Information for Parents
Page currently under review
Our goal is to help our students achieve theirs. To assist students we have created a full academy careers programme - allowing you to see your child’s journey through their time at Belvedere.
The Belvedere Academy Careers Programme 2021-22
We understand how important careers decisions are, and we want to assist you in supporting your child by providing you with a range of resources that can help you. If you wish, you can arrange a careers appointment with Kim Dickson, our independent careers advisor. She is also available at Options evenings, Parents’ Evenings and other whole school events. Please email her for an appointment or to schedule a telephone consultation. Kim.dickson@careerconnect.org.uk
All pupils across the academy have access to up to date advice via the Fast Tomato programme. Pupils can log in and explore a vast range of careers, all with up to date labour market information. Pupils can tailor what they see to their current subject and aspirations, and are able to alter these preferences at any time. Please click here to access Fast Tomato.
Careers advice for parents is a website that has been set up by careers professionals and recommended by the UK Career Development Institute. ‘Careers Advice for Parents aims to give you an easy-to-read overview of all the essential facts on finding jobs and apprenticeships or choosing further and higher education courses which could make a real difference to your child’s future career prospects.’
National Careers Service helpline for students 0800 100 900 or use webchat
Callers to the helpline will have direct access to experienced careers advisers who can advise on all the different options available to them, including A levels, GCSEs, BTECs, apprenticeships and other vocational options. Other support will be available on topics such as clearing, university, gap years, moving away from home and re-sits.
Students looking for help with clearing or their UCAS application should contact UCAS at ucas.com/contact-us
THE NATIONAL CAREERS SERVICE
The National Careers Service is available for anyone aged 13+ providing advice and information on a range of topics including careers, education, employment and training/apprenticeships.
National Careers Service free helpline – 0800 100 900 - is open from 8am to 10pm every day and you are more than welcome to get in touch with our trained advisers, to ask any questions you may have about your child’s education or career opportunities.
The National Careers website has a range of contact channels which are accessible to all; they offer a free online chat with an adviser, you can send an email, text or arrange a call-back and they also have minicom (for customers who are deaf or have hearing difficulties).
Your child can complete a free Skills Health Check test through our website which will suggest specific job sectors they may be suited to, based on their skills and strengths.
They can also research their career ideas using our popular job profile.
PARENTAL GUIDANCE
Parental Guidance is another useful website written by members of the Careers Writers Association. The Association consists of highly experienced careers writers of articles, books and web-based materials for the 14-25 age group. Many are also experienced and qualified careers advisers who have worked in schools, colleges and universities in the UK as well as overseas. Do visit the Find a careers writer pages for more details including special writing interests, and the wide range organisations who have commissioned our work.
SKILLS CHECK
The most important thing you can offer is the knowledge of where to find the right information, so you can do the research into their options together.
- To begin with, it’s important your child knows what are their strengths, their skills and abilities. You will undoubtedly know what they are good at but it’s difficult to recognise your own skills and strengths. You can use the Skills Health Check https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/skills-assessment test on the National Careers website to help your child become more aware of their strengths, weakness and career sectors they may be suited to. This is a great starting point and can help your child with researching specific career sectors and understanding more about themselves as an individual.
- The career choices which the test may offer up can be researched further on the ‘Job Profile’ pages. The National Careers Service have over 800 different types of career options, from accountant to zoologist and everything in between! The descriptions explain the qualifications needed, what the work would be like, average salary and how the industry might change in coming years.
Helpful links:
Apprenticeships - a parents' guide
NCS Parents Guide - Apprenticeships