Chase Careers

A new focus on careers is helping young people to explore their future life options.

Chase High School, in Westcliff, is ensuring students make the link between education and careers by introducing a host of events and opportunities.

Careers lead Edel Donlon and careers advisor Lauri Procter are working with students, parents and external partners to direct young people onto the right pathway for them.

Regular careers assemblies are held to help students to understand the labour market, and to find out more information about universities and businesses.

Recent and upcoming careers events include –

• attending the International Women’s Day event at CMS London where sixth form students heard an inspirational talk from Bianca Miller Cole,
• enrolling students on The Brilliant Club which will see them work with a PHD student from Cambridge University on a university standard project,
• attending a medic day at Southend Hospital where students got to learn about taking blood,
• attending the UCAS exhibition at ExCel London,
• working on a robotics project as part of a focus on STEM,
• looking at where subject choices could take them,
• speed networking with local employers,
• mock interview day,
• Army taster day.

The school, which provides a career focus for all year groups, also works closely with BAE Systems as its enterprise advisor, Anglia Ruskin University and Keymed.

The work is aimed at focusing on developing students’ LORIC (leadership, organisation, resilience, initiative and communication) skills.

Miss Donlon said: “This work is important as it motivates young people by giving them a clearer idea of the routes to jobs and careers which they will find engaging and rewarding.

“A good careers programme can widen students’ horizons, challenge stereotypes and raise aspirations. It provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to make successful transitions to the next stages of their life. That, in turn, supports social mobility by improving opportunities for all young people.”

Parents are also included in the conversation, with links sent to them to encourage discussion at home as well as events held for families to attend school and ask questions of the careers teachers.

More young people than ever before are heading for university from Chase, with 50 sixth formers heading off to university or working for a higher degree apprenticeships last September.

Article Written by Kelly Louise Clark - words@kellylouiseclark.co.uk