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You what????I know it sounds strange, how can you go back to the future? Well, this is the breaking news. Careers education is going back to Year 7 to help with your future! Don't be stressed. Starting a new school can be scary or exciting and you might feel that that is enough to deal with, never mind anything else!!! But don't panic. It will all help you in the long run to have the brightest future possible! |
You're right, careers education and guidance (the posh title!) has been around for a long time, but until now it has mainly been given to students from Year 9 onwards. But now, some bright spark has picked up on the fact that it's a bit pointless only starting to give careers advice to young people in Year 9 when it's the same year they need to choose their options for GCSE (Key Stage 4)etc.
It's like telling you that you've been signed to a record label and you're
going to be the next big star starting your world tour on Friday and in the
same week suggesting that you start learning to play the guitar……..a
bit late don't you think!!!!
The Department for Education and Skills (DfES), which is part of the government, has produced a new framework (list of things you need to learn about or do) for careers education.
Key Stage 3 Programme - The main areas for students are:-
Understand themselves and the influences on them - self-development
Which in English, roughly means……….
Self-assessment (looking at your achievements and abilities etc)
Action Plans (what you're going to do and how you're going to do it)
Stereotypes (Not limiting careers to only female nurses or only male
mechanics etc)
Investigate opportunities in learning and work - career exploration
Which in English, roughly means……….
Work (What is it, how others feel about it, looking at career ideas)
Work Skills (How long do jobs last....or not, different ways of working
and work experience)
Careers Information (Using libraries, computers or course prospectus
etc)
Research Skills (Learning how to find and use this careers information)
Learning Options (School Options at 14, Further and Higher Education/
College and University)
Make and adjust plans to manage and transition - career management
Which in English, roughly means……….
Decision Making (What are your choices and how will they effect you?)
Getting Help (Teachers, school staff, librarians, and in year 9- Connexions
Advisors)
Managing Change (How has change effected other students, and how could
this effect you. What are the benefits or possible problems?)
Year 9 Options (What will you choose, where are you going?)
Presenting Information (Writing personal statements)
Looking Back (How did you do and what could you change to make something
better in the future)
Don't worry it sounds worse than it is. You will learn the above skills in a much easier way…..and without so many confusing words! You may learn about some of them in your tutor groups, citizenship classes, PHSE - Personal Health and Social Education and eventually in Year 9, you will start talking to your Connexions Adviser. The main thing to remember is that your career is very important and the more time you have to prepare, the better off you will be. Some of the tasks in the list above may be a bit confusing, but you will find this website extremely useful as there are lots of articles that will provide more detail if you need it. You'll be amazed how quickly time flies, but you are lucky because you get an extra 2 years to prepare for those important choices you need to make for your future.
Good Luck
Jennie Glitherow
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