CAREERS TEAM:
Mrs R Jordan (Director of Learning and Teaching with responsibility for Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance KS4/5)
Mrs H Donaghy (Head of Careers Education)
Mrs J O Connor (Careers Adviser)
Mrs O McKenna (Careers Service Lurgan – Department for the Economy)
Mrs J Mawhinney (Director of LLW and Coordinator of Employability)
SUPPORTED BY:
Director of Key Stage 3/4/5
Heads of Year
Careers Teachers
Junior/Senior Investor In Careers Working Parties
Apprenticeship, university, further education or full time employment? Whatever route our pupils want to take in the future, the Careers Team are here to help them choose the right pathway in life.
WE ARE RENEWING OUR COMMITMENT TO THE INVESTOR IN CAREERS AWARD:
St Ronan s College currently holds the accredited Investors in Careers award. This award lasts for a period of three years, after which, reassessment must take place. The Governors and staff of St Ronan s College are fully committed to retaining the Investor in Careers award and re-assessment of the standards by September 2025. Our aim is to continue to provide an outstanding programme of careers education, information and advice that satisfies national requirements and provides guidance which enables us to address the career development needs of all our students.
Departmental vision:
Raise awareness of the importance of CEIAG across the College and in the wider community
Support pupils to reach their full potential in life and be the best they can be
Enhance pupil career aspirations – support them to set ambitious targets and career goals for the future
CAREERS EDUCATION
Our Junior/Senior Investor in Careers representatives play an important part in shaping our fluid and dynamic pupil-centred curriculum, which is underpinned by the Gatsby Benchmarks:
A stable careers programme
Learning from career and labour market information
Addressing the needs of each pupil
Linking curriculum learning to careers
Encounters with employers and employees
Experiences of workplaces
Encounters with further and higher education
Personal guidance
KS3 CURRICULUM (Year 10)
Term 1: Exploring Investor in Careers and the local/global economy
Term 2: Labour Market Information and STEM Careers (KS4 Options in January)
Term 3: Interview Skills and Personal Branding
Pupils also receive weekly KS3 Employability lessons, which includes a comprehensive KS4 options/transition programme
KS4 CURRICULUM
YEAR 11
Unit 1: Careers action planning and personal branding
Unit 2: Labour Market Information
Unit 3: Developing transferable skills project
Unit 4: Recruitment, Selection and the World of Work
Year 11 Work Experience in June
YEAR 12
Unit 1: Careers action planning and personal branding
Unit 2: Exploring Post-16 Options
Unit 3: Developing transferable skills project
Unit 4: Building a CV and transition
All Year 12 pupils interviewed by External Careers Advisor, Post-16 Options in January
KS5 CURRICULUM
YEAR 13
Unit 1: Creating a high impact CV and Careers profile using People Hawk
Unit 2: Post 18 Options
Unit 3: Work experience preparation
Unit 4: UCAS and Personal Statements
Year 13 Work Experience in June
All Year 13 pupils interviewed by the Careers Team
YEAR 14
Unit 1: UCAS, Open Days
Unit 2: Exploring Alternative Pathways
Unit 3: Preparing for interviews using People Hawk
Unit 4: Money Management
Unit 5: Offers, Clearing and PIXL transition project
CAREERS EDUCATION – EXTRA CURRICULAR
In the Careers Department, we recognise that it is our responsibility to prepare pupils for jobs that do not yet exist, in the ever-changing, challenging and developing future job market. Excellent local and wider business links, underpinned by unique opportunities and extracurricular activities that develop wider transferable employability skills, are an essential part of our Careers curriculum. Examples include:
Options Week (Jan), Apprenticeship Week (Feb) and Careers Week (March)
Apprenticeship talks (various organisations and past pupils)
Post 16/18 Pathways talks (QUB, Ulster, SRC, Belfast Met etc)
Bi-Annual St. Ronan s College Careers Fair
Sentinus Interview Skills workshop
Mock Interview Evenings with business professionals
Craigavon Area Learning Community Careers Convention
University Roadshow
Skills NI Exhibition
UCAS Exhibition
KS4 Microsoft DreamSpace Experience
Liverpool John Moores University UCAS Personal Statement Workshop
Career Ready Local Business Mentoring and Masterclasses
Sentinus Motivational Experience of Work talks
University of Ulster Visiting Lecture Series
QUB Pathway Opportunity Programme
Living Law Programme at the Attorney General s Office
Cambridge/Oxford Shadowing Schemes
SRC Hair and Beauty Roadshow
Generation Innovation Work Experience
British Medical Association Widening Participation talk
Summer schools, eg. Sutton Trust Summer School, Novosco Summer Camp, Kainos Summer Coding Camp
CAREERS INFORMATION, ADVICE AND GUIDANCE
The Careers Office is open every day from 9am to 3.45pm and conducts an open door policy – pupils are encouraged to drop in for advice and guidance. They may also request a longer appointment for a one-on-one interview if necessary.
As a learner you are entitled to expect that St Ronan’s College will:
Treat and respect you as an individual
Provide you with the opportunity to learn the skills and gain the knowledge you will need to secure training/employment after leaving school
Offer you support as you need it
Guarantee you access to careers information, advice and guidance which is up to date, comprehensive and unbiased, including Labour Market Information
Ensure you have access to professional and expert guidance when you need it
Guarantee access to information about all the options/pathways open to you once you leave St. Ronan s College
As a member of staff we expect that you (the learner) will:
Be active in helping yourself as well as expecting us to help you
Be prepared to be realistic in considering the range of options available and in making choices about them
Be prepared to learn and stretch yourself in order to reach your potential
Be punctual and considerate of others
As a parent/carer you are entitled to expect that the staff of St. Ronan s College will enable you to take an active part in the processes described above which could include –
Attendance at parents evening and other Careers events
Attendance at your child’s careers guidance interview if you wish
Promote and practice equal opportunities for all young people regardless of gender, ethnic origin, disability etc.
Careers information and advice will be communicated via the following channels:
Noticeboards outside the Careers Office and in the Sixth Form study and junior site reception
Careers Office Google Classrooms
Social Media
Careers lessons
NOTICE FOR PARENTS, CARERS AND LOCAL EMPLOYERS
As part of our continuing commitment to the Investor in Careers quality award, the Careers Department relies on assistance from a number of different stakeholders. One of our most valued contributors is our parents/guardians; you have a wealth of expertise and experience which can be of great value to our students.
Parents/local employers can become involved in Careers education within the school community in a number of ways which include:
Facilitating students for work experience
Contributing in mock interviews
Helping organise industrial visits – do you work in an organisation that would welcome a visit from students?
Addressing our students as a guest speaker about your career or related issues
Establishing industrial links with vocational courses.
If you are willing to support any of the above initiatives, or can offer any other advice or guidance, could you please email the school on info@stronanscollege.lurgan.ni.sch.uk with your contact details and outline what support you can offer. A database of parents willing to be of assistance will be drawn up and you will be contacted to make arrangements when necessary. Please note that your involvement may not be required immediately.