LIFELONG LEARNING & WORK READINESS We have an award-winning Careers, Progression and Aspirations Team, who work closely with Academic Mentors to provide you with the information, advice and guidance to make informed decisions about your future choices. We will help you to develop skills, gain essential experience and make competitive university and apprenticeship applications so you can be whatever you want to be! We understand, only too well, how daunting the choice of pathways available

after sixth form can be, and we are here to support you on your journey.

We have previously held the Investors in Careers Award for our outstanding

careers and progression provision and have just achieved the new ‘Quality in

Careers Standard’ national award.

TUTOR SUPPORT PROGRAMME (TSP) FOR ALL STUDENTS

TSP runs throughout Year 12 and Year 13 as part of the curriculum. It is specif-

ically designed to provide you access to expert advice, guidance and resources

to make informed decisions and prepare you for your next steps.

SPECIALIST PROGRAMMES FOR SPECIFIC CAREER AND HIGHER

EDUCATION ROUTES

- Careers information events and resources for parents and students.

- ‘Work Readiness’ for university, apprenticeships and employment.

- Applying to university.

- Applying to apprenticeships, higher level and degree apprenticeships and

School Leaver programmes.

- Widening Participation opportunities.

- Aspire programme for students identified as ‘Most Able’ or those applying

to dentistry , medicine, veterinary or Oxbridge.

- Bespoke Yr13 TSP groups provide specialist programmes to help you to

make competitive applications. (Higher Education, NHS pathways, Primary

Education, Apprenticeships, Higher Level and Degree Apprenticeships,

Oxbridge and competitive courses.

CAREERS EVENTS FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS

CAREERS CONFERENCE - YR12 STUDENT AND

PARENT EVENT

Hosted by Durham Sixth Form Centre, the Careers

Conference brings together presentations from local and

national employers, professionals and business owners

and a careers fair with exhibitor stands from a wide range

of apprenticeship providers, employers, universities and

volunteer organisations.

CAREERS WEEK - Year 12 STUDENT EVENT

To coincide with the launch of the careers TSP programme, careers

information is integrated into each and every lesson during Careers Week,

raising your awareness of subject related progression routes, and some of the more

unusual professions and routes available to you. Many subjects also invite visitors into

lessons during this week so that you can learn about different jobs and careers

opportunities directly from the

professionals.

UCAS EXHIBITION - Year 12 STUDENT EVENT

Based at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, this event has representation from more than 100

universities and colleges, Student Finance England, UCAS and apprenticeship providers.

A great place to start research for planning your next steps.

FUTURECHOICES - Year 12 STUDENT EVENT

A programme of seminars to prepare you to make informed decisions about your next

steps from Durham Sixth Form Centre.

PROGRESSION INFORMATION EVENING - Year 12 PARENT EVENT

An opportunity for parents to find out more about progression options,

including apprenticeships, degree apprenticeships, school leaver programmes,

sponsored degrees, student finance and applying to university.

BESPOKE APPRENTICESHIP MATCHING SERVICE Year 13 STUDENT EVENT

Hosted within our Resource Centre, a diverse range of employers and apprenticeship

providers work to recruit students to apprenticeship vacancies within their companies.

ACE IT! - Year 13 STUDENT AND PARENT EVENT

The “Ace It!” event focuses on the power of raising your aspirations and expectations,

and provides excellent, research based reasons for you to consider making

applications to competitive routes. This includes: high achieving and Russell Group

universities, Degree and Higher Level Apprenticeships; and the increased lifelong

earning potential provided through following one of these routes.

WORK READINESS FOR UNIVERSITY,

APPRENTICESHIPS AND EMPLOYMENT

It is widely publicised in the media that UK employers are

concerned that students leaving school and university often

do not have the level of skills and aptitudes to meet

employer expectations. Whether you plan to progress to

university or secure an apprenticeship, we will help and

support you to succeed.

PROGRESSION SUPPORT AND 1:2:1 INTERVIEWS

You can arrange one-to-one meetings with experts in our

Careers, Progression and Aspirations Team at any point during

your time at Durham Sixth Form Centre. They can help you to

consider your options and make decisions – even if you do not have

any future ideas or plans. For those of you who do know, they are available

to support you every step of the way towards your chosen progression goals.

MOCK INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES

Whether you secure an interview for Oxbridge, medical school, a school leaver

programmes, apprenticeship or an art degree, we can make your ‘practice’ real!

We research current interview formats, recent questions and bring in professionals

to give you the most realistic, industry-standard interview practice possible.

We also use ‘Shine’ video interviewing software, so that you can develop your skills

and confidence using current recruitment technology before your real interview.

EMPLOYERS IN LESSONS

You may not be aware of the vast range of career options available, related to the

subjects you are studying – or really understand what a job entails until you meet

someone doing that job. Through inviting guest speakers to talk about their career

and what the role involves on a day to day basis, we offer you an insight and

understanding into the vast range of options and pathways related to your subject.

EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT AND WORK PLACEMENTS

We work with over 100 employers and organisations to provide opportunities for

you to engage and gain valuable knowledge about the different workplaces and

roles available. Whether it be through a regular work placement which we can

support you to find, an integrated block work experience within your subject area,

volunteering within a specific sector or a long term professional placement, you

will have the opportunity to develop valuable skills to give you a competitive edge.

APPLYING TO UNIVERSITY

Understanding how competitive some routes are, we have

developed our expertise and run bespoke programmes to

support you in making successful applications to specialised

career areas:

- NHS Pathways for all students following an NHS career.

- Next Generation Engineers for all routes to engineering.

- Medical Club for aspiring doctors, dentists and vets,

including relevant entry tests and exams.

- Primary Education programme for aspiring educators.

- Students aspiring to Oxford and Cambridge.

- “Aspire” for students identified as our “Most Able”, including

supporting applications to Russell Group universities.

APPLYING TO APPRENTICESHIPS AND SCHOOL LEAVERS

PROGRAMMES

There have never been as many opportunities for students leaving sixth form as

there are now. However, it can be very difficult and complex to find out and

understand the different types of programmes on offer and how to fully

prepare for the application and recruitment processes, which is why we have

put together a range of specialised programmes to support you.

- “Next Generation…” programmes for supporting you in progression to a

range of industry areas, including engineering, NHS careers and social work,

accounting and routes into ‘The Big 4’ (Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC).

- School Leaver Programmes in competitive UK and global companies.

- Degree Apprenticeships with national and international businesses.

- Advanced and Higher Level Apprenticeships within public and private sectors

from local to international companies.

We also offer alumni talks and support to inspire and assist you in applying to

competitive programmes and companies.

WIDENING PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES

“Widening Participation” is a government strategy aimed at aspiring students

with the potential to progress to university. It is supported by universities and

other organisations including the Sutton Trust.

“Widening Participation” schemes often include summer schools, trips and

visits, and student support in writing personal statements and making

applications. Universities each have different eligibility criteria which we

publicise to students, alongside opportunities for support in making

applications.

A typical offer for a student who makes a successful application through a

“Widening Participation” scheme is between two and three grades below the

standard (usual) entry requirements at A-level/BTEC. (E.g. If a typical offer is

‘A*AA’ a “Widening Participation” student may be offered ‘ABB’).