Thinking about what you would like to do after school and beyond can feel a lifetime away. It may be that you have a clear career goal in mind or just don’t know where to start.
It is important to start thinking about your options so you can plan what subjects you want to study from year 10 or 12.
Every school should offer some form of careers provision from year 8 to 13 (12- to 18-year-olds) which includes impartial advice and guidance from a qualified careers adviser.
Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) and related careers programmes can help to develop the knowledge, understanding, confidence and skills you need to make well-informed choices and plans. It should enable you to progress effectively into further learning, training and work.
Career programmes in schools may include advice from a qualified careers adviser, group learning sessions, interview techniques, work experience opportunities and events, for example employer talks, open days, Careers Fairs and Enterprise Days.
All young people with a specialist education need or disability (SEND) should expect to meet with a careers adviser each year from Year 9 to 13.
What you discuss with your careers adviser should link directly to your preparation for transition on from school and feed directly into your Education and Health Care or SEN plan.
All state funded schools in England have a legal duty to provide careers support as part of the curriculum. Your school must ensure you have direct contact and information from training providers about apprenticeships, T-Levels and other technical qualifications and academic routes. This is called the Baker Clause and your school will be inspected on how well it does this.
Your school should publish details of its careers programme on their website. The school careers lead and SENCO can provide detail on how it can be made accessible.
If you don’t receive any careers support in school there are different options depending upon the reason.
If the careers support doesn’t consider your needs fully, or you don’t receive any support, then speak to the school careers lead, SENCO or your QTVI.
If this fails then contact your local SENDIAS service, particularly where the absence of careers support is having a direct impact on your plans for transitioning from school and relates directly to support outlined in your Education and Health Care or SEN plan.
If your school doesn’t have a careers programme and you are missing out you should talk to someone like your Head or Deputy Head teacher. Your school should have a formal complaints procedure for you to follow.
Our Student Support Service is here to support blind and partially sighted students aged 11+ to get the most out of their secondary school, college and university education.
Our Student Support website has a wealth of information, guidance and stories which you may find useful, so check them out!
We also have our Student Support Community on Facebook, a space for students to share advice and information, ask questions, and connect with those going through similar situations in a positive, supportive environment. Join the group here!
If you have any questions or would like support in accessing your studies, please reach out to us by email: studentsupport@pocklington-trust.org.uk, or call our student support phone line on 0203 757 8040.
Discover more about careers advisers; what they do, where they are based and how you can access their support to make informed decisions about your education and work options.
Find out more about 'What is a Careers Adviser?'Find out everything you need to know about apprenticeships as a blind/partially sighted student; what they are, how to get one, and what support is available.
Find out more about 'A Guide to Apprenticeships'Find out everything you need to know to set up your own work experience in our handy seven step guide.
Find out more about 'Seven Steps into Work Experience'Find out more about the key professionals that are there to support you at school as a blind or partially sighted student and what they do.
Find out more about 'The Professionals There to Support You at School'
This online community is for blind and partially sighted students, family and friends, education providers and other staff in the sector. It forms a supportive environment where relevant news, advice, questions and pieces of work can be shared to enable students with visual impairments to get the most out of their time at university.
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