If you are part of a business, organisation or other interested party and you feel that you would like to support the students at our school through CIAG, please see the Provider Access Policy.

 

Year 7 focus: The importance of education– ensuring that pupils understand the reasons that they are at school and the benefits of a good education in allowing them to enhance their career prospects.

Year 8 focus: Personal Attributes – developing a self-awareness of skills, and an understanding of their application to future careers.

Year 9 focus: Qualifications and gaining experience – focussing on the importance of choosing the correct options and using the school environment to support qualifications with achievements and experience.

Year 10 focus: Skills for employment - utilising the tools of work experience, CV and letters of application writing and mock interviews to introduce students to the process of embarking on a career.

Year 11 focus: Preparation for post 16 pathways – ensuring that students are fully aware of their post 16 options and what their next stage of education will be.

Years 12 and 13 - Focus: Preparation for Higher Education and the world of work - Sixth Form students are provided with advice and guidance regarding post 18 options including; the UCAS progress; apprenticeship routes and alternative options. We encourage the use of Unifrog as a search tool and as an evidence log of achievements. Students also receive quality support in the writing of CV’s and personal statements. We encourage and facilitate University, apprenticeship and workplace visits. Students are encouraged to complete the EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) and at least one MOOC over the course of their time at sixth form to ensure that all applications and CV’s are of the highest calibre.

Sir Graham Balfour invests in the correct career advice for our pupils. Mrs V Bowyer is currently working towards  a Level 6 Careers Adviser qualification.

Our RONI pupils are seen by Entrust Careers advisors

If you wish to seek further impartial advice, the National Careers Service offer a free online web chat service. This service is open from 8am to 10pm, 7 days a week and can be found on the following link https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/webchat/chat/

Please look at the guidance from the Government on the legality of school-age related employment.

Child employment: Restrictions on child employment - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Please look at the guidance regarding BTEC and T Levels 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/654cc0b7e70413000dfc4aa5/Guide_to_the_post-16_qualifications_landscape_at_level_3_and_below_for_2025_and_beyond_-_Novermber_2023_.pdf

Students in Years 10 have a Work Experience week.

This allows students to gain an insight into the world of work and all that goes with it. We encourage students to find quality work experience placements, where they will be able to utilise and develop their skill set. We hope that by being in a real-life work setting, students will learn the importance of team work, communication and hard work, amongst many other things.

Whilst on placement, students will be expected to record their daily activities and the things that they have learnt, in their ‘Work experience diary’.  Students will be visited by a member of staff at some point within the week to check on their progress.

Sir Graham Balfour holds an annual careers fair, providing students with an opportunity to meet with an array of employers, businesses and Further Education providers. This event is held in the school sports hall during an off-timetable day.

Companies and organisations interesting in exhibiting or supporting this event should contact Mrs V J Bowyer via vbowyer@sirgrahambalfour.staffs.sch.uk

The school subscribe to Unifrog to support and manage careers advice, information and guidance.   www.unifrog.org

Currently, years 8 to 13 students make use of Unifrog to research career interests, evidence their skills and to support them with CV writing and personal statements.

If you are a parent/carer and would like more information about Unifrog and it’s use, please contact the school using the information below.

 

 

Mrs V J Bowyer, Careers & Aspirations  Lead - vbowyer@sirgrahambalfour.staffs.sch.uk

Mrs L. Gannon, Work experience lead – lgannon@sirgrahambalfour.staffs.sch.uk

• UCAS - www.ucas.com

Platform to explore University courses and apply to University

• Unifrog – www.unifrog.org

One-stop-shop where students can explore their career interests, then find and successfully apply for their best next step after school (post 16 and post 18).

• ‘National Careers Service’ - Https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk  

Job Profiles: Use the link to access job profiles. Use these profiles to explore your career ideas.

• Apprenticeship Service -https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

This site allows you to search and apply for apprenticeship vacancies.  

• Icould  - www.icould.com

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/careers

Free access to over 1000 personal video stories, detailed job information, plus practical tips, insight and advice and Labour Market Information              

• Careers box - www.careersbox.co.uk

National online careers film and video library. You will be able to watch real people doing real jobs to help give you more of an insight 

• ‘All about Careers’ - www.allaboutcareers.com

A careers site highlighting job profiles, updates on job sectors, career matching tool and featured employer links

• ‘Get my first job’- www.getmyfirstjob.co.uk

A website to look at Apprenticeships and Traineeships

• Careers Springboard - www.mycareerspringboard.org

Take a career test, explore your options, plan your future

• Success at School- www.successatschool.org

Career advice for schools and students aged 13-19. Search jobs, advice & find out about employers, work experience, courses, career choices, apprenticeships. 

• National Citizen Service - www.ncsyes.co.uk

Initiative for young people aged 15-17, to develop their skills and have new experiences through attending a 4 week scheme (residential involved).

• My Higher Education Plus - www.myheplus.com

The topics/subjects on the website provide guided activities, questions to think about and suggestions for further reading. Each area is produced by Cambridge post-graduates and academics.

• ‘Not going to University’ - www.notgoingtouni.co.uk

Website with information relating to post 16 and 18 pathway choices that do not involve solely University.

• Uni stats - www.unistats.co.uk

Compares University courses and their career/salary prospects upon graduation.

• The complete University guide - www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk

Central base of information for all things University – league tables, open days, fee information, course searches.

• ‘Studential’ - www.studential.com

Lots of useful support from personal statement and interview advice to key questions about Higher Education.

 

Staffordshire Jobs and Careers, a website that supports career advice and opportunities within Staffordshire.

Staffordshire Jobs & Careers (staffsjobscareers.com)

Careers Hub offers lots of information in regard to Post 16/18 advice

Case Studies – Page 2 – Careers Hub

 

Please click here for the Quality in Careers Standard Certificate.