Information for Parents/Carers

Have regular conversations with your child about what they want to do in the future

Encourage self-awareness with your child (what skills do they already have, what skills they may need to develop and how e.g: communication, organisation, etc.

Explore helpful websites with them which outline different career paths and sectors

Get in touch with the schools Careers Education Lead if you have any worries or concerns (careers@mhchs.org.uk)

Explore entry requirements for courses, open days for colleges, universities or apprenticeships they may be interested in

https://www.unifrog.org/ - a great online resource which outlines and compares every University course, every apprenticeship and other education courses. Highlights entry requirements for courses and jobs and even allows you to apply to them once your child is ready.

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/ - this contains information about many different careers and sectors. It gives you up to date labour marking information and equips you with a lot of information, e.g: salary, entry requirements.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/careers - this offers an interactive and fun way to learn about the different careers and how to get into them.

The school’s career programme is designed to help students understand themselves, explore future opportunities, and make informed choices about their education and career paths. It supports your child’s career development by:

Building awareness: Helping them discover their interests, strengths, and values.

Exploring options: Introducing them to a wide range of careers, industries, and study routes (including apprenticeships, university, and vocational pathways).

Developing skills: Teaching essential employability skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and decision-making.

Providing experiences: Offering opportunities like work experience, employer talks, career fairs, and mentoring to connect learning with the real world.

Guiding next steps: Giving access to professional career advice and personal guidance to support post-16 and post-18 choices.

By the end of Year 11, every student is offered at least one 30–40-minute personal guidance meeting. This session is confidential and tailored to everyone’s needs, helping students make informed decisions about their next steps. Students with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND), or those who are disadvantaged or at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) are given priority access. However, all students are welcome to request an additional meeting if they feel further support would be beneficial.

Parents and carers play an important role in helping young people explore and prepare for their future. You can support your child’s career planning by:

Starting conversations early: Talk about their interests, strengths, and what they enjoy learning about.

Exploring options together: Look at different careers, college courses, apprenticeships, and universities to help them see what’s possible.

Encouraging experiences: Support them to take part in work experience, volunteering, or extracurricular activities to build skills and confidence.

Promoting employability skills: Help them develop key life skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management.

Using school resources: Encourage your child to make the most of the school’s career programme, careers fairs, and personal guidance meetings.

Staying positive and open-minded: Career journeys aren’t always straightforward — reassure them that it’s okay to explore and change direction as they learn more about themselves.

For so many children, that is completely normal – most students do not have a clear idea of the career sector or path they would like to follow. However, it is important to encourage your child to:

Engage in the career curriculum taking place at school

Research, using trusted websites, about the different careers

Partake in Career quizzes which highlight the skills and characteristics they have

Encourage your child to speak to the schools Careers Education Lead or another teacher at school

At the end of year 11, students need to consider what it is they would like to do, whether that is staying on for sixth form and completing A levels, going to college to do a BTEC or T level or if they would like to do an Apprenticeship.

The Careers guidance meeting your child will have in Year 11 is to expose them to these different options and to highlight the importance of choosing the right one for themselves and their future.

Students can progress to:

Sixth form

For students aiming to complete A levels, this route is often the most common. It is often suited to students with strong predicted GCSE grades and those who enjoy academic study. Different sixth forms have different entry requirements, therefore, it is important to research those beforehand.

Further Education Colleges

Colleges offer a wide range of further education courses, such as BTECs and T Levels. These can vary from level 1 to level 3. These courses are better suited to students who prefer to be more hands on and have a better idea of what career path they would like to go down. These routes can also be considered if your child would like to attend University.

Apprenticeships

This is a great option for students who already know what career path they want and want to earn while they learn. Apprenticeships combine paid work with formal training and can be a great way to network and to work your way up in levels (from level 2 to 7).

Specialist Training Providers

These services work closely with students and ensure a more focused and supported pathway is given, such as supported internship and traineeships. This is an excellent route for students with additional learning needs.

Students will have the opportunity to fulfil a days work experience in Year 8, two days in Year 10 and are encouraged to seek their own work experience (whether that is virtual or in person) during non-term time in Year 11.

In sixth form, students are also encouraged to partake in work experience to increase their employability skills and allow them to stand out from others whether they are going down the University route, or employment.

Work experience gives young people a valuable insight into the world of work and helps them prepare for their future careers. It allows your child to:

Explore career options: Experience what different jobs are really like and discover what interests them most.

Develop key skills: Build essential employability skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and time management.

Gain confidence: Learn how to work with others, manage responsibilities, and adapt to new environments.

Connect learning to the real world: Understand how school subjects apply to different careers and industries.

Build networks: Make useful contacts that could help with future opportunities like part-time work, apprenticeships, or references.

Strengthen applications: Add real experience to CVs, personal statements, or apprenticeship/university applications.