Careers
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Upcoming Events 2009-2010
Autumn Term 2009
| Monday 21st September Tuesday 22nd September |
Y11 feedback on their aptitude testing (Cambridge Profile) and interest profiles (Preview) administered in June by COA.
Individual interviews. |
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| Wednesday 23rd September | Into the Sixth Evening |
| Thursday 22nd October | Open Evening |
| Monday 16th November | Y10 Make Your Mark Challenge |
| Wednesday 18th November Thursday 19th November |
Y11 second interviews with COA |
Spring Term 2010
| Wednesday 20th January | Y9 Take Our Daughters To Work Day |
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| Tuesday 10th February | Y12 commence Make Your Mark with a Tenner | .
| Wednesday 3rd March | Annual OHS / MCS Careers Fair to be held at OHS |
| Thursday 25th March | Y12 & Parents – Higher Education Information Evening |
Summer Term 2010
| Thursday 10th June | Y8 Real Game |
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| Wednesday 30th June | Y10 Careers Day |
| Monday 5th July to Friday 9th July |
Y11 Work Experience Week |
Events
Make Your Mark Challenge 2009
Don’t be a carbon copy!
Make Your Mark Challenge is the UK’s largest one-day enterprise competition for secondary schools and colleges. The 2009 Challenge was to
Let local inspiration lead you to a ‘cool’ creation
The challenge was to come up with a new and innovative business idea that takes its inspiration from something local. The business can be a product or a service – as long as it’s a ‘cool’ creation and makes money.
A ‘cool creation’ is a profitable business that minimises its impact on the environment. Green businesses are essential to the future of the UK economy and our planet so we want you to consider the carbon footprint of your business and think of innovative ideas to reduce it.
Our team from 10H comprised Alex Fenton, Katie Garrett, Jessica Lewis, Jessica Ockenden and Laura Simpson. They named their company
- They had to produce
- an ideas sheet
- a competitors outline
- a money matters sheet
- preparation for a pitch
They worked well as a team and came up with a very good idea. We wish them luck with their entry.
Year 9 Enrichment Day 2009
‘You’re Hired!’
Miss Lusk with the two winning teams
On June 19th 2009 Year 9 participated in a new venture based on the theme of a ‘Young Apprentice Day'. Divided into teams they had to determine their group identity and aims, to develop an idea for a new product aimed at a particular consumer group, and to devise a launch event. They were well supported and advised by Y12 girls who had been members of Young Enterprise companies throughout the year. Thus the Y12 girls learnt the skills of facilitators and mentors.
Posters showing group identities and aims’
We were most fortunate to be joined for this event by:
- Susan Croft, co-founder and Executive Director of Skill-Pill Mobile Learning
- Di Bridges, Founding Partner of the boutique head-hunting practice ‘the di bridges partnership’
- Gina Cowen, Old Girl and jewellery maker ‘The Sea Glass Collection’
Gina Cowen, Susan Croft and Di Bridges
Susan co-ordinated the event. Gina and Di gave inspirational speeches, helped to judge the input and gave very constructive feedback. After the presentation of certificates and announcement of the winning team Y9 had some fresh air and played rounders, organised by Y12 Sports Leaders.
Year 8 Real Game 2009
On June 4th 2009 Year 8 participated in The Real Game. Having been allocated job roles previously they all came dressed in role and enthusiastically reflected on the realism of their dreams in the light of their circumstances. Grouped into communities they addressed a number of key issues affecting them and presented lively reports to the rest of the year. Much fun was had by all.
'I feel that I have definitely learnt many important skills to handle life later on.'
'I really enjoyed the Real Game because it was realistic and thought provoking.'
'It gave me a chance to look at how important it was to manage your money carefully and realistically and the importance of a good community.'
'I learnt a lot about the struggles of daily life.'
'I felt it was a really good way to get an idea of what your later life will present you with.'
'It made me feel more confident for the future.'
'It was a very thought provoking day and I especially enjoyed working as a community.'
Women into Surgery Event
'Really valuable experience - interesting and interactive. Great to have insights from former pupils of the school'
'Great practical sessions and videos - it really gave me a flavour of what being a surgeon is like'
'Well-informed speakers who were friendly and willing to answer questions'
On March 5th 2009 we were delighted to welcome back four Old Girls - Natalie Blencowe (surgeon in training) and medical students Katrina Mason, Clare Warrell and Clare Eeley - who came to support an initiative by the Royal College of Surgeons 'Women into Surgery'. The twenty OHS girls who attended, plus five visitors from St Edward's School, thoroughly enjoyed watching videos of surgical procedures and practising sutures on dummy arms and legs. There were plenty of opportunities to talk with the visitors about medical schools and we had two very interesting and informative presentations - Natalie spoke on 'a day in the life of a surgeon' and Katrina on 'getting into and surviving medical school'.
