Careers Guidance
The school’s Careers Leader is Mr M Smith. He works alongside the Careers Officer who is based in the Library (The Next Chapter). Mrs A-M Franks is the school’s Deputy Headteacher with responsibility for Pastoral matters including involvement in Careers Education. Enquiries regarding careers should be directed through our main school email.
Meet the Team
Mrs A-M Franks (Deputy Headteacher, Pastoral)
anne-marie.franks@bostonhighschool.co.uk
01205 310505
Mr M Smith (Careers Leader)
michael.smith@bostonhighschool.co.uk
Mrs S Hawken (Careers Officer)
sarah.hawken@bostonhighschool.co.uk
Mrs Farley (Oxbridge, Medics and Early Entry Support)
kathy.farley@bostonhighschool.co.uk
Miss Lili Mitchell, Careers First (Careers Adviser)
Contactable via the School
Introduction
Boston High School is committed to helping students fulfil their potential and experience success through an educational environment which responds to individual need and stimulates and challenges each and every student.
The careers education and guidance provision (CEG) is an essential part of the school curriculum in preparing students for the opportunities, challenges and responsibilities of adult and working life.
Careers Assembly March 2021
Aims and Objectives
The main objective of the CEG programme is to enable students to fulfil individual potential, to raise aspirations, to challenge gender stereotypes, and to provide equal opportunities for all students.
BHS Careers Information Advice and Guidance Strategy
Entitlement
The careers education and guidance entitlement at Boston High School consists of six elements, which together provide a coherent and progressive programme for all students at each stage of their career.
These are as follows:
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grow throughout life
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explore possibilities
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manage career
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create opportunities
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balance life and work
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see the big picture
The entitlement statement can be downloaded here:
Careers Programme
Provided below is summary of the career education programme in school, these lessons are delivered by teaching staff, along with input from appropriate external experts.
BHS Careers Summary Calendar 2023-24
Additional careers related activities and support
As well as the careers programme, Boston High School is committed to providing students with external experiences to enrich their career planning, including access to employers, universities and careers support, below is a table of such activities.
| Year Group | Activity | External Support |
| All | Whole school careers fair, plus National Careers Week activities | Various |
| All | National apprenticeship Week, form activities | |
| 10/11 | University visit | |
| 12/13 | Enrichment talks / work experience | Various |
| 12 | Careers Day | Various |
Throughout the year, across the curriculum, subject areas deliver lessons, activities and trips which have a direct link to careers, employability skills, world of work experiences.
Access to impartial and independent careers advice
Boston High School has an annual partnership and contract agreement with Lili Mitchell, Careers First. Lili provides access to independent careers support for students in transition years of 9 and 11. Some students are identified for support, details of which can be found in the school careers policy, but all students are able to request an appointment if they wish to. Requests can be made with Mrs Hawken; they do not need to explain why they are asking.
What will be discussed?
The types of issues that might be covered include helping students to:
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Identify and analyse the skills already developed or would like to develop
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Explore specific career areas
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Access relevant labour market information
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Identify what would be important to the student in a job – money, power, work-life balance?
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Understand the process of job search and recruitment
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Identify ideas for study/work and different pathways open to students
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Set goals
What can students do to prepare for your interview?
Think about…
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Current situation – what planning have they already done, if any?
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What would they like to change?
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Do they have some ideas, but don’t know how to move forward with them?
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Are they worried that they have no ideas?
Benefits to students…
A guidance meeting will give students “time out” to explore options, look at themselves objectively and think about the implications of any decision they are contemplating.
How do students arrange a careers meeting?
To make an appointment, please contact Mrs Hawken in the Library
We ask that students make every effort to attend their appointment time and if they cannot to let Mrs Hawken know so the appointment can be offered to another student.
Provider Access Policy
Provider Access Policy (March 2023 Update)
Boston High School Careers Provider Access Policy
Evaluation
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To continue to improve and adapt to suit students’ needs the careers education programme, content and delivery is evaluated by a sample of students in Term 6, via an electronic survey. Results are used to inform the planning of the programme for the next academic year.
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The quality of the impartial guidance provision is evaluated by the students who have accessed the service. Feedback is provided to the service provider for future services.
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The school complies with the logging of destinations data for Lincolnshire County Council returns annually, this data is then analysed against national averages and forms the basis for measuring the impact of careers education.
Top 5 University/Courses Chosen by our Students in 2022/23
Universities
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University of Lincoln
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Nottingham Trent University
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University of Northampton
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Manchester Metropolitan University
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York St. Johns University
Courses
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Psychology
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Law
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English
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Education
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Sport
Careerometer
Careerometer can be used to explore and compare key information about occupations, help you learn about different occupations and identify potential careers.
It provides access to a selection of UK headline data relating to pay, weekly hours of work and future employment prospects for different occupations, as well as description of the occupation.
Simply type in the title of the job you are interested in and the widget provides a series of options from which you can select the most relevant to you. You can then look up another two occupations and compare. You can also select ‘display the UK average’ and compare the information with the occupation you have selected.
Careers Information and Resources
Useful Downloads
Sixth Form Personal Statement Guide 2021
Information for Parents
Higher Education Parent Guide
Information for Employers
BHS Careers - Information for Employers
Websites/Resources
General careers information
www.icould.com - icould provides career inspiration and information for young people. Free access to over 1000 personal video stories, detailed job information, plus practical tips, insight and advice.
www.careersbox.co.uk - careers films on the web.
nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk - provides information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work.
www.careersworld.co.uk - Careers World is your one stop website for careers advice and searching for the very best training and career opportunities within England, Scotland and Wales.
www.successatschool.org - Success at School is the place for young people to explore careers, get the lowdown on top employers, and search for the latest jobs, courses and advice.
www.ucasprogress.com - UCAS Progress provides information and advice to students, parents and teachers about different opportunities for post-GCSE education and training.
www.careerpilot.org.uk - Careerpilot.
futurelearncareers.com - Future Learn - Choosing a Career.
www.theuniguide.co.uk/a-level-explorer - A-Level Explorer.
www.womenintech.co.uk - Women in Tech.
Higher Education
www.ucas.com - Higher Education information and university applications.
www.prospectusfinder.co.uk - easily find the website for any University or College.
www.whatuni.com - Whatuni helps students find universities and courses using our comprehensive data and handy University Comparison Tool.
www.medicspot.co.uk/grant - Medicspot Grant
nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-learning-support-fund - NHS Learning Support Fund
Apprenticeship and Employment
National Apprenticeship Week Presentation
www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship/ - apply for apprenticeships, get email and text alerts about new apprenticeships and your applications, track your applications.
https://www.ratemyapprenticeship.co.uk/ - Apprenticeships, Jobs, Reviews & Careers Advice for School & College Leavers.
https://www.lincstalentacademy.org.uk/apprenticeships/ - apprenticeships and work experience
Higher and Degree Apprenticeships
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-and-degree-apprenticeships
www.notgoingtouni.co.uk - website dedicated to helping school & college leavers make informed decisions about their future by showing the opportunities that exist outside of the traditional university route.
Gap Year
www.omio.com/travel/gap-year - comprehensive gap year resource
Looking for a job...
These national vacancy sites can help
https://www.indeed.co.uk/ - Indeed
https://www.monster.co.uk/ - Monster
https://www.totaljobs.com/ - Total Jobs
https://www.cv-library.co.uk/ - CV Library
https://www.jobsite.co.uk/ - Job Site
There are also specialist job sites for both jobs and apprenticeships…
