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Notre Dame High School

Notre Dame
High School

Careers Archive

Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) helps students gain the skills and knowledge needed for their future careers. We want to make sure that parents/carers and students can gain the information they will need to enable our young people to make informed choices about their future learning and career pathways.

Any student, and/or parents/carer has the opportunity to arrange a meeting with a Level 6 Qualified independent Careers Advisor to discuss future options and progression routes during and after their time at Notre Dame. To book an appointment with our Careers Advisor please click on the link on the left hand side of this page, where you will be taken to an online appointment booking service.

Our Careers programme provides each year group with specific experiences planned to steadily prepare our young people for their next steps. A break-down of our Careers Education Plan (CEP) plan can be seen here Careers Education Plan for 2018-19. The CEP is reviewed during the Summer term, every year, so that we can respond to changing need and stakeholder feedback. Student evaluations, of organised events and destination data is used to inform this process.

In addition to the specific experiences outlined in our CEP, students will contextualise learning experiences in lessons and make links between what is being learnt and how this relates to career scenarios, for example:

CAREERS IN ENGLISH
In our study of Language at GCSE and as part of the English Language and Literature A Level, we make explicit links to journalism and its associated careers in the media. Students are exposed to a wide range of non-fiction texts, and are supported in recreating the style of these texts as part of their assessed writing. 

In our study of Literature, students are given several signposted opportunities to take on the role of teacher for the rest of the class, as well as one-to-one mentoring and tuition at A level. Additionally, we frequently explore the study of English as a facilitating subject for a wide range of careers where empathy, cultural literacy and articulacy are paramount.

CAREERS IN MATHEMATICS
In the study of mathematics, we take every opportunity to relate the skills that the students are learning to the world of work. Areas of mathematics that are specifically relevant to a career are discussed in context and uses of many of the skills in everyday life are expanded upon where relevant. In A Level Mathematics we link the Mechanics and Statistics areas of the course to specific careers in engineering and finance as well as encouraging the understanding that in almost all areas of the modern world mathematics is a vital and key skill.

CAREER LINKS IN BIOLOGY
Biology at A level encompasses a wide range of transferable skills for many careers.  In Year 12, students are taught about biological molecules that could lead to careers in nutrition, industry-testing chemicals for household products or outreach work such as scientists researching clean water for third world countries.

Microbiology units offer an insight into pharmacy, NHS careers in medicine, and social work.  The Immune System unit also sparks interest into research into disease and medical careers.  The Analysis of Exchange with the Environment and Nutrient Cycles units encompass marine biologists, zoologists and environmental science careers such as farmers, tree surgeons and conservationists.

The Genetics units at A level not only lead to geneticists but also forensic scientists, palaeontologists and archaeologists looking at natural history.  Sport science careers such as PE teachers, personal trainers and physiotherapists use learning from Muscles and Homeostasis. Opticians will use theory from Survival and Response in the Light Receptor topic and Behaviour can influence careers into the police and therapy.

CAREER LINKS IN CHEMISTRY 
In the A Level Chemistry course students are introduced to both qualitative and quantitative analysis and spectroscopy, linking careers in quality control within a variety of industries, forensic science, pharmacy and food technology. The practical element of the chemistry course aims to develop students’ analytical and practical skills to enable them to progress to higher education leading to a career in science or health. The Chemical Energetics, Rates and Equilibrium units link straight into manufacturing, chemical engineering and biochemistry. Students enjoying the organic units in the course may go on to study pharmacy, veterinary science, zoology, biochemistry and genetics. Students study a Halo-Alkanes Unit, which links with environmental science. The chemistry course culminates in a unit in synthesis, useful for students wishing to progress into careers in drug development, pharmaceutical, materials, cosmetic and food development and their respective industries.

A Level Chemistry is a compulsory requirement of many higher education courses including Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science and Pharmacy. 

CAREER LINKS IN PHYSICS
In year 12, students study motion, forces in action, work, energy & power, Newton's laws and momentum, linking to careers in engineering e.g. automotive, aeronautical, aerospace and civil. The units on charge and current, energy, power and resistance and electrical circuits open doors to a variety of careers including electrical engineering. The unit on waves is useful for careers in acoustics and music.

In Year 13 students study circular motion and oscillations which are useful in careers in engineering, principally mechanical, but also electrical and civil. The units on gravitational fields, astrophysics and cosmology have potential links with careers in astronomy, astrophysics, astronautics and cosmology. The units on electric fields, capacitors and electromagnetism link with electrical engineering and the Medical Imaging unit introduces careers in medicine, including radiography. Students showing an interest in the nuclear physics units may go on to work as nuclear engineers or in astrophysics.

To further support an effective progression process in school each student has their own login to an online platform called Unifrog. They support us in providing a one-stop-shop where students can explore their interests, then find and successfully apply for their best next step after school. More information about them can be found here  https://www.unifrog.org/about

Useful links for careers, higher and further education, providing information, videos, and including job, training, volunteering, work experience and apprenticeship opportunities can be found here.

Information about the destinations of our 2019 leavers can be found here.

The Careers Team at Notre Dame;

Julian McKay – Careers Leader – jmckay@ndhs.org.uk

Anna Fox – Careers Coordinator – afox@ndhs.org.uk

Siobhan Whiddett – Careers Advisor - swhiddett1@ndhs.org.uk

Deborah Brickell – Careers Administration – dbrickell@ndhs.org.uk

Careers feedback can be forwarded to - careers@ndhs.org.uk

Careers Education Plan for 2019-20 - please click the link for our Careers Education Plan. Note that all details are up to date at time of release but subject to subsequent amendment.