CEIAG and Boomerang
- Careers Connect work with The Observatory School to provide impartial careers information for our pupils. Careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) is available to all students from Year 5 through to Year 11. A careers programme of study is delivered through our Life-skills and PSHE/PSD lessons which is supported by form time activities and numerous opportunities for business, college and community exposure, visits, activities, experiences, assemblies and discussions.
- The careers programme will be reviewed in July of every academic year and, if required, revised.
- We are always interested in developing partnerships and engagement with all stakeholders. If teachers, parents, students, employers or providers and local organisations want further information or would like to contribute to the programme, please get in touch directly with the school’s careers coordinator using the contact details listed below.
- Feedback is also gathered from employers and other organisations to assess the success of an experience. This ensures we can tailor our careers programme to provide the best experience for both students and partners.
Boomerang - Support for past pupils
The aim of the Boomerang Program is to keep former students and staff in touch with each other and the school.
The Observatory School keep in touch with former pupils in several ways. We hold an Annual Awards Ceremony in school, usually near the start of the autumn term, when we offer the opportunity to meet up with old friends and look round the school, recall memories from their time here and see the changes that have occurred since then. The pupils also receive their certificates for their achievements from the summer term.
We also have a dedicated phone number for former pupils to contact for if they need any support once they leave school. Our Pastoral team are on hand to offer support to pupils whenever they need guidance or support. This may be support with college to filling out application forms for job applications.
Click on the photos below to find out more about some of our former students, what they are doing now, and their advice to our current students.
Provider Access Policy: The Observatory School
Introduction:
This policy statement sets out the school’s arrangements for managing the access of providers to pupils at the school for the purpose of giving them information about the provider’s education or training offer. This complies with the school’s legal obligations under Section 42B of the Education Act 1997.
Pupil entitlement All pupils in years 8 to 11 are entitled:
- To find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeships opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point
- To hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships – through options events, assemblies and group discussions and taster events
- To understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses.
All students from year 7 are entitled to independent career guidance.
A provider wishing to request access should contact:
Careers Lead: Mr Gerrard
Careers Adviser: Lisa Kirkham
Email: jgerrard@theobservatoryschool.wirral.sch.uk
Opportunities for access:
A number of events, integrated into the school careers programme, will offer providers an opportunity to come into school to speak to pupils or their parents or carers:
|
Year |
Autumn Term |
Spring Term |
Summer Term |
|
7 |
Overview of post 16 options for students and parents, to include: A levels, Applied General Qualifications (e.g., BTECs), technical/vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, traineeships and supported internships Event for University Technical Colleges |
Employer event for students, parents – market stall event giving overview of local, regional and national opportunities and skills requirement |
Meeting with Careers Adviser Year group assemblies |
|
8 |
Overview of post 16 options for students and parents, to include: A levels, Applied General Qualifications (e.g., BTECs), technical/vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, traineeships and supported internships Event for University Technical Colleges |
Meeting with Careers Adviser Year group assemblies |
Employer event for students, parents – market stall event giving overview of local, regional and national opportunities and skills requirement |
|
9 |
Overview of post 16 options for students and parents, to include: A levels, Applied General Qualifications (e.g., BTECs), technical/vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, traineeships and supported internships Event for University Technical Colleges |
Meetings with careers adviser KS4 options event |
Year group assemblies Employer events, college visits |
|
10 |
Overview of post 16 options to include: A levels, Applied General Qualifications (e.g., BTECs), technical/vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, traineeships and supported internships |
Technical/vocational tasters at local college/s, training providers University Visits |
Year group assemblies Meetings with Careers Adviser Employer events Virtual Work experience |
|
11 |
Post 16 provider open evenings: opportunities to visit local Further Education and sixth form colleges, other school UTCs, Studio schools and other training providers regarding A level, Applied General, technical and vocational and apprenticeships. Meetings with careers adviser Post 16 applications |
Post-16 interviews Post 16 provider open evenings: opportunities to visit local Further Education and sixth form colleges, other school UTCs, Studio schools and other training providers regarding A level, Applied General, technical and vocational and apprenticeships. |
Confirmation of post 16 education destinations for all students Application support for Apprenticeships |
Please speak to our Careers Leader to identify the most suitable opportunity for you.
Premises and facilities:
The school will make the main hall, or private meeting rooms available for discussions between the provider and students, as appropriate to the activity. The school will also make available AV and other specialist equipment to support provider presentations. This will all be discussed and agreed in advance of the visit with the Careers Leader or a member of their team.
Providers are welcome to leave a copy of their prospectus or other relevant course literature at the Careers Resource Centre which is managed by the Careers Adviser.
The Resource Centre is available to all students.
Take a look at some of our past pupils below.
Kyle
Wirral Met College
Kyle is a 2022 leaver. He is currently on a multi skilled course at Wirral Met. He is really enjoying the course and feels it is giving him the skills and knowledge for future employment.
Callum
Wirral Met College
Callum is one of our 2021 leavers and is studying a Science Course at Wirral Met. He has passed his qualification this year (2023) and is completing the higher course next year. He is hoping to go to university after that.
Steven
2019 Leaver
Steven passed his Mechanics Apprenticeship with distinction and he is now a fully qualified mechanic! He is going to take his MOT qualification next year. We are all really proud of him!
What is a Careers Guidance Interview?
A careers guidance interview is an impartial one to one meeting between yourself and the Careers Adviser. It is not like a job interview, so you can’t get anything wrong!
It is all about YOU and your FUTURE.
The aim of the guidance interview is to help you think about your future career choices based on your interests, skills and qualifications.
It will help you make decisions about what pathway to take after school. Do you need to go to college, gain an apprenticeship or go to university?
It will also give you information about your chosen careers and where you can find out more.
Who is my Careers Adviser?
Lisa Kirkham
Lisa works for Career Connect and has been working within careers for 20 years!
Lisa attends lots of different schools
Lisa never ever had any specific career ideas growing up!
Lisa’s contact details are: lisa.Kirkham@careerconnect.org.uk