Careers Fair 2009
The annual joint Oxford High School/Magdalen College School Careers Fair was hosted by MCS on Tuesday 3rd March. Over 90 representatives, many from our parent body and old girl network, covered a wide range of career areas and the advice given was greatly appreciated by pupils from both schools. The forums were well attended - the topics being:
- Where am I going and can I have a map?
- Working 'with' the Environment
- Is there a future working in the City?
Right: Old Girl, Katy Barrow-Grint, Police Sergeant, Thames Valley Police.
Personnel
Mrs. Angela Finch, B.Sc. Hons., PGCE Cantab, ACCEG, has been our Head of Careers and Co-ordinator of Work-Related Learning since she joined the school in 1995. She is committed to providing our girls with the best possible skills, knowledge and understanding to plan and manage their own lifelong learning and career development. Mrs. Finch has actively sought to enhance her own learning and management by studying for the Advanced Certificate in Careers Education and Guidance and taking qualifications in Counselling. She is fully trained in aptitude testing, both the Morrisby tests and the Cambridge Profile, and she is a skilled interviewer. In 2002 Mrs. Finch secured for the school a Quality Award for Excellence in Careers Education and Guidance and this was re-assessed and re-awarded by Investor in Careers in June 2005. Further reassessment in November 2008 secured the award for a further 3 years. Summary details of the most recent assessment can be read below.
Facilities and Resources
From January 2004 we have enjoyed our newly created Careers Centre which lies firmly in the heart of the school as befits the central role of careers for the future of our students. This is well resourced with computer facilities and up-to-date reference materials relating to careers and Higher Education opportunities. The Centre is available for use by all girls throughout the school day from 08:00 to 18:00. Mrs Finch's office is within the Centre and she is available for appointments or informal 'drop-in' sessions.
Entitlement Statement
Our girls are entitled to, and provided with:
- Impartial advice and guidance (with referral for specialist support in response to identified need)
- Comprehensive, clear, accurate and objective information about the full range of learning opportunities open to them
- Continuous and managed support
- A planned progressive programme of careers education activities which meet their needs
Curriculum
Specific delivery on careers is through the PSHCE/Tutorial programme. Careers work starts in Year 7 when the girls acquire skills for decision making and action planning, skills which they practise and refine throughout the school. In 2007 we introduced a Careers Day for Year 8 and this is now an established part of our programme. They complete some aspects of The Real Game and make decisions within small community groups. Year 9 follow a short course entitled Preparing for Choices. This supports their GCSE decision making and they use the Kudos programme to match their current interests to possible careers areas. Work-related learning starts in Year 9 when the girls participate in our scheme of Take Our Daughters to Work Day and, in June 2009, we introduced a new initiative of an Enterprise / Enrichment Day for them. Year 10 build on their knowledge of the facilities and resources available to them and we have extended our links with 'Make Your Mark' and their enterprise challenges. Year 10 have a Careers Day at the end of the Summer Term. On completion of their interest profiles (Preview) and aptitude testing (Cambridge Profile) they have afternoon workshops run as part of the GDST Minerva network - in 2008 this was entitled 'Preparing for Work Experience'; in 2009 it was 'Self confidence, image and impact'. At the start of the Autumn Term in Year 11 there is feedback from the profiling and all girls have two individual interviews as part of the Cambridge Occupational Analysts programme. There is a week of work experience for Y11after their GCSE examinations. In the Sixth Form there is explicit emphasis on the Higher Education process. There is the opportunity to participate in the Cambridge Occupational Analysts' Centigrade programme and further experiences of the world of work are encouraged.
Investors in Careers
We are proud to hold Investor in Careers Status which was awarded in recognition of our excellence in careers education in October 2005 and re-awarded in November 2008.
The award covers all of the school from year 7 to year 13. A considerable portfolio of evidence is provided and some staff and girls are interviewed.
Our reassessment checked:
- current and previous Partnership Agreements
- statements of commitment from Head and Chair of Governors
- evidence of continuous improvement through regular evaluation, consultation with others, innovative thinking and staff development
- careers education and guidance policy, entitlement statement and staff development
- full documentation for Investor in Careers Outcome 7: CEG programme is delivered for all pupils.
It specifically assessed:
- the aspect of our CEG programme where we feel we excel and which demonstrates our commitment to excellence
- For 2005 we selected Take Our Daughters To Work Day
- For 2008 we selected our Year 8 Real Game Day
The overall assessment stated that
Careers Education and Guidance is extremely well organised and documentation was of the highest standard. Evaluation is built into the process and the school benefits from a dedicated Head of Careers who is constantly reviewing her work. Resources such as the careers library and a separate office for interviewing also enhance CEG provision.
Strengths include- Dedicated Head of Careers who can provide one to one support as well as a strategic approach to CEG
- Careers Library resources
- The Real Game
- Links with parents to provide work related learning
- Documentation, including schemes of work and lesson plans
My thanks to all involved in this process.
Angela Finch,
Head of Careers.