Careers support

Careers Manager - Rachel Foster
tel: 020 8445 1210 
 
Employability and Engagement Manager - Aisha Adesanya
 
Woodhouse Sixth Form College is committed to outstanding career guidance. We pride ourselves on providing effective careers guidance that inspires students to make informed decisions regarding higher education, apprenticeships and employment. The College aims to help students develop knowledge and understanding about the world of work and what employability skills are required in today’s society.
 

Student Entitlement 

All students in the college will take part in courses that have CEIAG embedded in the programme, this will help them understand their career options and encourage them to reach their full potential in the progression to Higher Education or employment.
 
The programme will enable students to:
 
  • Develop the skills they need to plan and manage their own personal development
  • Experience the world of work through experiences of the workplace; work placement, insight event, volunteering, part time work or employer talks
  • Be given direct access to employers, training providers and Higher Education institutions
  • Identify their transferable skills required for the world of work and HE
  • Receive high quality face-to-face information, advice and guidance
  • Receive high quality resources that will help their career decision-making and planning
  • Be given personal support with their applications to HE or Employment
  • To feedback their views on the quality of the careers programme
 

Personal 1-1 guidance and advice

Woodhouse College, as part of its stable, established Careers service, employs a fully qualified full time Careers Guidance practitioner, the Careers Advisor, who delivers: Personal 1-1 guidance meetings, and gives Individual advice and information (IAG) in person and by email to students, parents and staff.
 
This help and advice can include any of the following topics: careers decision making and planning, progression to university, further training, work, or apprenticeships, application processes and tactics, dealing with predicted grades and results, planning gap years, CVs, student finance, employability skills, finding work experience and volunteering, and how to research for yourself.
 
Every student is offered at least one 1-1 careers meeting for impartial advice and guidance during their time at the college, which can be scheduled by the student via the booking system. Students can also access careers information and advice during drop sessions which take place two afternoons each week.
 
Parents can also contact the Careers Advisor for advice and guidance.
 
This help and advice can include any of the following topics:
 
  • Careers decision making and planning
  • Progression to university
  • Further training, work, or apprenticeships
  • Application processes and tactics
  • Dealing with predicted grades and results
  • Planning gap years
  • CVs
  • Student finance
  • Employability skills
  • Finding work experience
  • Volunteering

Work experience  

We encourage all students to find work experience placements at some time during year 12. We recommend the following dates as good times to find a placement: February half term, W/c 24th June (2024) when students are not in college or any time during the summer holidays.
 
In most circumstances we will allow students time out of college to take a work experience but this must be discussed with students’ tutor and signed off before they accept w/ex and they must let attendance and their subject teachers know in advance.

Students are supported and encouraged to find their own placements. We will identify and support students further who have difficulties in finding placements by matching them with opportunities where possible.

Work experience includes work place visits, volunteering, virtual work experience and work shadowing and can be for any length of time.

Logging work experience - Work experience has to be logged on Unifrog (Unifrog placements). If you have completed a volunteering experience or virtual w/ex or shadowing, it should be logged in ‘Activites’ on Woodle. For information on how to log work experience, visit Careers SharePoint/ Work experience.
 

How to find placements - We regularly send students information about work experience placements and workplace visits. To ensure you receive this information:

  • Make sure you have registered your interests in Woodle/ Careers interests
  • Read the fortnightly Careers Newsletter (sent out via email or available on Careers SharePoint)
  • To help students find placements we run regular workshops throughout the year on CV and cover letter writing/finding placements and using social media.
  • Drop in to see Ms Adesanya about work experience or arrange a time by emailing [email protected]

 

Useful links:
Springpod
Uptree
The Forage
Young Professionals

 

Careers Resources

Woodhouse students have access to a range of resources to support with your progression to HE or career/apprenticeships. This includes:

  • Unifrog: This is a one-stop careers and progression platform that helps students with the whole progression process from exploring and developing your skills and interests, researching and comparing universities and courses and finding apprenticeship vacancies. Here students can also find and complete super curricular activities, build CVs and personal statements and record activities. All students will register their Unifrog account during tutorial in the first term at Woodhouse.
  • Careers SharePoint: All students have access to Careers SharePoint which has information on universities: researching and comparing universities and courses, personal statement writing and studying abroad, apprenticeships, gap years, work experience, careers and employment, CV writing and interview preparation and super curricular activities.
  • Careers newsletters: The Careers newsletter is sent out fortnightly to parents and students via email. It can also be found on Careers SharePoint. The newsletter gives information about a range of careers and HE related activities and events that are taking place at Woodhouse, around London and online. Students can also register to receive the fortnightly Apprenticeship newsletter which includes a roundup of the latest Higher and Degree Apprenticeships as well as activities and support sessions taking place at Woodhouse.
  • Careers Library: The careers section of the library has a wide range of books and prospectuses to help students with their next steps after Woodhouse.

Useful Links:
Prospects job profiles
Career Pilot
Youth Employment UK
Career Map 

 

UCAS and Higher Education

UCAS
All students will attend sessions delivered by ambassadors of different universities during the one day ‘Introduction to HE day’ in November in year 12. Students will also attend our 3-day UCAS conference in May, where they will start their UCAS applications and attend talks and workshops throughout the week. Information about researching and comparing courses, applying to university, personal statement writing, and super curricular activities can be found on Careers SharePoint.

Useful links:
UCAS tariff calculator
University Open days calendar
University and subject league tables
Informed Choices – What degree can I study with my A levels

 

Studying abroad
We offer students workshops and follow up one-to-one support sessions for students choosing to apply to study overseas. Information on studying in different countries, as well as case studies from former woodhouse students who have studied abroad can be found on Careers SharePoint. Students who are studying abroad should contact Rachel Foster or Alex Christodoulou to discuss your next steps and ensure you get the right support and supporting documentation from Woodhouse.

Useful links:
A Star Future
The University Guys
Fulbright Commission

 

Apprenticeships and Degree Apprenticeships and Employment

Students in year 13 are invited to attend regular workshops around apprenticeships and the application process. This includes CV writing and application support sessions, workplace visits, mock assessment days and mock interviews. Students in Lower 6 who are considering an apprenticeship should arrange a careers meeting to discuss your interest and aspirations with Rachel Foster. Information about apprenticeships and application support can be found on Careers SharePoint.

Useful links:
Amazing apprenticeships
Rate My Apprenticeship
Success at School
Not going to Uni 

 
More details about our career support programme and how we meet the Gatsby Benchmarks (the recognised framework for good career guidance) can be found in the downloadable document below.