Careers Education

Preparation for employment is an integral part of everything we do at Amersham School. We aim to prepare our students to go on to further or higher education or skilled employment and enable them to make a significant contribution to society.

While qualifications remain very important, with few exceptions, they are no longer the only consideration. We recognise that employability or work-readiness is becoming more and more important when potential employers look for people to fill vacancies.

Our Careers Lead is Tara Castle tcastle@amershamschool.org 01494 726562

Employers

Are you an employer looking to work with a school? Then we are looking for you!

We are keen to work with employers who can pass on the benefit of their skills, experience and expertise. Many of our careers events require volunteers who are willing to get involved in a variety of activities such as:

speak to students in small groups
present in assemblies
answer questions posed by students (speed networking in small groups)
interviewers (Skype or face to face)
observers at our group assessment activities
work with students on a one to one basis to help edit their draft CVs
stall holders at our annual careers fair
link with curriculum areas to show how students how their learning in specific subjects can lead in to various careers

Please see our Provider Access Policy

The Careers and Enterprise Company

The Careers and Enterprise Company is running a national campaign to encourage employers to Give an Hour.... Make a difference. Click here to find out more details.

If you would like to find out more, or would like to volunteer for an event please contact:

Tara Castle, Careers Lead: tcastle@amershamschool.org

Labour Market Information

Labour market information (LMI) may help students and their parents understand the job market and find out which careers, different qualifications can lead to. We strongly advise students to look through the resources below before making GCSE and A Level option choices.

The Future Of Work 2020-2030 post Covid: Where Are The Job Opportunities For Young People?

Students have been encouraged to complete profiles on Unifrog.org that the school subscribes to. By asking a number of questions, the website guides the students to research a variety of suitable careers. It would be useful if students spent time reviewing results with parents to ensure they maximise the benefits.

To view the local labour market information presentation click here.

To view useful information on the national labour market and future trends in the labour market click here.

The National Careers Service provides excellent information about a wider variety of job roles.

When students think about their future options, it's important that they consider their skills and knowledge, which careers interest them and also the job availability in that sector. Visit Unifrog to compare average earnings, working hours and predicted job openings.

Find out about different options by searching 12 careers sectors full of advice and information such as salaries you can expect to earn, the types of jobs available and what your options are with, or without, a degree: https://targetcareers.co.uk/career-sectors

From academic librarian to youth worker: look through graduate job descriptions to find out what each job involves and the qualifications and skills that are most needed: https://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/job-descriptions

Former Amersham School Students

We are so proud of what our students go on to achieve once they have left Amersham School. It's great to hear about the careers that students pursue, not just to celebrate their successes but also to inspire the next generation of students. Understanding our students' career paths also helps the school ensure that we are offering the right curriculum and careers support going forward.

If you haven't already done so, it would be great if you were willing to join Amersham School Alumni on LinkedIn.

You will need to make sure that your profile states that you studied at AMERSHAM SCHOOL (select, rather than type). This will then show the alumni button on the school’s website page. The latest LinkedIn upgrade means that the alumni unfortunately only shows on your PC, not your mobile phone.

We post the odd update on what's happening at school so that you can keep in touch, and occasionally we ask if ex-students are able to volunteer to help at various events.

Specific Industry Career Advice

Specific industry or professions careers advise can be found on the following websites:

Accountancy and Finance
Accounting Careers - find out how to become an accountant
ICAEW - info on entry routes, training and opportunities in accountancy
How to get into investment banking - an insight into what it takes to start in the industry and career job prospects available. It also covers the needed skills, qualifications and experience, and how these can be attained.

Aerospace
Careers in Aerospace - a website for young people to explore the opportunities in aerospace

Animal, Land-Based and Environment Jobs
Lantra - info on apprenticeships, college and uni courses and careers
Vetsure - info on how to become a vet

Armed forces
Before you sign up - pros and cons of joining the armed forces
Army Careers find out about the roles that are currently available
RAF Careers – information on the roles currently offered by the
Navy – Find out information about the roles that are available in the navy

Civil Service
The civil service is divided into departments, which deal with areas such as education, health and defence. Whatever your passion – from the environment to international development, there’s a department or agency to match.

Construction
Go Construct Website showcases the many career opportunities available in the construction and the built environment.

Creative Industries
Discover Creative Careers brings together careers information and opportunities from creative organisations in one explorable directory.
ScreenSkills is the industry-led skills body for the screen industries. They work across the UK to ensure that film, television, VFX (visual effects), animation and games have the skills and talent they need.
Creative choices - about careers in the creative industries
Creative Skillset - guide to careers in screen-based creative industries
Creative Media Skills Institute - Pinewood Studios - creative courses and training
Get into Theatre - information on careers in the theatre and how to get in

TV work - https://www.facebook.com/groups/tv.runners/

London Film Crew Network - https://www.facebook.com/groups/LondonFilmCrewNetwork/

