Careers Education and Guidance
The Head of Careers co-ordinates the Careers Education and Guidance activities that take place within the school. Other input is provided by tutors, the Head of PSCE, the Head of Senior and Lower Schools and Housemasters/mistress. The Careers Education and PSCE programmes in Pangbourne aim to equip students with the skills they need to make the successful transition through the various stages of College life.
In the increasingly competitive world of work, sound careers advice is essential and we aim to enable students to maximise their potential and to have the opportunity to discover the career areas most appropriate to their individual talents and aspirations. Students are encouraged to carry out their own research using the resources available to them but under the guidance of one or more of the adults mentioned.
The Framework
All year groups take a programme of Personal, Social and Citizenship Education (PSCE) modules, delivered in designated PSCE lessons or during tutorial slots. Career related modules are delivered within this programme.
Junior School
In the Junior School, Career related modules cover the important aspect of study skills and Library skills. In the summer term, Year 8 students are introduced to the concept of work and budgeting both money and time using the Real Game. As part of a ‘small community’ they are able to relate life style dreams to reality through the allocation of jobs.
3rd form
In the third form students familiarise themselves with ‘Fast Tomato’, a web-based careers guidance and advice system administered by Morrisby. This provides students with opportunities to identify their individual strengths, abilities and interests and link these with possible career paths and areas of study. Fast Tomato is an ideal tool to stimulate exploration of their career options in a wider sense, within the context of making informed GCSE choices.
4th form
Fourth form pupils are given the chance to develop their Fast Tomato profiles as well as developing skills in application techniques.
5th form
One of the aims of the 5th form PSCE programme is to provide students with opportunities for Careers Education and Guidance. Students’ build on career-related modules taken in the Lower School and the focus is on Decision Making Skills and Study Choices at GCSE. All students complete a psychometric profile in the first term called Futurewise Profiling, run by the Independent Schools Careers Association (ISCO). This is followed up by an individual guidance interview with a Futurewise adviser.
The aim of the profiling is to stimulate discussion by providing objective information, which looks at an individuals’ potential ability. By identifying preferred learning styles, study skills and aptitudes, careers suggestions are given, which are intended to stimulate further investigation. Psychometric profiling is widely used in the workplace to identify suitable candidates for recruitment and promotion. This reflects not only the value of the process, but also the relevance of the experience for young people who are likely to meet it again in the future. It is fully recognised by the British Psychological Society, and because results measure potential they remain consistent over the years. So students can be reassured of comprehensive assistance with their options at sixth form level and beyond, until the age of 23.
The profiles are used as a basis for important student-tutor discussions in relation to individual study and career options. Whilst we encourage the vast majority of Pangbournians to stay on into the sixth form, alternative routes can be discussed for those in the fifth form who would benefit from a more vocational and less academic regime.
Lower Sixth ‘New Perspectives’ PSCE tutorial programme
At
Sixth Form level, the skills acquired within the 5th form PSCE
programme are developed further and new opportunities provided, in the form of
the ‘New Perspectives’ PSCE tutorial programme. The aim of the
programme is to encourage personal development through a series of
integrated Personal, Social and Citizenship Education (PSCE) modules.
The content is carved up into 4 broad areas (Study Skills, Health and Well-Being, Careers Education and Citizenship) and modules are tailored to fit with the shape and pattern of the year.
In the Michaelmas term, students are to some extent in unfamiliar territory as they adjust to the more independent approach of the sixth form. During this transition period, the emphasis of the modules lies firmly on the academic progress and well-being of individuals. Modules cover issues such as self-development, target setting, methods of study and review and stress management. At the end of the term, students have an opportunity to complete a short psychometric profile called ‘Coursefinder’ which will start to focus their thoughts onto possible Higher Education courses.
In the Lent term, academic work should be in full flow and in addition to regular academic progress checks, modules focus on areas such as work related learning and Higher Education options. Important issues concerning health and well-being and citizenship are also tackled. All Lower Sixth carry out a minimum of one week’s work experience in the summer.
The final term gives students some space for researching Higher Education options and deals with financial issues in a Finance and Banking unit.
The modules have been developed alongside the Upper Sixth General Studies programme and are designed to maximise the student’s exposure and awareness of academic, social and citizenship issues. Wherever possible, the expertise of outside speakers is used and modules are delivered as workshops, tutor-led discussions or group activities.
It is hoped that this continuous approach to PSCE and Careers Education in the Senior School will equip our students with the essential knowledge, skills and attitudes to prepare them for life here at Pangbourne and beyond - in wider society.