All students are encouraged to book an appointment for a Careers guidance interview with Mr Downes. Parents and carers may also request interviews on behalf of their children and are welcome to attend interviews by prior arrangement. In his role at St Peter’s, Mr Downes is both impartial and independent as regards the advice he offers to students.

Careers interviews are available at any time in a student's education to meet their individual needs. Specific provision is made for events such as Parents Evenings, GCSE Options Evening, Results Days and the Sixth Form Open Evening, and whenever significant study or career choices are being made.

Tutors, Heads of Year and Subject Leaders may also make student referrals for interviews. The Careers Leader is in frequent dialogue with the SEN Department in order to tailor specific careers input for student’s individual requirements.

Careers Education commences at St Peter’s in Year 7. Students are encouraged to develop a deeper understanding of themselves – their skills, strengths, ambitions and aspirations before taking part in a careers project competition. The development of research and enquiry skills into careers and work-related information is the foundation stone of careers education at St Peter’s.

Attention is also paid as to how the skills developed in school are applicable and integral ingredients in the modern workplace. In Year 8 for example, students get to take part in the Real Game careers simulation exercise.

The school has its own designated Careers Library which is currently being redeveloped into a new careers area which will offer an extended range of age-specific digital and print resources and will feature an increased focus on Labour Market Information to support student decision-making. All students are introduced to the Careers Library at the start of Year 7 with further input as they progress through the school.

As well as ongoing careers input in tutor time, PSHE and Citizenship lessons, a major strength of CEIAG at St Peter’s is the way careers information is built into subject teaching which effectively enables students to identify potential career routes related to their preferred areas of the curriculum. St Peter’s is always grateful for the high numbers of professionals from such a broad spectrum of different careers willing to support classroom activities across the timetable.

Throughout their time at St Peter’s, students are regularly introduced to an extensive range of digital and online resources to support their careers research.

Year groups also have regular careers themed assemblies to supplement their careers learning. The school hosts an annual careers fair every Autumn featuring a comprehensive and often unique range of exhibitors, as well as presentations and Q & A sessions. Students and parents from all year groups are warmly welcomed to this very special event.

Careers education throughout Key Stage 3 is designed to prepare students for the GCSE options process. The programme then builds through Key Stage 4 to focus on the post-16 pathways available. Year 11 students get the experience of an A Level/Apprenticeship taster morning in the Autumn term to give them a clear insight as to the nature of specific courses and then in the Spring term they have an interview with a member of the business community or a Higher/Further Education professional to discuss mock exam results, career aspirations and where they are in the application process.

Currently, Year 10 students are encouraged to organise their own “Experience of the Workplace”. This should take place in the student’s own time and may take a form similar to that of traditional work experience or may be a focused half-day visit to a career of interest". With the impact of the pandemic easing, the school is planning to offer a more structured opportunity in the near future.

The impact of careers work at St Peter’s is constantly being assessed and measured through a variety of feedback means. At the start of every academic year, students complete a detailed careers interests and intentions questionnaire which is used to establish how effectively they are moving forward on their careers journey.

There is a thriving enterprise culture at St Peter’s starting as early as Year 7 with Junior Enterprise and progressing right up to the Sixth Form for Young Enterprise. Year 8 get the opportunity to compete in the “Grab a Pound” competition.

The school has a strong tradition of doing well in national competitions and is well supported by local entrepreneurs in their role as business advisors. The founder/CEOs of a number of highly successful new companies also regularly give up their time to offer informal talks as to what it takes to become an up-and-coming entrepreneur.

If you are interested in contributing to the Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance programme at St Peter’s, we would love to hear from you.

Opportunities include exhibiting at the careers fair, working with the school as a talent-pipeline to source your future staff, delivering an informal presentation about your business and the opportunities offered, hosting work experience for Year 12 students, advertising apprenticeship opportunities or job vacancies, and attending business leaders’ breakfast meetings.

If you would like to get involved or learn more about our access policy please contact Jonathan Downes, the Careers Leader, either via email at jds@st-peters.bournemouth.sch.uk or on 01202 421141, ext 2317.

www.nationalcareers.service.gov.uk – an online careers library at your fingertips

www.icould.com – an informative and colourful resource particularly useful for younger students. What sort of careers animal are you?!

www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeshipsearch - find out what apprenticeships are available right now in your location.

www.universitycompare.com - find your future degree course from hundreds of UK universities.

www.allaboutschoolleavers.co.uk – find help to get a job and understand potential career paths

www.barclayslifeskills.com – find ideas to develop skills for the workplace

www.gov.uk/child-employment - find out the rules for part-time work under the age of 16

www.nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/contact-us/home-v1 - independent and impartial careers advice available online and by phone 8am to 10pm, 7 days a week