Costume Networking Group -https://www.facebook.com/groups/247250777959/

Engineering and Maths (STEM)
Science Council - careers that studying STEM can lead to
Maths Careers - helps you choose your routes to a maths career
Cogent - A-Z of careers in science
Grad Cracker - about careers for STEM graduates
Smallpeice Trust - endeavor to give young people everything they need to fuel their passion for engineering, helping to make their big ideas a reality.
Tomorrow's Engineers. What is engineering? Find out about engineering careers, with advice on study, apprenticeships, careers resources, jobs ...
The Women's Engineering Society support and inspire women to achieve as engineers, scientists and as leaders; they encourage the education of engineering.
Gradcracker - guide to careers for Science, Engineering and Technology graduates

Health and Social Care
Step into the NHS - information on the wide range of jobs in the NHS
Health Careers - jobs in the health sector
Health Careers You Tube channel
Allied health professions are a family of specialist roles who use their knowledge and skills to help patients live the fullest lives possible. They work directly with patients, so they can see th difference they make every day.
Careers in Podiatry- information on entry requirements, course finders, salary expectations and useful blog posts

Hospitality/Leisure/Tourism
Hospitality Guild - information on careers in hospitality. Includes a careers quiz which tells you which roles would suit you best
Tasty Careers - careers in the food and drink sector
CruiseShipJobs - information on working on cruise ships and job search
CareerScope - information on jobs in hospitality, tourism and leisure

Law
All About Law - guide to degrees and careers in Law
LNAT - guide to the test you may have to take to gain entry onto a Law degree
LawCareers - comprehensive guide to becoming a lawyer
Traditionally, work experience for law students has taken place within an actual law firm or barristers chambers. However, some law firms have paved the way for a new kind of virtual work experience for law students to allow them to see what life at a law firm might be like. Find out more from the Lawyer Portal

Logistics
Transport and Logistics Careers - everything you need to know about getting involving in logistics

Mechanics
Autocity - careers in the motor industry including apprenticeship vacancies

Medicine
BMAT - find out about one of the tests for entry onto a medical/dentistry degree
UCAT - is the other test you may have to take for entry onto medical/dentistry degree
Medlink - four day course at Nottingham Uni for 6th formers on getting into Medicine
Medical work experience - medical work experience abroad during school holidays/gap year

Merchant Navy
Take a look at the opportunities and pathways to careers in the Merchant Navy - Explore the many Careers at Sea

Music
Careers in Music - a US website giving information on over 100 music careers

Personal Care
London Beauty Training Academy - how to become a beauty therapist
Hairdressing apprenticeships and training - information on becoming a hairdresser
Champneys Beauty College - training across a variety of aspects of the beauty industry

Procurement
Careers in Procurement - information on job roles, qualifications, salary and apprenticeships Science, Technology,

Sport
Careers in Sport - information on careers in the sports industry

Project Management
APM, the chartered body for the project profession, has created the Careers Hub to help you gauge what skills, qualifications and experience you need in order to make the next step in your career or see how salaries compare to other roles - apm.org.uk

Teaching
Find out how to get into teaching - getintoteaching.education.gov.uk

Zoology

How to become a Zookeeper - information from the Zoological Society of London.

Teachers

Young adults who recall four or more encounters with employers while at school are five times less likely to be NEET and earn on average, 18% more than peers who recall no such activities"

Dr Anthony Mann, Director of Research and Policy, Education and Employers Task Force.

Careers guidance needs to happen in the classroom, not just in distinct careers activities. We encourage all curriculum areas to embrace employer led learning, using industry professionals and resources to help deliver curriculum lessons, blending careers ideas with academic learning. There are numerous benefits for our students:

TIME: Employer-led curriculum learning forms part of the planned timetable and doesn’t take pupils away from lessons.
NEW IDEAS: Opportunity to discuss topics with external professionals who use subjects practically on a daily basis, exchanging ideas and expertise.
NEW ANGLES: Use real life examples to get across concepts students find difficult to grasp.
BUILD LONG-TERM RESOURCES: Develop the relationship into a regular experience.
ENRICHMENT: Add an extra element to deepen curriculum learning.
NEW INSPIRATION: You could be providing the single inspirational moment that changes the direction of a student’s life.
MOTIVATION: Students see that subjects are relevant to the real world – and therefore why it’s important to study them.

Teachers are able to use their own acquaintances (perhaps record an interview to post in our Careers Teams?) or ask Ms Castle, Careers Lead tcastle@amershamschool.org for support finding relevant contacts.

Year 7 & Year 8 Days to Work

The Year 7 and Year 8 Days to Work takes place each year when students accompany their parents or another trusted adult to their place of work for the day to observe and take part in working practices that they would not normally come into contact with at school.

It is a valuable personal development opportunity for our students and an excellent way to introduce the Work Related Learning Curriculum. The Day to Work helps students to realise the value of the skills they are learning in the classroom as well as appreciate how hard their parents work to support them!

As part of the day the students are asked to complete a comprehensive handbook recording what they learn during the day and assess whether it will have an impact on their future educational and career aspirations.

The fundamental aims of the day is to introduce the varied and wide skills base behind working life to students and to boost their confidence in practical and social skills.

For more information about our Year 7 Day to Work, please visit the dedicated page HERE.

For more information about our Year 8 Day to Work, please visit the dedicated page HERE.