Careers
Meet our new Connexions Careers Advisor
Hello there!
My name is Sylvia Wood and I am the new Connexions Careers Advisor for Christleton High School. I am well known to students in Chester having worked in schools here for over twenty years from when I first joined the Cheshire Careers Service.
As a qualified Careers Advisor with almost thirty years experience of working in a variety of schools my role involves working with young people and helping them to develop their career plans. Part of my role is to help and support (through Independent Advice and Guidance) young people (13-19) who are vulnerable or are likely not to be in education, employment or training when they leave school as they do not know what they want to do career wise.
I also have a wealth of experience in helping students in a variety of different ways, whether it is giving information about apprenticeship schemes, talking with sixth form students about likely career progression routes, or giving advice to students in Year 9 or 11 about options available in terms of course choices and college options.
I am based here at Christleton High School every Friday morning between 8.30 and 12.00, when I will be involved in activities such as guidance interviews, group work and talks with students. I have already enjoyed meeting many Christleton students from a variety of years since starting here earlier this term. Any student who wishes to meet with me for help, support, advice or guidance related to careers and future pathways can make an appointment to see me through Mrs Varley at Student Reception or email her at varleyk@christletonhigh.co.uk.
I will also be available at most Parents’ Evenings at school and appointments to meet me can be arranged for this too. I look forward to getting to know even more of you over the months ahead.
Sylvia Wood
Connexions Careers Advisor
The Careers Department provides impartial information, advice, guidance and support for all students at Christleton. This support will empower students to reach well-informed, reasoned decisions about their future education, training and occupations.
The employment market is changing in ways that makes it more important than ever for students to take personal responsibility for managing their own career development throughout life. For this they need to develop the skills to manage their own career including the abilities to reflect and review, to plan and make decisions, to use information resources effectively, to create and to take opportunities. Through Careers Education all students are given the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills to manage their own learning:
Self Development
• evaluate themselves honestly and realistically
• match personal skills, abilities and interests to careers aspirations
Career Exploration
• find out about opportunities and progression routes, including entry requirements, skills, qualities and the experience required
Career Management
• decision making
• reviewing progress
• goal and target setting
• making applications
These skills are developed in many ways across all key stages; PSHCE lessons, visiting speakers, practice interviews, conferences such as the HE day, work experience and through alternative curriculum provision such as extended work experience and the Gateway to Work programme. The school also has its own Connexions team were students are able to set up their own individual advice sessions.
Employment4students
Employment4students is a student job site with a whole range of part-time and holiday jobs, and work experience opportunities. The website is committed to helping young people and students improve their career prospects and find employment. Over 160 schools, colleges and universities are currently recommending this service via their careers offices and websites, as well as links from over 150 councils throughout the UK. To visit the Employment4students website, please click on the link below.