Careers
Curriculum
Pupils begin to identify their qualities and skills, research a variety of careers and begin to carry out some basic career planning. In Year 10 pupils use the Job Explorer Database software to identify careers that interest them and time is spent in preparation for choosing their GCSE subjects.
Pupils develop their own CV and personal statement and learn how to apply for jobs. RSD has established a good relationship with the Careers Service NI and each Year 12 pupil has at least one individual guidance interview with the DfE Careers Adviser.
Pupils are also introduced to higher apprenticeships and the possibility of employment post A level. We hold an “Interview Skills Day” each year which culminates with all Year 14 pupils having a mock job interview with a local businessman/woman and we also cover application forms, covering letter and pupils update their CVs.
All pupils invited for interview at university or college are offered a mock interview and we also run a preparation session for Medicine and Dentistry MMI interviews. Accommodation and finance are topics that are also covered in Sixth Form Careers classes and in previous years we have had presentations from Danske Bank on student finance and budgeting, as well as having Student Finance staff manning a drop-in clinic to assist pupils with the completion of their student finance forms.
Careers Staff are available to give advice in August when A level results are published.
In addition to the one-to-one guidance offered to each pupil on a weekly basis, the Careers staff organise a wide range of additional support to help pupils find the right path for them. These include:
- Higher Education Evening for Year 13 parents and pupils, held annually in March
Trips to:
- Skills NI Careers Fair
- UCAS Convention
- Cambridge and Oxford Student Conference
- Oxford Residential & Open Day
- ALMAC
- Ulster University Open Day (Sept Y14)
- Queen’s University Open Day (Sept Y14)
We have also host talks from the universities such as:
- Queen’s University Belfast
- Ulster University
- CAFRE (Greenmount, Loughry, Enniskillen)
- Cambridge University
- “Scottish University Tour” representing seven universities
We have also had a number of visitors speaking to pupils about their jobs in areas such as:
- Accountancy
- Dietetics
- Economics
- Engineering
- Nutrition and Physical Education
Job Explorer Database: JED use the link below and then type the password that your LLW teacher has given you.
www.careersoft.co.uk/sign-in
General Careers Information
NI Careers Service – http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/careers
Sector Skills Councils – http://fisss.org/sector-skills-council-body/directory-of-sscs/
Prospects (graduate careers website) – http://www.prospects.ac.uk/
Local Universities and Colleges
Queen’s University Belfast – http://www.qub.ac.uk/
Ulster University – http://www.ulster.ac.uk/
CAFRE (Loughry, Greenmount & Enniskillen) – http://www.cafre.ac.uk/
Trinity College Dublin – www.tcd.ie
University College Dublin – www.ucd.ie
Dublin City University – www.dcu.ie
Local FE Colleges
South West College (SWC) – http://www.swc.ac.uk/ (Dungannon, Cookstown, Enniskillen & Omagh)
Southern Regional College (SRC) – http://www.src.ac.uk/ (Armagh, Portadown, Banbridge, Lurgan, Kilkeel & Newry)
Loughry, Greenmount & Enniskillen (CAFRE) – http://www.cafre.ac.uk/
UCAS – www.ucas.com
CAO (applications for Irish Universities) – www.cao.ie
University Admissions Tests
BMAT – http://www.admissionstests.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/adt/bmat
UKCAT – http://www.ukcat.ac.uk/
LNAT – http://www.lnat.ac.uk/
HPAT Ulster (for Allied Health Professions at Ulster Univ) – http://hpat-ulster.acer.edu.au/
HPAT Ireland (for Medicine in Republic of Ireland) – http://www.hpat-ireland.acer.edu.au/
ELAT – http://www.admissionstests.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/adt/elat
STEP – http://www.admissionstests.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/adt/step
Thinking Skills Assessment
TSA Cambridge – http://www.admissionstests.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/adt/tsacambridge
TSA Oxford – http://www.admissionstests.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/adt/tsaoxford
TSA UCL – http://www.admissionstests.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/adt/tsaucl
Student Finance
Student Finance NI – http://www.studentfinanceni.co.uk
Apprenticeships
General information – https://www.ucas.com/higher-apprenticeships
PwC Head Start Higher Apprenticeship – https://www.pwc.co.uk/careers/school-jobs/jobs.html
Deloitte Bright Start Higher Apprenticeship – https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/careers/articles/brightstart-business-apprenticeship-scheme.html
BBC Software Engineering Degree Apprenticeship – http://www.bbc.co.uk/careers/trainee-schemes-and-apprenticeships/technology/software-engineering-degree-apprenticeship
Dale Farm Apprenticeships – http://dalefarm.co.uk/dale-farm-promotes-new-apprenticeship-opportunities-skills-ni/
Greiner Gold Apprenticeship – http://www.goldenapprenticeship.co.uk/
Moy Park Apprenticeships – https://www.moypark.com/en/careers/apprenticeships
Careers News Articles






















