Careers and LLW Update
This has been a busy term for the Careers and LLW departments. As the term commenced in August places were confirmed for our students at their chosen universities across Ireland and Britain. We were delighted with the success of our applicants. Sixth Form students returned from summer schemes at the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, including the Cambridge Physics Masterclass, Sutton Trust and UNIQ. Sarah Montgomery attended the Earth Science lecture on asteroids at Cambridge.
The Year 8 pupils enjoyed a Young Enterprise Day in September which not only introduced the employability skills that we focus on but also served as a teambuilding and bonding exercise as the pupils commenced their second level education in a new school.
As part of our Learning for Life and Work (LLW) programme, the Year 10 girls attended a wellbeing event at RBAI and in October they hugely enjoyed a Love for Life concert and presentation. All Year 11 pupils participated in a Sentinus Experience of Work and Robotics roadshow which aimed to highlight the careers available in the Information Technology sector, including data analytics, software engineering and robotics. All Year 12 took part in an Amazing Brains seminar in October; this aimed to improve their study techniques and strategies for examination revision.
Year 12 Mathematics pupils attended a public talk at Queen’s University and other pupils attended the annual Skills NI careers event at the Titanic Centre. All six FE Colleges exhibited at the event, highlighting careers in Virtual and Augmented Reality, Health & Social Care, IT and Product Design.
Many departments at Victoria College organise their own events to highlight careers in their own fields. The Health and Social Care department organised a visit from Allied Health Professionals including paramedics whilst other pupils enjoyed the visit of Tim Loane who talked to students about his career in Theatre, Film and Screenplay Writing. Pupils of Performing Arts and Moving Image Arts enjoyed a careers talk.
Pupils in Years 10 and 12 attended the Subject Information meetings in November and are now busy considering their subject choices. All pupils are being interviewed by the Careers department and Year 12 pupils also have a further interview with representatives of the NI Careers Service.
Pupils in the Sixth Form have naturally being considering their options for Higher Education and other pathways. All pupils in Year 14 attended the QUB Open Day in September whilst other pupils participated in a visit to NUI Galway. We hosted a university roadshow for Lower Sixth pupils that focused on opportunities at English universities. UCAS applications have been submitted and CAO are to follow. Medicine applicants participated in the interview preparation training provided by St. Brigid’s Third World Group at St. Brigid’s Parish Hall. This invaluable interview training provides excellent preparation for the MMIs and also raises funds for charity. All pupils in Year 14 were offered a mock interview and we are very grateful to the many parents and friends of the school who volunteered their time. In particular we were delighted to have the assistance of Kingsbridge Private Hospital who conducted a whole series of interviews for applicants to Nursing, Midwifery and Occupational Therapy.
Lower Sixth students have been attending careers open days organised by Mr Thompson, our Work Experience Co-ordinator. Placements include Physiotherapy at Belfast HSCT Mitre Rehabilitation Unit at Musgrave Pk, Nursing at the City Hospital and the Baker McKenzie Law open day. Pupils have also attended an information event at Deloitte, promoting their BrightStart Higher Apprenticeship programme.
