CAREERS NEWS & EVENTS

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UPDATES & NEWS

W/E 22nd November 2024

This week, students engaged in various career-focused activities designed to broaden their horizons and provide insights into future opportunities.

Year 9 students attended a Futures Day trip to Buckinghamshire New University, where they explored a range of higher education pathways and career options through interactive workshops, campus tours, and talks from industry professionals. The aim was to inspire students to think about their long-term goals and the steps needed to achieve them.

Meanwhile, Year 10 Health and Social Care students participated in a carousel of activities hosted by the NHS, where they rotated through different hands-on sessions led by healthcare professionals. These sessions offered a glimpse into diverse roles within the NHS, such as nursing, midwifery, and paramedic services, while also highlighting the skills and qualifications required for these vital careers.

W/E 15th November 2024

This week in AVA Careers activities, our Year 10 students participated in an insightful Employability Workshop, delivered by IGD, a leading organisation focused on equipping young people with essential career skills. IGD’s workshops are renowned for helping students understand the skills and attributes employers are looking for in today’s workforce. The session provided valuable insights into employability, offering students practical tips on communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, all essential for success in the modern job market.

We also encourage you to listen to the latest podcast from Amazing Apprenticeships, which explores the importance of apprenticeships as an alternative route to career success. You can find the podcast here: Amazing Apprenticeships Podcast. The podcast offers great advice on how apprenticeships are becoming an increasingly popular choice for students, providing valuable insights for both parents and students alike as they navigate career pathways.

Green Careers

As environmental responsibility grows across industries, we’re highlighting career paths that focus on sustainability and positive environmental impact.

The information pack HERE includes valuable resources, activities, and insights into careers that contribute to a greener future. We encourage families to review these materials together and discuss the diverse opportunities available in green industries. Let’s inspire our students to imagine a future where they can make a difference.

Careers Updates

The Open University, in partnership with the Russell Group, presents "Jump Start," aimed at assisting students in their transition to university life.

This program provides free online courses, articles, and activities designed to offer a comprehensive understanding of university life and study.

https://www.open.edu/openlearn/jumpstart-university

COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY OPEN DAYS

Click on the button below to find out when Universities and Colleges are hosting Open Days this year:

Parents and Carers University Guide 2023/24

It's that time of year again when the next cohort of students start thinking about what might come after school.

This free digital guide will help parents and carers support their children to make informed decisions about their next steps, and is designed to provide them with all the information they need to make a successful application to university.

TalkCareers - 1:1 Careers Advisor

TalkCareers brings a wealth of expertise and a genuine passion for supporting students on their career journeys. Our dedicated advisor, Penny, provides personalised, one-on-one career advice tailored to each student's unique goals and aspirations. Whether exploring career paths, preparing for interviews, or planning your next steps, Penny delivers expert guidance and practical support to empower students and help them achieve success.

Bucks Skills Hub

For careers guidance and information, visit the Bucks Skills
Hub where you will find many opportunities advertised and a wealth of careers information and guidance available.

Pathways for Year 7 and 8

At the Aylesbury Vale Academy, we support our parents with all the difficult decisions their children need to make regarding their future pathways and careers.

If you feel unsure about the different options your child will have after Year 11, please watch the YouTube video clip we shared with our Year 7 and 8 learners, which you can find here.

The Bucks Skills Hub also has a vast amount of information available for learners and parents.

Unifrog

Currently we are busy with a lot of careers activities, especially in Year 8 as they start to think about their options.

Our Year 8 learners are completing a series of worksheets during form time in preparation, and will be supported with a series of Curriculum Leader talks and their use of UNIFROG to support their decisions.

Unifrog is an innovative online platform designed to streamline the post-secondary education and career exploration process for students at the Aylesbury Vale Academy, offering a comprehensive "one-stop shop" experience for parents and learners alike. This platform serves as a centralised hub where students can explore a multitude of opportunities, including university courses, apprenticeships, college programs, and career pathways, all within a single, user-friendly interface.

For parents, Unifrog provides invaluable insights into their child's educational and career journey, allowing them to track progress, access resources, and support decision-making. From researching different pathways to organising application materials and tracking deadlines, Unifrog empowers parents to actively engage in their child's academic and professional development. With its wide range of features and resources, Unifrog is an indispensable tool for parents looking to navigate the complexities of post-secondary education and career planning alongside their child at AVA. Every learner in the school has been given a unifrog login.

If learners cannot remember their login details, please contact Mrs Marina at pmarina@theacademy.me.

Army Careers

If you are considering a career in the army, please have a look the flyers below to find out more about routes in to the service, including apprenticeships and qualifying college courses.

Army Apprenticeships

Army Careers

Pro:Direct Academy Bucks

The Pro:Direct Academy Bucks is a one or two year programme where footballers will train, play and study full-time.

Players will train to compete in the Tactic League & Cup & ESFA Superleage Cup with exceptional players will receiving opportunities to highlight their ability through our partners Pro:Direct Academy – PDA Eleven and PDA Regional squads all of whom receive the chance to play against professional academy teams, and showcase games with scouts in attendance. Exceptional players will also be signposted to to semi-professional club at Step 2 – 5.

Players will study with a Level 2 or 3 BTEC qualification alongside their football.

You can find out more here.

Certificate of Commitment for the Careers Standard

We are delighted to announce that Aylesbury Vale Academy has been awarded the Certificate of Commitment for the Careers Standard, demonstrating our dedication to providing exceptional careers guidance and opportunities for our students.

This prestigious recognition underscores our ongoing commitment to preparing our students for their future careers by offering comprehensive support, resources, and experiences to help them make informed decisions about their pathways beyond school.

Through this commitment, we aim to equip our students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to thrive in an ever-changing world. We are proud of this achievement and remain steadfast in our mission to empower our students to achieve their full potential.

We will continue to work hard and ensure we obtain the full certificate of the careers quality mark standard.

General Careers information

At the AVA we strive to provide our learners and parents with as much information as possible about careers and the different options young people have when they leave secondary school. As part of that provision please find belows articles that can support you, as a parent, with the important decisions your child faces regarding their future career. If you have any questions or if you would like to
arrange a meeting to discuss future options, please feel free to contact Mrs Marina:
pmarina@theacademy.me.

If you are interested in upcoming events, for example IBM Apprenticeship opportunities webinar, for KS4 and 5 students and parents on the 12th of October, follow the link below: https://bucksskillshub.org/events
Explore your education and training choices here - https://bucksskillshub.org/career-seeker/resources/explore-your-education-and-training-choices
My career path to a technology degree apprenticeship – https://bucksskillshub.org/career-seeker/resources/my-career-path-to-a-technology-degree-apprenticeship
Careers for Creatives – article - https://bucksskillshub.org/career-seeker/resources/careers-for-creatives

Careers Newsletter

Monthly Careers Newsletter

To all parents, especially those of whose children are in Key Stage 4 and 6th Form, the link below is of a comprehensive careers monthly newsletter for parents and carers. You’ll also find events, activities and on university, work experience, understanding the job market, skills, Labour Market Information (LMI) and everything you need to help prepare young people to enter the fast-changing world of work. The important events for your attention are: South Central Ambulance Services virtual recruitment open day, PwC Flying star degree programmes, KPMG Apprenticeships, The Bucks Skills Show and a National Apprenticeship Week event.