 2011. Not every school will do every Diploma but all should be available close to your home. Find out more about Diplomas in Somerset at www.movingonmovingup.co.uk. More about Diplomas at www.direct.gov.uk/diplomas. YOUNG APPRENTICEHIPS   A hands-on learning experience for year 10 and 11   For subjects such as construction, engineering, hairdressing, motor vehicle and sport   What is available varies between schools. Not all schools are involved   Usually two days a week – you’ll be doing other school subjects on the other days (including core subjects such as maths, English and science)   Some of your time might be spent at college   Includes 50 days work experience over two years (you have a say over which business or organisation)   Offers chance of getting work qualifications (such as NVQs) Career planning in year 10   You are getting near the time when you will be able to leave school after year 11. By now you should have a reasonable idea of what you plan to do at that stage. If you haven’t give, it a good think!   During year 10 you’ll probably have the opportunity to attend a careers fair in the autumn and college taster days later in the school year. Your school may also allow you to do some work experience towards the end of year 10. All of these things can be a great help in pointing you in the right direction.   Spend time researching local college and sixth form courses, job prospects and what you can do through an apprenticeship. It pays to be informed in advance.   Make sure you get to know your Connexions Personal adviser who will be able to give you plenty of help in deciding upon and learning more about your options for the future. Career planning in year 11   During year 11 it’s not just a case of knowing what you want to do in the future. It’s also time to be doing something about it. Applications for colleges, sixth forms, jobs and apprenticeships need to be made at various stages of the year.   There’s still time to find out more by doing work experience (some schools do this in year 11 rather than year 10), attending college and sixth form open evenings, going to your local careers fair and attending information events about apprenticeships and work-based learning.   If you’ve got a clear plan go for it in a big way. If you are less sure – or you sensibly want to keep options open – you can make applications for different things. You can apply to more than one college or sixth form and you can also make job and apprenticeship applications as well.   Work hard for any exams you may be taking. These will be vitally important for your future prospects   Practice interview technique and form filling for any course, employment or training applications you’ll be making. Getting a curriculum vitae together is also a good idea when making job applications   Talk frequently to your Connexions Personal adviser about your options and plans for next year and further into the future. Don’t just look immediately ahead. Think what you’ll be doing at 17, 18, 20 and beyond. Career planning if you’re not attending school   The same issues (as above) need to be considered if you’re not attending school on a regular basis   Whether you’re attending a pupil referral unit, doing home tuition or being educated at home you have exactly the same choices when you are 16 (and at other stages in your life). This includes education, training, apprenticeships, work and other options   This means you need to think and plan ahead very carefully. Your Connexions Personal Adviser would be a good person to talk to about your future. If you don’t have a PA please contact your nearest Connexions centre for advice, help and information Career planning at college or in the sixth form   You may be at college or in the sixth form for one, two or three years. However long you are there it pays to plan ahead to what you want to do when you leave   Your main options after your course are another course at college or school, university, an apprenticeship, a full-time or part-time job (with or without training), voluntary work or a gap year.   Remember you’ll need to apply well in advance for university, gap year projects and many jobs. You’ll also need to make early applications for funding your university study. Make sure you are ready to do all of this at the right time.   To make things easier it pays to draw up a timetable of what to do and when. You could also devise an action plan for the duration of your studies   Aim to attending university open days, careers fairs, careers talks and other events. Also try to organise more work experience   Make sure you talk to your Connexions Personal Adviser about your options and plans. PAs work in every school and college so make sure you know how to contact yours. Normally you can meet your PA as often as appropriate Career planning during an apprenticeship (or in a job with training)   Talk to your employer or training provider about issues at work including pay, hours, conditions, duties and promotion prospects.   Try to ensure your present job is heading in the right direction and that you are receiving the proper training. Don’t be afraid to ask for extra training if you think you need it   Recognise the importance of the qualifications you are gaining as part of your training. Look at these as an important part of your career development.   Think about gaining extra qualifications on top of what you are being offered. This could mean attending extra work courses in future or studying in your own time   Think ahead to where you want to be in a few years time. This could involve staying with the same employer or changing jobs to work somewhere else. It might mean leaving work to go to college or university (for which your work qualifications may be useful)   Talk to a Connexions Personal Adviser at your local Connexions centre about career development, plans you have for the future, qualifications, alternative careers and university. You can also discuss any major problems you may have at work. Connexions helps young workers until they are nineteen Career planning when doing a job without training   Remember that – depending on which qualifications you have already – you have a legal right for time off work to gain extra qualifications. Talk to your employer about this or ask at your local Connexions centre   Whatever your rights make it known to your employer that you’d like some structured training if possible. Getting work-related qualifications is an important part of career development.   If training isn’t available seriously consider looking for another job that includes proper training.   Don’t get bogged down in a dead end job. Some jobs may serve their purpose for a certain period of time but be prepared to move on to better yourself.   Talk to a Connexions personal adviser at your local Connexions centre about career development, getting proper qualifications and training, looking for another job, problems at work or going to college or university. This service is available to you as a young worker until the age of nineteen. Career planning if you’re not working or studying   If you’re not working or studying you might need support getting things moving again. Whatever your situation you can receive lots of help from Connexions up until the age of nineteen   This could start by sitting down with somebody to talk about where you see yourself going. Connexions can help with things like benefits, housing, self-confidence, relationships and gaining basic skills   There’s also help with work experience, job hunting skills (interview techniques, application forms and CVs), college courses and career choices. Connexions is also the place to go for help with finding an apprenticeship, job or training place   If you need lots of extra help you may be allocated a Connexions Personal adviser who you’ll see on a regular basis. You might also be offered a place through e2e to help you move forward Career planning websites and resources CAREER PLANNING SOFTWARE Fast Tomato & Kudos Online are online career planning programs which produce career ideas. For more information follow this link KEY WEBSITES Moving On Moving Up – The 14 – 19 Area Prospectus for Somerset is a searchable online guide to courses and opportunities in Somerset. Contains listings of A levels, GCSEs, BTECs, NVQs, Apprenticeships and much more - www.movingonmovingup.co.uk Moving On – education and training opportunities after year 11 available as a booklet and on the web at – www.connexions-somerset.org.uk/movingon Moving On Somerset – a One Stop Shop for Progression containing links to the key sources and sites for information and advice on education, training and employment for Somerset – www.movingonsomerset.co.uk Which Way Now - a guide to subject choices in Year 9 - www.connexions-direct.com/whichwaynow It's Your Choice - key information for planning your move after Year 11 - www.connexions-direct.com/itsyourchoice PUBLICATIONS These publications can help with your decision making. Copies are usually available from your local Connexions centre or follow this link to request a copy. Work Wise (booklet) – guide to Somerset’s economy main industries. Useful for work experience preparation for in years 10/11 (but can also be used by college/sixth form students) Moving On (booklet) – complete guide to Somerset education and training opportunities beyond year 11 A Guide to Job Hunting (booklet and web link) - information and advice on job hunting (with examples of CVs and speculative letters click here Your Way Forward (booklet) – for students on A levels (and equivalent courses). Covers topics like applying to university, student finance, taking a gap year and employment Return to top of page Make text larger Make text smaller Text Only Display Disclaimer