Careers
Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School has an on-going commitment to ensuring that all our students have access to good quality impartial careers advice, thereby ensuring that each student has the best possible foundation on which to base their future choices and pathways.
It is the policy of this school that all pupils should be given the opportunity to:
- Know and understand themselves better and develop their capabilities.
- Investigate education, training and career opportunities.
- Implement their career plans by making informed choices, in a supportive atmosphere, about their own continuing education and training.
Our careers team offer a wide range of activities and resources, which help our students make good informed decisions about their future as they progress through the school.
Careers lead: Mrs S Roberts
Careers support: Mrs A Hamilton
They can be contacted on careers@bcs.hants.sch.uk or by calling the school office.
Sample program of extra-curricular career activities
The table below shows the range of extra-curricular activities and events carried out for each year group during an academic year.
| Autumn | Spring | Summer | |
| Year 7 | Successful Start- University of Holloway Future Skills Questionnaire |
Introduction to Careers – Personal Study Diversity Access to Employer Talks |
First Aid Workshop Student Achievement Access to Employer Talks |
| Year 8 | Internet Safety | Enterprise Challenge College Talk Access to Employer Talks |
LMI – How Many Chefs? Not just Dr and Nurses Access to Employer Talks |
| Year 9 | Morrisby Careers – Options Visits to Local Employers Future Skills Questionnaire Access to Employer Talks |
Get Inspired – Careers Fair Visits to Local Employers College Talk Access to Employer Talks Actions, Consequences, Prejudice and Discrimination |
LMI – The Wages Game Money and Finance Visits to Local Employers Access to Employer Talks |
| Year 10 | One to One Careers Advice DofE Medic Mentors Future Skills Questionnaire Access to Employer Talks |
National Apprenticeship Week One to One Careers Advice Speed Networking Medic Mentors DofE Access to Employer Talks |
LMI – Do I need Maths with that? Money and Finance Personal Statement Writing College Assemblies One to One Careers Advice DofE Access to Employer Talks |
| Year 11 | Mock Interview Evening Preparation Mock Interview Evening College Assemblies 2nd One to One Careers Interview (if required) DofE |
DofE Medic Mentors Collecting Destination Data Access to Employer Talks |
DofE Medic Mentors |
This will vary slightly year on year and does not include subject specific activities or those aimed to meet specific individual needs.
Quotes from Staff on mock interview evening: “An invaluable experience, helped focus their mind on future careers, boosted confidence and helped them prepare for real life interviews”
Quote from an employer on mock interview evening “It was great meeting students who were well prepared and passionate about their desired careers paths”
Quote from student about the post 16 options talk “This really helped me to think about which college I want to attend and encourage me to look at apprenticeships”
Quote from student about CV writing workshop “This has helped me to reflect on my soft skills e.g., organisation and communication.”
Information for Employers Bishop Challoner Catholic secondary school is committed to creating and maintaining quality relationships with employers from the local area and has a number of links with a range of different companies who support the school in issues related to careers advice and guidance. This support ranges from STEM activities to career insights as well as attendance at career fairs and enterprise days. Any employer wishing to discuss how they can get involved should contact Mrs A Hamilton in the first instance either by emailing careers@bcs.hants.sch.uk or calling 01256 462661.
Information for Teachers All teaching staff at Bishop Challoner Catholic secondary school are committed to embedding careers information into the curriculum. In addition to this, all staff are involved in career related PSHE lessons. Year group tutors deliver a programme of activities on a range of topics, including careers, during tutor time and control the feedback forms completed after all career related activities. Staff undergo training in aspects of careers Gatsby Benchmarks regularly. For more information on the Gatsby Benchmarks, please follow the link. http://www.gatsby.org.uk/education/focus-areas/good-career-guidance
Information for Students and parents:
The Library
The library holds a wide selection of college prospectuses and career option information. This literature is constantly updated and available for students to take home as they please.
School Careers Advisor Michael Stockwell is in school every Tuesday holding 1:1 Post 16 Option advice sessions for year 10 and 11 students in their final 12 months at school. Although all students will be offered an appointment, students may request appointment by speak to either Mrs Roberts, Mrs A Hamilton or though their tutor. Michael has a Level 6 qualification in Careers Guidance, a Masters (MA) and a PGCE and six years’ experience in Adult Careers Guidance and eight years to date in Careers Guidance for school students.
He has career experience in secondary school teaching, business experience in publishing and business development for a National Charity. He has also undertaken voluntary work for the probation service and with children and adults who have learning disabilities. His work is driven by the desire to enable all young people to release their potential in fulfilling and rewarding careers.
Post 16 Quick guide to post 16 Qualifications
Measuring & Assessing the Impact of the Careers Programme After each careers event we obtain student, staff and visitor feedback. This is evaluated for future reference and feedback acted on. This information is then feed into the action plan for the following academic year. Writing a personal statement
- Careers Education Guidance 2024-25
- Careers Provider Access Policy 2024-25
- Pupil Career Entitlements Outcomes
Apprenticeship Advice & Guidance amazingapprenticeships.com The information in the above website breaks down the steps students need to take to try and secure an employer for their apprenticeship. The guide is aimed at parents to help them know what they can do to support a child wanting to do an apprenticeship. ASK Offer Explainer Film[
Careers Programme
