The overall aspiration of the CEIAG Department is that the pupils of St Brigid’s High School develop the skills and confidence to make the most of their life choices and follow a career path which suits them best. The CEIAG Head of Department is Mrs Deirdre Grant (Year 11 & 12) with four members of staff teaching Education for Employability (more info Keystage 3 LLW) Mr M Agnew (Year 10), Mrs V Treanor (Year 9 & 10), Mrs C Gallagher (Year 8) and Mr T Keegan (Year 8).
Careers Education
St Brigid's CEIAG Department strives to strengthen and develop Careers Education including the essential elements of Career Planning, Careers Information, Work-Related Learning and Employability Skills. In response to the "Preparing for Success" Strategy document which sets out quality indicators for effective Careers provision, St Brigid's High School have identified CEIAG as a priority on the 2011-2012 School Development Plan. Staff across all the departments have been trained in CEIAG across the curriculum and will be clealry making connections between their subject and CEIAG.
CEIAG is taught to Year 11 and Year 12 by Mrs Deirdre Grant, Head of Department. The schemes of work are based on the following aims:
Aim 1 - Self-Awareness and Development - identifying, assessing and developing the skills and qualities necessary to choose and implement an appropriate career plan.
Aim 2 - Career Exploration - acquiring and evaluating information, and reviewing experiences to identify and investigate appropriate career pathways and learning opportunities in education, training and employment, locally, nationally and internationally.
Aim 3 - Career Management - developing skills in career planning and employing effective career decision-making strategies to manage transition and make suitable career development choices, with the appropriate support, advice and guidance
Careers Information
St Brigid's CEIAG Department has established a brand new Careers Library which is based in the CEIAG Suite which contains up-to date information on:
• Post-16 option courses and how to apply
• user-friendly Labour Market Information relating to current and future economic trends, locally, nationally and internationally
• occupational information including career prospects and aptitude, skills and qualification requirements
• Sector Skills Councils
• Curriculum Vitae (CV), job application and interview preparation
• Suitable websites and software
Careers Advice and Guidance
Mrs Deirdre Grant (Head of CEIAG) graduated from University of Ulster with a Post Graduate Certificate in Careers Education & Guidance in 2004. She gives impartial advice and guidance to pupils during timetabled lessons and careers interviews are held for all Year 10 and Year 12 pupils during the year. A Careers Clinic and Careers library time is available for Year 12 pupils during lunch time. There is a Careers Interview room in the CEIAG department beside the Careers Library.
Mrs D Grant (Head of CEIAG), Mr E O'Hagan (Principal), Ms M Kelly (Vice Principal) and Ms C Devine (Careers Advisor) congratulate top GCSE performers Adam Sutton and Ryan Trainor at the Careers Information, Advice & Guidance session on results day in August 2011.
The Careers Service NI, Careers Advisor is available in the Careers Interview room every Wednesday from 9.30am until 12.30 to offer professional advice and guidance.
The Careers Advisor also provides:
• introductory class talks on the support provided by the Careers Service
• presentations on career decision making
• advice sessions for groups of learners;
• one to one guidance interviews for Year 10 and Year 12 pupils
• up-to-date labour market information
• attendance at Year 10 and Year 12 parents teacher meetings.
All year 12 pupils receive a personal guidance interview in term one prior to Work Experience.
All year 10 pupils receive a personal guidance interview in term two prior to Year 10 option choices
Work-Related Learning and Employability Skills
There is a co-ordinated programme of activities to provide pupils with opportunities to gain useful learning about the world of work. The activities are as follows:
- Work Experience for Year 12 (5 days)
- Guest speakers
- Industrial visits
- Young Enterprise workshops
- Sentinus workshop
- Mock interviews
- The Company Programme after school club who also attend trade fairs
- Teacher Placements
- Curriculum projects
- GCSE coursework based assignments
Every year at the GCSE Prizegiving a Year 12 pupil is awarded the "Work Experience Student of the Year" Cup for outstanding success while on placement.
Roll of Honour:
2005 Richard Sheridan
2006 Gary Hamilton & Adam
2007
2008 Manus Loughran
2009
2010 Martyn McQuaid
2011
The Role of the Parent
The role of parents in influencing the career decision making process should not be underestimated. Parents are encouraged to develop their knowledge of current and future career paths and opportunities. It is also important that they understand how to support career choices which best suit the skills, qualities, interests, values and aptitudes of their son and reflect the needs of the economy.
For further information:
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