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The Careers Team is based in room 71 opposite the Tutorial Hut. If you have a quick question you are very welcome to drop in, the door is usually open. If you think you need longer, or you want to see a Careers Adviser to talk through your ideas (or lack of ideas!), please book an appointment at ‘My Varndean/Careers/Book Appointment’. At certain times of year we get really busy but we will always try to help you as quickly as we can. We run a ‘Drop-In’ on Wednesday at lunchtime if you have a quick query.
The Careers Team is here to help you if you are wondering what to do. Please don’t sit at home worrying – do come and see us – it’s why we are in college!
We know this is a full-on year that at times can feel overwhelming for many students. It feels like you have only just arrived at Varndean and now you need to decide what you will do next. The Careers team is here to help you if you are wondering what to do. Please don’t sit at home worrying – do come and see us.
About half of Varndean Sixth Form College students go to university after Year 13. Most of the information about university is given during tutorial lessons – how to choose a course; how to research universities; and how and when to apply. By attending these, you will be able to get the information you need to help you make a decision and feel better and more confident about the choices you make. Your tutor writes your college reference too so it’s always better if they know you!
Year 12
Year 13
If you are really unsure what to do, a gap year may help you get perspective and give you the time you need to make a good choice. A gap year isn’t just about relaxing at home and having a break – if you are going to take one, it needs to be productive and structured – prospective employers and universities will want to see that you have used your time wisely.
How to fill in the UCAS application form (please make sure you attend your tutorial sessions for detailed information on how to fill out the application form accurately). Once your application is complete and your Personal Statement has been checked by your tutor please pay for the form to be sent. Once you have paid for your form to be sent (UCAS administration cost), the college will attach your reference and predicted grades.
Probably everything you need to know about gap years.
Taking a Gap Year Presentation
Apprenticeships have changed a lot over the last decade. They are offered in hundreds of different job roles by the largest global organisations to the smallest sole trader companies. They all combine working with the employer with theoretical study and assessment of skills needed to do the job. They last between 1-6 years (depending on the job and starting level) and can give qualifications to university degree level and beyond. They are a viable option for students who do not plan on going to university.
The really large companies with names and logos we all recognise tend to advertise their apprenticeship vacancies in the autumn of the year before they want their apprentices to start work; they may start posting vacancies from September often with closing dates in November with the apprentices starting in the following autumn – similar to the UCAS process. Vacancies can be found on their websites under the ‘Careers’ or ‘Early Careers’ tab (usually at the very top or very bottom of the homepage). Apprenticeships with these firms will often require the apprentice to move away or commute to London or another UK city where the firm might be based.
Not all apprenticeship vacancies are advertised. If there is a particular company you want to work for, or a specific occupation you are interested in, it is worth speculatively sending your CV to the organisation asking about opportunities with them – or perhaps asking about work experience (to get a foot in the door). Your CV would need to be tailored to the specific work that interests you e.g. engineering or accountancy and highlight any specific skills you think you have that would match the job sector.
Use yell.com to get contact details of firms you could send your CV to. Enter the job area that interests you e.g Architecture where it says ‘enter a search term’ and then where you live – keep a record of all the firms you send your CV to and follow up with a phone call.
The large national firms all have ‘Careers’ tabs on their websites – this is the best place to start if working for a particular company is of interest.
Please use the links below for help. Once you think you have created the best CV you can, do bring a copy to the Careers Team Wednesday lunchtime ‘Drop-In’ in room 71 so we can check it for you.
It is during Year 12 that students will need to start considering which route they would like to take beyond Year 13. Tutor time is when the different routes are explored and then in March/April of Year 12 students will need to start their research in earnest.
Please make sure you attend your Tutorial sessions. This is where you will be given careers related information that will help you decide what to do after year 13.
Students are expected to undertake a period of work experience as part of their programme of study. Year 12 students will have their timetable dropped for 5 days, usually in June, and this is when they would be expected to spend time with an employer. It is sensible if this can be completed during Year 12 in preparation for any applications for apprenticeships or university you may want to make in the autumn term of Year 13.
Work Experience may also be completed during your college holidays and once completed, should be logged on the ‘Activities’ tool on UNIFROG. The placement can last between 3-5 days. The more work experience you do, the more confident you will become. It will also give you a clearer idea of jobs that might interest you, as well as provide you with a much more competitive CV or application when applying for work or university.
Students will need to find their own placements and are asked to speak to family, contacts of family, and family of friends to find a placement that is relevant to a career area that interests them. Some university courses require a period (periods) of work experience to be completed before the UCAS application is started. Please complete the Work Experience Google form that is emailed to you when you arrive at the college and come to the Careers room if you have any questions.
All students will be invited to take part in the Varndean Internship Programme (VIP). They will work with a representative from a major international finance organisation to reflect on their ‘essential’ skills and experience an assessment centre exercise.
To help students understand how the subjects they are taking are relevant to the careers they may be interested in, we invite speakers into the college throughout the year to talk about their work, the skills they use in their particular role and how they link to particular subjects. Students are sent invitations to these events and can sign up on specific google forms.
We don’t assume every student wants to go to university when they leave Varndean Sixth Form College but we do ask all Year 12 students to attend the UCAS Discovery Fair held at the Brighton Centre every April, and the University Information Day in June at either University of Sussex or University of Brighton to help them decide one way or the other.
All students will be encouraged to register for UCAS in May/June of Year 12. They do not need to apply if they don’t want to but It is much easier to complete an application form at a later point if they do change their mind if they have already got access to an application form – they need to register with UCAS to get one.
If you are considering university, visiting them really helps with your decision making process. The online university and college open day directory opendays.com can help you plan your visits which start from April in Year 12. We recommend all university open events are completed by the end of October 1/2 term to allow students time to finish their UCAS application form by the internal deadline at the end of November.
Attend the Apprenticeship Fair held at the college in March – get your questions answered by visiting employers and training providers. Start researching employers in the job sector that interests you – can you find some work experience by chatting with them?
Please use the links below for help. Once you think you have created the best CV you can, do bring a copy to the Careers Team Wednesday lunchtimes in room 71 so we can check it for you.
Students on level 2 courses at Varndean will need to decide if they would like to apply to study advanced level courses with Varndean, if they want to apply for a course at a different college such as Plumpton or Brighton MET or look for an apprenticeship. Support with these choices will be given during tutor time from January.
Students at Varndean are expected to undertake a period of work experience as part of their programme of study. Work Experience may be completed during your college holidays and should be logged on the’Next Steps/Careers’ tab on your ‘My Varndean’ page. The placement can last between 3-5 days. The more work experience you do, the more confident you will become, it will give you a clearer idea of jobs that might interest you and you will have a much more competitive CV or application when applying for work or university one day.
Students are asked to speak to family, contacts of family and family of friends to find a placement that is relevant to a career area that interests them. Some university courses require a period (periods) of work experience to be completed before the UCAS application is started. Please complete the Work Experience Google form that is emailed to you when you arrive at the college and speak with Teresa in the Careers room if you have any questions.
Apprenticeships have changed a lot over the last decade. They are offered in hundreds of different job roles by the largest global organisations to the smallest sole trader companies. They all combine working with the employer with theoretical study and assessment of skills needed to do the job. They last between 1-6 years (depending on the job and starting level) and can give qualifications to university degree level and beyond. They are a viable option for students who do not plan on going to university.
To apply for advertised vacancies, use the links above.
Not all apprenticeship vacancies are advertised. If there is a particular company you want to work for, or a specific occupation you are interested in, it is worth speculatively sending your CV to the organisation asking about opportunities with them – or perhaps asking about work experience (to get a foot in the door). Your CV would need to be tailored to the specific work that interests you e.g. engineering or accountancy and highlight any specific skills you think you have that would match the job.
Use yell.com to get contact details of firms you could send your CV to. Enter the job area that interests you e.g Architecture where it says ‘enter a search term’ and then where you live – keep a record of all the firms you send your CV to and follow up with a phone call.
Please use the links below for help. Once you think you have created the best CV you can, do bring a copy to the Careers team Thursday lunchtimes room 14.3 so we can check it for you.