Bablake Careers Newsletter Issue 1 (2017-‐ 18) Welcome to the first edition of a new fortnightly newsletter compiled by Bablake’s Careers Department.
New Facilities After leaving our cosy home at the base of the Sixth Form block in February, we enjoyed temporary residence in E8 before taking possession of splendid new premises this week opposite the Dining Hall entrance. We await shelves and cupboards, but we are operational; the first impressions of both staff and students have been very positive about our new home! It has been good to see our U6th asking for Personal Statement advice and our senior students have been swift to apply for a forthcoming KPMG Insight day. #18Before18 This year, we are piloting a new careers initiative -‐ #18Before18 – across the whole school. There will be 18 newsletters, 18 Thursday Forums (delivered by guest speakers), 18 interviews with former pupils and 18 top tips sheets. We believe this will help introduce our students to a huge amount of information and opportunities that will help them plan their future paths beyond Bablake. We are also going to suggest that every student should aim to complete (at least) 18 activities over the year that will help them with important decisions. Obviously these lists will be very individual, but we will be suggesting a menu of categories for each year group to choose their 18 activities from. We are just a little obsessed with weekly planners, and, in consultation with Upper Sixth Student Mollie O’Sullivan, have produced a free 52 sheet pad, designed by Coventry designers The Jade Studio. This planner will accompany #18Before18 and we are developing a website and Twitter feed to run alongside it. Students, staff or parents may collect these pads from the Careers Centre. The first 250 pads are free, but we expect a rush for them! We are looking forward to a talk to our U6th in Enrichment (13th October) delivered by Emma Rosen, whose #25Before25 initiative has been featured in the national media. Thursday Forum st Forum 1: Thurs 21 September (4.15-‐ 5.00pm) ‘The MMI Experience’ (Careers Centre) • Former pupil Caitlin Edwards will talk to 6th Formers about the Multiple Mini Interviews she faced when applying successfully for Med School. Forum 2: Thurs 28th September (7.00-‐ 9.00pm) ‘Cyber Detectives’ (Main Hall)
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The EDT (Engineering Development Trust) is running a STEM Family Challenge event, kindly sponsored by Tata Consultancy Services. http://www.etrust.org.uk/first-‐edition/first-‐editions-‐stem-‐family-‐ challenge-‐events has more information.
Please email mgw@bablake.coventry.sch.uk to guarantee a place for either of these sessions! Sessions arranged for later this term will feature estate management, geology, the International Citizen Service gap year scheme and an exciting charity enterprise highlighting the plight of the homeless in Manchester. Staying Ahead! We have received notice of the following courses: 5th Yr Girls: ‘Inspire’ – a 3 day course at a leading university for those interested in STEM options: http://www.etrust.org.uk/inspirecourse. (Deadline: Feb 2nd 2018, although applications before Christmas are encouraged.) (Boys may apply for the Glasgow Caledonian course.) (c£230) L6th: ‘Headstart 2018’ – these university courses will suit students interested in science and mathematics: http://www.headstartcourses.org.uk. (Deadline: February 2018 – however, since these courses are oversubscribed, we advise an early application.) (Costs vary.) L6th: ‘National Citizen Service’ – those who missed out on this opportunity are offered a second chance to take part this Autumn: www.ncsthechallenge.org. (£30) Diary Dates – External Events • ‘The Lawyer Portal Aspire’: www.thelawyerportal.com/event/the-‐ lawyer-‐portal-‐aspire/. Sunday 1st October. (Warwick School.) An insight into Law. (Free) • What Career/ University Live? www.whatcareerlive.co.uk. 6th-‐ 7th October (Olympia, London). This show is also hosted in Birmingham and Liverpool in March, but the October show would suit U6th students looking at alternatives to university. (Free) • The Skills Show: www.skillsshow.com. 16-‐ 18th November (NEC, Birmingham) (Free) • International Education Week: http://www.ieweek.com/. Coming in March 2018. Inspirational Former Pupils • Scientist and YA author Lauren James has just released her third novel, ‘The Loneliest Girl in the Universe’: https://laurenejames.co.uk/.
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Supriya Lele featured in a Guardian feature on emerging young designers for London Fashion Week: http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2017/sep/13/talent-‐show-‐ london-‐fashion-‐week-‐designers-‐know-‐aw17-‐season-‐lfw. ‘Claude’ author and illustrator Alex T Smith has released his new character ‘Mr Penguin’; he has also illustrated Juno Dawson’s latest book, and ‘Claude’ (the TV show) will air on the Disney Channel soon: http://www.alextsmith.com/. Whiney (Will Hine) released his first album, ‘Talisman’, this summer, on Hospital records: https://hospitalrecords.com/shop/release/whiney/medic69-‐talisman. We wonder who will feature this album in the Staff Desert Island Discs feature in the next issue of The Wheatleyan?!
The Dyson Institute The Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology (http://www.dysoninstitute.com/) opened its stunning Wiltshire campus this week to its first intake of 33 degree apprentices. One of our former pupils reached the final round of interviews for this amazing opportunity, but applications for 2018 are now open, so we look forward to the chance of one of our current U6th students entering the Institute. Students will receive a BEng, have their tuition fees paid and receive a very good salary from day 1! We look forward to working with you over the year and welcome comments about our newsletters. Mark Woodward Twitter @bablakecareers Facebook www.facebook.com/bablakecareers Website www.2morrow-‐2day.com LinkedIn www.linkedin/markwoodward Blog http://bablakecareers.tumblr.com/ Issue 2! Sneak Preview! • A link to our interview with former pupil Laura Needham, who swapped the security of a job at Jaguar Land Rover to pursue her dream career. • We will be canvassing parents about how that dynamic network could be utilised to assist our students in their decisions, and reflecting on our current U6th’s summer work experience. • News of our new Spotify playlists!
TOP TIPS (1) 18 USEFUL WEBSITES EXPLORING PROFESSIONS
http://www.icould.org http://www.prospects.ac.uk
Real stories to inspire your journey. Aimed at undergraduates, but we use it with Y11. Free online Careers platform. Careers films on the web. Complete employability tool. Networking and news.
http://www.startprofile.com/ http://www.careersbox.co.uk/ http://www.ulas.co.uk http://www.twitter.com
DISCOVERING YOU!
https://icould.com/buzz/?ref=menu
Free personality profile.
STAYING AHEAD!
http://studentladder.co.uk http://futurelearn.com
‘Steps to success.’ Online courses from top universities and impressive specialist organisations. We highly recommend MOOCs! POST 18 OPTIONS
http://www.gov.uk/topic/further-‐education-‐ skills/apprenticeships http://university.which.co.uk/ http://www.milkround.com/school-‐leavers http://www.notgointouni.co.uk http://www.ucas.com http://www.opendays.com http://www.gapyear.com
Official apprenticeships site. What to study, where to go and how to get there. Opportunities and advice for school leavers. Information on apprenticeships, gap years, distance learning and jobs. Official site connecting students to higher education. Higher education open day listings. Comprehensive gap year coverage.
POSITIVE DIGITAL PORTFOLIO
http://www.linkedin.com/in/woodyswebwatch/ Please connect with our Head of Careers. http://www.twitter.com/bablakecareers Bablake Careers feed.
We can also recommend websites for specific careers and would encourage students to sign up for newsletters from official professional bodies.
Info sheet prepared by BABLAKE CAREERS September 2017