Community - Careers / Connexions



You are working hard to get the best GCSE grades you can. Success in these examinations is going to be important to you.

However, if you are going to make the most of the choices available to you, it is important that you do some planning for the future.
Within the library there is a Connexions reference section. Here are a large set of purple folders, organised in occupational areas, containing all the relevant Clips leaflets on careers ranging from art therapy to zoo keeping, together with a range of articles relating to specific job roles. The folders are clearly labelled and there are Connexions Resource Centre Index User Guides which help you to locate information. The clips leaflets are facts sheets on career opportunities and pathways. They contain unbiased information and identify the skills, qualities, training routes and qualifications required for particular job roles..Room R13, next to the library is available most lunch times for you to use the computers.

There is also a wide selection of college and university prospectuses for you to borrow.

INTERNET SITES YOU MAY FIND USEFUL
There are lots of websites that can help you with planning for the future and dealing with everyday issues. Visit them yourself by clicking on each in turn and see how they can help you!
Connexions Sites: will help you if you want information and advice on issues relating to your career, work, health, housing, relationships with family and friends, sex, learning plans, using your free time and money
 www.connexions-direct.com - will give guidance on a wide range of issues and includes the opportunity to get individual help on issues that concern you
 www.connexions4u-ws.org.uk - will give guidance on a wide range of issues and also has links to local information for the Swindon area
 www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onelife/personal - advice on body image, confidence, family, bereavement etc.
 www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onelife/health - health A-Z, sex, drugs and alcohol, Healthy mind etc
 www.talktofrank.com - guidance on drugs education; confidential guidance on drugs related matters
 www.ruthinking.co.uk/sexwise.aspx - guidance on sex education; confidential guidance on sex related matters

Making Your Year 9 Option Choices
 www.connexions-direct.com/whichwaynow
www.icould.com Real career stories told by real people. Covers occupations, career and education pathways

Making Choices in Year 11
 www.focusoncareers.org.uk - on online listing of local courses and diplomas
 www.connexions-direct.com/itsyourchoice
www.icould.com - Real career stories told by real people. Covers occupations, career and education pathways

Careers Information Sites – find out about a very wide range of jobs
 www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u - information about a wide range of careers
 www.futures4me.co.uk/wiltshireswindon - information about all the courses available in our area: this is particularly good for year 10 and 11 students planning their next steps after The Ridgeway School
 www.careersbox.co.uk - a large collection of video clips of people talking about the jobs they do (headphones recommended)

Further Education Sites
Web sites to local Further education Colleges
 www.swindon-college.ac.uk
www.cirencester.ac.uk
www.wiltscoll.ac.uk - including Lackham College (for agriculture, animals etc)
 www.focusoncareers.org.uk - on online listing of local courses and diplomas

Training Opportunities and Modern Apprenticeships
 www.apprenticeships.org.uk - training for young people (work based learning) Available as foundation and advanced modern apprenticeships. Available in over 80 different sectors of industry and commerce
 www.wiltscoll.ac.uk/global/gateway/careers_8.asp - information about work based learning. Links to local training providers

Finding out about job vacancies
 www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Graduate_jobs/p!edcaefX;jsessionid=a630ff930adb595d34f2 - jobs that are available for graduates (successfully completed university courses)
 www.swindonjob.com - see some of the jobs that are available in the local area. Look also at local newspapers, visit the careers centre

Finding Higher Education (University) courses (see what courses are available where and the subjects and grades you will require at A level)
 www.aiminghigher.ac.uk - thinking about the benefits of higher education and what it can do for you? Guidance on higher education and university
 www.ucas.ac.uk - link to advice centre and sections on all courses of higher education. See what higher education courses are available, and what the entry profile will be
 www.ukcoursefinder.com - searches the entire Higher Education UK course database after the user completes a comprehensive questionnaire about their interests

The Virtual Careers Library
 www.wiltscoll.ac.uk/global/gateway/careers_menu.asp - direct link to Wiltshire College’s virtual careers library with direct links to everything you could possibly want to find out about careers (jobs, higher education, training etc)

Interview Skills
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/schools/11_16/gogetit/getthatjob/interviewgame.shtml - a series of games and activities to assist with preparing for interviews