Careers Education at Whitcliffe Mount is taught through a variety of curriculum areas. Year 7 and 8 students study Careers within their Life Skills lessons, Year 9 through Drama and Year 10 and 11 through Wider Key Skills. The different approaches of the various subject areas allows staff to employ a number of innovative and engaging teaching methods and encourages the students to start considering Careers in a range of contexts.
The Careers team are all here to provide students and parents with high quality information, advice and guidance regarding careers and career choices. If you are unsure to find what you need or just need some help or advice, please email us at careers at whitcliffemount.co.uk
Careers Resources
The Careers Library
The Careers Library is housed in the LRC and contains a range of information on specific careers as well as post-16 and post-18 opportunities in further education, higher education, work-based learning, apprenticeships and employment.
The school holds the Calderdale & Kirklees Connexions Information Standard for the quality of its Careers resources.
The Careers Library is open from 8.20am until 4.15pm every school day.
Kudos and Careerscape
The school has access to both the Kudos and Careerscape online software packages. These packages allow students to research a cornucopia of different careers and offer suggested career routes based on the answers students give to a range of careers-related questions.
The packages can be accessed from the links below
Kudos Careerscape
The Workabout Website
The Calderdale & Kirklees Careers website contains a vast array of information for students, parents/carers, businesses and practitioners.
This easy-to-use website features sections dedicated to options at 11-16, 16-19 and 20+.
Workabout is always a good place to start when looking for information about options and Careers.
Connexions
Our 3 Connexions Personal Advisers are based in school and provide impartial careers information, advice and guidance to students from Yr9 onwards.
- In Year 9, all students are introduced to the PA's and the support/resources available through whole class sessions in the Careers Library.
- In Year 10, students will meet with their designated PA in small groups to start looking at post-16 options.
- In Year 11, all students will be offered a 1:1 interview with their PA prior to making their post-16 applications. A drop-in session is also available to all students at lunchtime throughout the year.
Representatives from our Connexions team are also available at Parents Evenings, Options Evenings, Achievement Review Days, Results Days and other similar events to offer focused guidance and support.
Students are welcome to make an appointment to see one of our Connexions PA's by calling in to see them at break or lunch time. The team are based in the Connexions area, near the attendance office and lates door.
Alternatively, students and parents can contact the Connexions team by phone on 01274 335182 or by email to the addresses below:
saima.parwana at ckcareers.org.uk
debra.casson at ckcareers.org.uk
jessica.crookes at ckcareers.org.uk
Work Experience
The school is currently reviewing its work experience program in light of current government policy and in the wider context of the schools Careers Education program. The aim is, of course, to provide students with the best possible experience of work based learning, in whatever context is most effective.
Plans for the 2011/12 academic year will be published shortly.
In 2010/11 all students in Year 10 took part in work experience during the two weeks prior to Easter, Monday 4th April - Friday 15th April 2011.
A schedule of thorough preparation, support and debriefing guides students through the entire process of work experience and ensures they are all able to make the most of this invaluable opportunity.
If you have any questions about Work Experience, please contact Mr McKirgan via the comments form below. Alternatively feel free to contact Mr McKirgan by email (workexperience at whitcliffemount.co.uk) or by phone (01274 335182).
Students can also make comments or ask questions via the Work Experience Discussion forum on e-Cliffe (VLE).
What Is Work Experience?
- A placement at a local company or industry for up to 2 weeks;
- An opportunity to experience the world of work and guide your career choices;
- Part of the National Curriculum
- It is not just a chance to sample a job.
Why Do Work Experience?
- It gives you the chance to see how a local company works;
- To see how working with adults compares to working in school;
- To help focus your future;
- To see if the skills you are learning in school help you in the world of work;
- A chance to develop new skills;
- It looks good on your CV or when you go for a college or job interview.
Post-16 Applications
Towards the end of Year 10 and throughout Year 11, students will be supported through the post-16 options and application process.
A detailed timetable of important dates and events will be published and distributed to students early in the autumn term and regular reminders and updates will feature in the news items on this website as well as on our VLE.
The first major event in 2011/12 will be the WMS Careers Fair which will be held on Thursday 29th September. All the major colleges from the local area will be attending, along with an array of training providers and employers. This is an excellent opportunity for students and parents to have a first look at everything that is on offer before deciding which provider open days to attend during October and November.
Ongoing support throughout the process is available from form tutors; Wider Key Skills teachers; Connexions PA’s; the Year Manager/Coordinator and from the Careers Coordinator, Mr McKirgan.