At Stepney Green College we work closely with local businesses, universities, colleges and training providers to ensure that students receive relevant and realistic advice about the skills and qualifications required in the future. Students have mentors from different banks and companies that can help them to make the right choice for their future.
If you don’t know what career path you want to follow after you leave college you need to do as much research as you can about higher education courses or employment and training. The career you have in mind may be a natural progression from the college or university course you choose, but if not, you need to find out what types of jobs will be available to you when you finish your education or training.
The following websites are intended as a starting point and to help you in this delicate and important moment. Please bear in mind that this list is not intended to be exhaustive and that new resources appear all the time.
Moving onto Higher Education
All students are issued with a Unifrog account on enrolling at Stepney Green Sixth Form. The Unifrog application brings all the available careers information into one single, impartial, user-friendly platform that helps students to make the best choices, and submit the strongest applications.
The platform also encompasses apprenticeship opportunities and information about Further Education colleges in the UK, as well as US and Canadian universities, and degrees taught in English in Europe, Asia, and Australasia.
The platform also includes some extensive libraries which provide information on courses and subjects. The careers library provides more than 800 job profiles are featured on the careers library! The subject library has more than 100 subject profiles. Finally, there are hundreds of guides and videos within the library, stored across different categories, with each relating to different pathways. All of the above can be stored in your favourites at the top of the library for easy access.
- The main site is UCAS for course searching, finance information, links to universities etc. as well as applying for entry which opens in June of the year before courses start. You will register with UCAS and begin completing the on-line application form. You will be advised about entering subject details and, specifically, about drafting your Personal Statement. Careers information will be available for you whether you intend to go to university or not, along with advice about writing CVs and presentation at interview. If you aspire to Oxbridge, or other world class universities, a programme tailored for preparation to such institutions include visits and one-to-one mentoring.
- Unistats is the website used for the displaying the government’s new Key Information Sets (KIS). It has up to date statistical information on each individual course at all the UK’s universities. There is information displayed on the following categories: student satisfaction, average salary after graduation, progression, accommodation costs, time spent in lectures & seminars, how it is assessed and student satisfaction with the university’s student union.
- A website where you can search for universities based on course title, location and entry grades. If you are unsure of your plans but know that you want to progress onto Higher Education you can register (free of charge) and complete a short questionnaire that will ‘suggest’ degree courses that might interest you. This process is not an exact science but it can help you to start a search or to confirm your plans.
- A website that contains some excellent information to help you to decide where to and what to study and how to apply. Amongst other things, it has sections on student finance, courses available (including a list of the current ‘top 10’ subjects for employability). It also has some general information for each UK university and some example personal statements. An online student community with links to other, useful websites and forums on university applications, study guides etc.
- A student only networking site that links students and prospective students with each other for discussions.
- A handy list of all university open days.
Finance
Information on HE finance for English-based students www.direct.gov.ukA website with information on how student finance works: it includes a student finance calculator. www.sfengland.slc.co.uk
Those uncertain about Higher Education should look at www.notgoingtouni.co.ukwww.mycareerspringboard.org and www.allaboutschoolleavers.co.uk These two sites contain articles with useful advice on a number of career-related issues and plenty of job postings and work opportunities.
Other websites that also contain some good careers information and advice. www.careersbox.co.uk & www.growingambitions.tes.co.uk
Apprenticeships
The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) website, which has lots of information on apprenticeships for young people, their parents and prospective employers. It also includes listings of current vacancies although you need to be registered in order to actually apply for any of these vacancies. www.apprenticeships.org.uk
School Leaver Programmes
School leaver programmes are increasing in number and provide a fantastic alternative to Higher Education – although many of the programmes also involve you studying for a degree whilst getting paid and gaining important work experience. If you are interested in working for a major national/international company like those listed below, go to the Student Ladder website and do some research on their school leaver programmes or work experience opportunities: www.studentladder.co.uk. There are ICT, financial, engineering, legal, human resource, accountancy opportunities, amongst others, available.
