Interim Careers Lead: Mrs C Turnbull
The Careers Department at Scissett Middle School provides information, advice and guidance to students on a wide range of issues that help them build the skills they will need for working life.
The world of work has undergone significant changes in recent years and continues to do so and it is therefore even more important that we equip our students with the necessary skills for them to make decisions about their future, to know how and where to access information and to link subject areas and qualifications with possible career choices.
In 2019 we were awarded the Quality in Careers Standard Award.
Scissett Middle School is one of the few schools in England that has met the following 8 Gatsby benchmarks as set out in 'Careers strategy: making the most of everyone's skills and talents' (DfE Publication Dec 2017)
We offer:
- A stable career programme
- Learning from career and labour market information
- Addressing the needs of each student
- Linking curriculum learning to careers
- Encounters with employers and employees
- Experiences of workplaces
- Encounters with further and higher education
- Personal guidance
Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG)
CIAG is available to all students, to enable them to make decisions about their education and careers choices. An overview of the service that is offered at Scissett Middle School can be seen below.
Careers Resources
We have a full range of careers resources in our School Library. Elements of the Careers curriculum are covered in many subject areas as well as in Life Lessons. We have a student job announcement board, students are encouraged to complete application forms and have formal interviews for jobs such as prefects, librarians, school shop, open evening caterers etc.
Careers Fair
We host a Careers Fair for all students in Year 7 and 8. 2019 was the first year we held a careers fair but we aim to do this every year and our 2019 event involved lots of employers and educators from both regional and national organisations offering advice and information on apprenticeships, work, Higher and Further Education.
Delivery & Content of Programmes
Students in all year groups receive pastoral and tutorial support and support during Learning for Life lessons.
Careers Documents
Curriculum Content
In Year 6 all students:
- Complete a mock interview in Drama
- Attend an assembly on Careers information
- Attend an assembly on What is an Apprenticeship?
- Attend assemblies on different industries
- Complete Well Being in Life lessons
- Work on Careers booklets in form time – What do I want to be when I grow up?
- Attend a school trip to Harry Potter Museum – Careers in the workplace
- Complete Money Matters in Life lessons
- Attend an Enterprise event – School Fayre – to raise money for charities
- Work on a careers Maths Project – Theme park Maths
In Year 7 all students:
- Complete Well Being in Life lessons
- Attend an assembly on Careers information
- Attend an assembly on What is an Apprenticeship?
- Attend an assembly on different Industries
- Attend an assembly on the Labour Market
- Attend an assembly on Female/STEM apprenticeships
- Attend an assembly on ‘Options and Shelley College’
- Complete a Careers programme in Life lessons
- Visit Magna for a STEM career exhibition
- Careers in the curriculum drop down day
- Wellbeing drop down day
- Science week – Careers in the curriculum
- Visit Quarry Bank Mill – Careers from the past
- Help to run an Enterprise Summer Fayre
- Interview Skills Workshop
- Careers fair
In Year 8 all students:
- Complete Well Being in Life lessons
- Attend an assembly on Careers information
- Attend an assembly on What is an Apprenticeship?
- Attend an assembly on different Industries
- Attend an assembly on the Labour Market
- Attend an assembly on Female/STEM apprenticeships
- Attend an assembly on ‘options and Shelley College’
- Complete a Careers programme in Life lessons
- Careers in the curriculum drop down day
- Wellbeing drop down day
- Science week – Careers in the curriculum
- University Visit – Huddersfield/Leeds (some specialised, Medical, Engineering, STEM)
- Higher education visit – Huddersfield New College
- Work on an English Careers project – Journalism
- Careers Fair
- Visit to workplace – Yorkshire Wildlife Park
- Invited to be part of the Schools Career Journalist Competition
- Apprenticeship roadshow
- CV workshop (1/2 day)
- Build your future Careers Carousel (1/2 day)
Student Entitlement
- Careers guidance from a suitably qualified professional
- Be treated with respect
- The opportunity to gain the skills that you need to prosper in your chosen career
- Information about all the options open to you at 14, 16 and 18 years of age
- Be referred for extra support if you need it and other agencies where appropriate
Regional labour market summary
The creative and media sector continues to grow in the region, following Channel 4, Sky and other major organisations' arrival.
The region has seen growth of its gaming, hair and make-up and creative hubs, such as the Barnsley's Digital Media Centre, which has recently grown by up to 100 jobs in its digital and creative hubs.
The continued growth of the regions digital, legal and financial services sector has attracted a large Australian company to open new offices in Leeds creating hundreds of new jobs.
There has also been further growth in the regions specialist science sector and the region's plans to be a leader in offshore wind technology continue to develop. The food sector is growing its range of new products, including plant-based foodstuffs.
In construction, the picture is mixed with two of the region’s large companies, Clugston and Bardsley, going into administration. Companies with projects linked to new technologies are growing but other parts of construction more reliant on the public sector and infrastructure are struggling. The industry also has problems with skill shortages in some craft trades and in plant operations.
The manufacturing sector is also experiencing a mixed picture with advanced manufacturing expanding but older style production struggling. Large retail companies are still experiencing problems on the High Street with many seeing Christmas sales down on previous years.
More specialist consumer businesses such as Skopes and Mulberry and smaller, local specialist retailers are doing better.
Further information
For further information on Careers Advice and Guidance, you can access free support from the National Careers Service online or by phone on 0800 100 900.
How2become
How2Become is the UK’s leading career, testing and educational specialist. Since 2005 we have trained and guided 1000s of candidates like you through recruitment processes.
Whether you are looking to pass your GCSEs or any type of psychometric test or you want a career as a train driver, a civil servant or in the emergency services as a paramedic – we are here to help you!
Advice for Muslim Parents
Under Sharia law paying interest is prohibited.
For any Muslim parents who would like information on university cost please see this website.
Advice for Parents of SEND pupils
Disability Rights UK has some excellent careers advice. Please click here.
Useful Links for Pupils
The Institute of Engineering & Technology
Useful Links for Parents
Useful Links for Teachers
Staff can also watch any CPD sessions, if they wish to recap the sessions in their own time, by logging on to the Careers folder on the school's Google Drive.
Information for Employers
Would you like to engage with the school and your potential clients and employees? Activities to get involved with are:
- Attend our Careers Fair – have you got a career that you could talk to the students about? We invite all year 7 and 8 from Scissett Middle School and Year 8 Kirkburton students to attend – it is usually in early May.
- Offer a workplace visit – our Year 7 and 8 students really find visiting real places of work extremely valuable.
- Deliver a spotlight session – speak to our students about the career path you have taken to provide them information on specific career areas.
- Join our Alumni network and find out about employer events and opportunities within school.
- Join either school on Twitter, we will let you know about any upcoming events that you may want to be involved in.
- Find out more about engaging with schools and consider signing up for ‘Give an hour’ (specifying Scissett and Kirkburton Middle School when you sign up) Futuregoals
If you are interested in working with either school please contact scissettoffice@themast.co.uk
For more information on how your business can get involved with schools: Careers and enterprise
Anita Wilsher is Managing Director of A.L.L. Recruitment Ltd, an established Wakefield based company which prides itself on connecting local businesses and staff in a friendly and efficient manner. With over 20 years experience within the recruitment industry, Anita’s business experience puts her in the ideal position to speak knowingly about the different elements that go into running a business such as products, service, sales, finance, marketing and leadership.
Since July 2021 Anita has hosted ‘Entrepreneur Courses’ with students via Zoom to promote entrepreneurship within local schools and last year ran a Student Resilience workshop in person at Scissett Middle School.