Aims and Objectives

Aims and Objectives

Aims

The aim of Careers Education and Guidance at Merchant Taylors' is to enable each student to play a full, equal and personally satisfying role in the world of work. We hope to encourage the qualities and develop the skills to enable every pupil to make the most of a lifetime of varied opportunities and unforeseen challenges.

The majority of our students continue into Higher Education and many still select traditional vocations: Medicine, Law and Teaching. Others study Business, Languages, Science and the Humanities.

Over 80% of graduate vacancies are for graduates in any discipline. A good degree in a 'favourite'.

Objectives

The essential foundation for successful career planning is self knowledge. Students are encouraged to develop awareness of their own strengths, interests and capacity for achievement through the use of interest based computer aided vocational guidance programmes in Years 11 and 12. Students are encouraged to appreciate the need to develop initiative and accept personal responsibility for researching and making their own career decisions. The acquisition of information skills is developed throughout the curriculum and students have access from Year 9 to the well stocked careers librarys containing printed, audio-visual and computer based material. In careers lessons they are taught how to use this and strongly encouraged to do so, in order to make well informed and independent decisions.The careers department supports the efforts of students to broaden their understanding of the world of work by means of class based lessons and group work and through and extensive programme of Work Experience. We believe the needs of the individual are paramount: `broad-brush` career lessons are kept to a minimum, group work is precisely focused and, where possible , encourages the development of research skills; students are likewise enabled to tailor the timing and nature of their work experience to their individual needs. All students receive a personal careers interview in both Years 11 and 12 in which they can resolve their own queries and clarify their own plans.In conclusion: Many students will leave school having both clearly identified their future careers and fully planned the route by which they will reach their goal. Others will not feel strongly drawn to any one specific career path. All, however, should possess a growing awareness of what they, as individuals, have to contribute to the world of work, combined with the skills, confidence and motivation to make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead.