Careers / Parents & Carers
We know parents and carers are the most important influence on a young person’s career decisions; we want to provide you with the information you need to help your young person when they most need your support. Even if they don’t ask for help or if they appear to be managing on their own, it is still reassuring as a parent to know where to find the information you need.
The Importance of Tutorial Sessions
In addition to their subject lessons, students are expected to attend their tutorial sessions. During these sessions, they will be given information to help them make choices about what they do after they leave Varndean. Students studying GCSEs, BTEC’s, the IB and A Levels will all receive information about Apprenticeships, college leaver jobs and how to apply to university if they wish to.
Just some of the topics covered in tutorials:
- Reflect on your skills – know what you are good at
- What are Apprenticeships
- Gap Years – a good idea?
- What is it really like to go to university
- The value of Work Experience
- How to succeed at job interviews
- How to decide if university is for you
- Student Finance – how to apply
- How to secure an apprenticeship – register and apply
- How to choose a university and subject
By attending tutorial sessions, students will be able to understand the options open to them and will feel more confident when needing to make decisions about their next steps.
There is so much information available, it can be difficult to know where to start or how helpful it will be. We have pulled together the websites and specific pages we feel would be of most help to parents and carers below. We encourage students to keep their options open as long as possible. Many students don’t know what they want to do when they leave Varndean and we recognise that. We are here to support them. If you have any questions, do please email careers@varndean.ac.uk.
University Support Newsletter
At the University of Brighton, we understand it can be challenging to know how best to support your young person navigate their journey to university. We are on hand with advice to help you and your young person with the process of applying to university, please sign up to receive information on events and application support from the University of Brighton.Sign up to parent/carer newsletter
Apprenticeships
- https://careerfinder.ucas.com/jobs/apprenticeship/UCAS.com
- https://amazingapprenticeships.com/apprenticeships/
Job Hunting Locally
https://www.yell.com – use company contact details and ask about job vacancies/ job shadowing/ trial days/ work experience – before sending CV out make sure it is specific to the job area applied for – a ‘one size fits all’ approach will not impress. If you are applying for a specific job you have seen advertised, make sure you address the essential requirements of the job in the CV.
https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/best-ways-to-find-a-job – how to start and how to stay positive
College Leaver Jobs
Work Experience
Gap Year
- https://www.unifrog.org/student/know-how/trending/a-guide-to-gap-years – you will need a Unifrog login for this link
- https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Trzsv1hpC7FEMYjqkl4Kd3OSbHoeQr4q/edit#slide=id.p1
University
- https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/ucas-undergraduate-advice-parents-and-guardians – advice specifically for parents/carers
- https://www.ucas.com/ the website students will be using to register and apply to uni – has a lot of information in easy to use sections
- https://www.opendays.com/ – calendar showing all university open day dates – visiting a university, seeing its facilities, meeting its staff, seeing where students would be living really helps them feel more comfortable with the choices they make
- https://www.theuniguide.co.uk/advice/preparing-for-university/transition-moving-from-college-sixth-form-to-university-differences
- https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/what-and-where-study/pros-and-cons-university
- https://russellgroup.ac.uk/about/our-universities/ – Students who are interested in applying to Oxford or Cambridge or any of the other Russell Group Universities are encouraged to become members of the ‘Aspire’ group and attend meetings that support their application – please contact jcs@varndean.ac.uk for more information
- https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/writing-personal-statement/how-write-personal-statement – University websites often have a section dedicated to supporting students with Personal Statement writing.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO_rAsMuAlM – excellent video for parents/carers and students – a few years old and 58 mins but time very well spent!
- https://www.gov.uk/student-finance-register-login – student finance applications open in March and with deadline in May – students need to complete the form in the year they are DUE TO START at uni
- https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/student-life/getting-student-support/undergraduate-student-support
UCAS Support in College
- Research courses, subjects and universities
- Find out about foundation years, placement (sandwich) years or studying abroad
- Register for UCAS (so they can apply to university)
- Complete each section of the application form
- Write a UCAS Personal Statement
- Sign up for university open days
- Apply for Student Finance
- Accept their offers