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Careers
Head of Department: Mrs M Thornton
The World of Work!
The Careers Department occupies a room adjacent to the School Library, providing easy and open access to Careers advice and information.
From Year 9 onwards, pupils use the web-based careers programme called Fast Tomato. Parents and carers are also welcome to use this by logging on to www.fasttomato.com. registering as a new user, using the ‘fast code’ ARNB.
Work experience is provided for members of Year 11 after GCSE examinations.
Sixth Form pupils are encouraged to pursue hands on research of possible courses and careers by using the Careers Library, the internet, and by visiting institutions of Higher Education and places of employment. External Careers advice is provided on a regular basis by the Independent Schools' Career Organisation (ISCO) www.isco.org.uk.
Year 9
Advice regarding GCSE option choices is given to pupils and parental can email any questions to us. Careers education is provided as part of the PSHE programme.
Middle school
Year 10
Careers education lessons continue as part of the PSHE programme.
Year 11
Work experience provides a valuable insight to what the ‘real world’ is like and gives pupils an opportunity to work in an area that may be of interest.
The Morrisby computerised advice programme is an optional extra that in many cases can be helpful in suggesting career options. Individual interviews take place with experienced members of the teaching staff.
Sixth form
The Lower Sixth
The Higher Education advice programme gives students the opportunity to investigate career options in detail. This can be followed up with visits to Higher Education fairs.
ISCO careers experience courses provide a taster session of usually one week, with detailed advice from onsite experts.
The prospectus library has just about every one available, and it continues to grow. Web-based course finder programmes are an invaluable asset and are often used in conjunction with individual interviews in school.
Useful careers sites for courses research
1. http://www.ukcoursefinder.com/
This is a good site if you don't know what course to do and want some ideas. It consists of a questionnaire which takes about 20 min to do, and comes up with a ranking list of broad areas of interest which you can then investigate further.
2. http://www.coursediscover.co.uk/
This site allows you to search for courses by subject, by region, by type of course and by points score - this last feature is one that is very useful, and which the UCAS website doesn't do. So if you are looking at 3 Bs at A level, for example, you can put in 300 points, and it will sort the courses in points order, highlighting those at 300 points.
When you first access this site you will need to log on as a new user, and then if you are not using the school computers input the following information:
Organisation name: Arnold School
Serial Number: i093-23192-089-119
You will then be asked for information including your e-mail address and a password, and will then be able to log on with these details in future.
This site also has hotlinks to the university websites.
Use the course search on this site to get accurate, up-to-date information on the requirements for the courses on your shortlist.
This contains a series of questionnaires which take about 45 min to complete. It is very detailed, and can suggest careers (with details about training requirements, salaries, links to professional bodies etc.) and courses. It also has links to local Modern Apprenticeship schemes and other local information.
This lists all known university Open Days in the form of a calendar. However, you should always check with the individual institution's website. For some Open Days you need to book in advance - again, information will be on the university's website.
This lists all inspection reports on teaching quality at UK universities. You need to look at the "Reviews and reports" section.
The Upper Sixth
The Higher Education advice programme continues with guidance for Higher Education applications, all done on the web. The students have the chance to go on university visits, which can be invaluable.
The school provides a Post A level results advice service which can usually solve any problems.
After leaving Arnold
We are happy to offer free advice on careers and courses, including Higher Education applications, and will provide references when necessary.
How to complete your UCAS form.
Staff
Mrs Mavis Thornton Head of Careers and Higher Education
Mr A McKeown Head of Sixth Form
Mr Philip Hayden Head of Middle School
Mr Lee Sobey Mock interviews & Work Experience
Mrs K Holt Secretary
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