School Liaison

In these uncertain times, rest assured that we are here for you. Deciding on what course or pathway to start in September does not have to be stressful. 

Our dedicated school liaison team are here for anybody who needs advice and guidance on anything to do with life after year 11, entry requirements, course information and careers advice. No matter how big or small you think your questions may be, our team are here for YOU. 

We don't want anybody sitting at home, worrying about something that to them is a huge concern, but trust us, once you talk to an expert, you will feel better knowing that support is there whenever you need it, and for however long you need it. 

Many of your friends might know exactly what they want to do after year 11, and that might make you feel even worse about not knowing what you want to do. We want you to know that this feeling is completely normal and there will be thousands of young people right now who feel the same as you.

You may have already had a careers interview at school, and taken part in a lot of careers related activities, but you still might be confused or unsure on your next steps. We want you to know you are not alone.

Here are some top tips that always come up in conversation during careers interviews with year 11s;

1. Make a list of subjects, activities or hobbies that you enjoy – can you think of any links between your answers and course areas?
    
2. Instead of looking at what courses interest you, look on our list of college courses and cross off what you definitely are not interested in. What is left? Research the subjects and see if anything jumps out at you. Check out our courses here.
    
3. Talk to friends and family about their careers and job roles. You might already know your aunty is a nurse or you uncle works in engineering, but do you know what they specialise in? What qualifications do they have? You never know where these conversations may lead you.
    
4. Research. My favourite careers resources are websites because I know they will always be up to date. Here are a few of my own that you will  get a lot of advice and information from; 
   
   www.startprofile.com - this Website is fantastic as it has everything in one place. You can search different jobs and it will not only bring up that career, but different careers linked to that job, helping you broaden your understanding of what you can do. This website also shows you the different qualifications you need to progress from school, to college/sixth form and whether you can access this career from completing an apprenticeship, university degree, or sometimes both. It also looks at Labour Market Information (LMI) to see how likely it is that you would get a job afterwards.
   
   www.nationalcareerservice.gov.uk - much like the above website, the national careers service supports with information on all careers and jobs. What we particularly like about this website is that you can complete a skills assessment. You will be asked a range of questions relating to careers and your skills, which will take around 5 – 10 minutes. This will then produce a list of careers and jobs that they believe may be suited to you.
   
   www.ucas.com- We have included this website as it has a dual function of supporting university applications and providing information on university degrees, but also general careers advice. This is particularly useful if you are thinking of going to university after your college course or A Levels. 
    
5. If you are considering an apprenticeship, you have probably already been told that you need a backup just in case you are not successful. This is not a negative point; it is just a realistic one. What attracts you to an apprenticeship? The money? The job opportunities? The industry training? Absolutely, but you are not alone, and although you may be the best candidate for the job, you may just miss out. It is for this reason that you need to make sure you have a college course as a backup. If you have been looking at an engineering apprenticeship, put in an application for engineering. If you have been looking at an apprenticeship in a care home, just quickly put in an application for Health and Social Care, what do you have to lose? If you get the apprenticeship then fantastic! You just have to turn down the college course.
   
   Visit www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeships and get registered now. You can look at vacancies in your chosen area, set alerts to your email so you can see new jobs as they come in and even apply for them.
    
6. Do not think you are alone. I am here for you throughout this process. 

School Liaison Service

Our School Liaison Service is here to help YOU.

The School Liaison Service can help you with:

• One-to-one guidance
• Help with application forms
• Checking progress of applications
• Information on extra opportunities at college including how to apply for apprenticeships
• Careers advice
• Advice about college interviews
• Advice about university and higher education
• Working with young people to ensure a smooth transition between high school and college

Support for Schools

In line with the new government legislation around schools requirement to give impartial and unbiased Information, Advice and Guidance to young people, the School Liaison Service offers a wide range of opportunities to support schools with careers and progression advice. 

A wide range of engaging and dynamic techniques are used including the following;

• Assemblies and Presentations from Year 7 to Year 13 Sixth Form Students
• One-to-one guidance for specific learners
• Help with application forms
• Checking progress of applications with school leads and careers advisors
• Support for parents evenings and career days in schools such as Career Speed Dating and Information Sessions.
• In-School taster workshops and subject specific activities for all vocational course areas
• Tours and visits to vocational course areas
• Progression and course information support for teachers and careers advisors
• Arranging tasters and to try out different courses
• Support with STEM focused events

As each school has different requirements, the South Tyneside College School Liaison Service is a very reactive and can be tailored to individual requests however small.

DID YOU KNOW- 100% of school leads surveyed agreed that the School Liaison Service offers a tailored and reactive service for their pupils.

Click HERE to view our School Liaison Activity Guide 

Get in touch

If you have any queries about your next steps, please get in touch with our School Liaison Team.

Sandie Best - sandie.best@tynecoast.ac.uk

Ruth Patterson - ruth.patterson@tynecoast.ac.uk 

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