Careers

At Kettering Buccleuch Academy students receive careers advice and guidance through a variety of forums from dedicated sessions as part of the Global Learning Programme to individual events such as our Primary Careers Day and our Secondary Careers and Higher Education Evening.

Recognising that our links with industry and business are important to the development of our students, and to their awareness of the opportunities that are available to them, we have developed a network of companies and providers that offer support and guidance to the academy.  A long standing relationship with our Business Enterprise Partner, Knights of Old, affords our students access to many aspects of the world of work and an appreciation of the skills being sought by employers.

Our ultimate aim is to prepare and equip our students for the responsibilities and opportunities that they will encounter in their careers and assist and support them in making the right decisions for their futures.

Accessing Careers Information

From careers advice through to interview tips, the National Careers Service provides a comprehensive career guide. Access at the website below:
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk

Take the buzz test to find out what kind of person you are and the careers that might suit you:

http://icould.com/buzz/?ref=menu

Employer Engagement – Help us to help you

We know that employers in the UK have concerns about skills gaps and the work-readiness of some young people.

Kettering Buccleuch Academy is a member of the SEMLEP Careers and Enterprise Network, part of the national Careers and Enterprise Company programme. 

Our aim is that through employer engagement at all ages, we ensure that young people leave our school with the skills, competencies, knowledge, appropriate qualifications and attitudes needed by employers for both their own career development and economic sustainability and growth.

We need your help

We are looking for passionate employers from businesses and other organisations to help our students and thus shape the future workforce and bring the world of work to life for the next generation.

The following high impact activities are used to work in partnership with businesses to help our students prepare for the world of work:

• Employer Talks
• Business site visits
• Mentoring
• Enterprise activities
• Work experience and job shadowing
• Mock interviews and CV preparation

If you can help with an engagement or for further information, contact Mrs Massey at joannemassey@kba.uk.

Recent Events

Secondary Careers and Higher Education Evening - 8^th March 2018

 

Following the success of this event in previous years, we are once again offered all KBA students from Years 7-13 and from schools in the surrounding area the opportunity to attend our Careers and Higher Education Evening. 

60 organisations gave presentations or provided one to one careers advice to the students and parents who attended.  The presentations included  ‘Applying for medicine and training as a medic’, 'Careers in Sport', ' Applying for Nursing and Midwifery' and 'Careers in Engineering'.  Presentations on apprenticeship routes and different aspects of university were also included in the event.  Employers across many different sectors including engineering, construction, retail, the forces, the legal profession and healthcare, provided an insight into a wide range of potential careers and the different paths that can be taken in order to pursue them.   Our thanks to all those who exhibited at this event.

Nuffield Research Placements

Students in Year 12 have been invited to apply for a prestigious Nuffield Research Placement.  The placement offers students the opportunity to work alongside professional scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians in the workplace.

 

Careers in Construction

All sixth form students were given the opportunity to attend an event at a local college outlining the higher-level apprenticeship routes into careers in construction. 

 

PREPARATION FOR THE WORLD OF EMPLOYMENT AND UNIVERSITY INTERVIEWS

Brightside Mentoring

All students in Year 12 have been offered the opportunity to be mentored by someone currently studying at university.  Most students in the year group have taken advantage of this programme which is designed to better prepare them for university study and student life.

Social Mobility Foundation

Students in Year 12 were invited to apply for the Social Mobility Foundation programme. This offers one to one careers guidance and support by matching students to a mentor who is working in the career they wish to join in the future.  Students are invited to skills sessions and sector-specific events which will improve confidence, broaden their horizons and make them more aware of different career routes. There will also be the opportunity for students to undertake internships in the sector in which they want to work.

 

Traineeship in Television and Journalism

Last year a number of students in Year 12 undertook a traineeship in television and journalism at the University of Northampton.   The programme was organised by NCOP.  The students worked on a magazine television show and received training in TV presenting and all other aspects of the production as part of the traineeship. This year, students have been offered the opportunity to undertake traineeships in Sports Journalism and Radio or Newspaper Journalism.

 

 

Traineeship in Podiatry

A number of students in Year 12 are undertaking a traineeship in Podiatry.  Run by the Podiatry Department at the University of Northampton, this traineeship is providing an insight into the workings of  the Podiatry Clinic at Northampton General Hospital and the academic work that underpins this.

 

One really exciting experience being taken up by Year 12 currently through the National CollaborativeOutreach Project (NCOP) has enabled students from KBA to gain insight in to their desired careers. NCOP has organised three weeks in a graduate work placement to enable students to learn as much as they can about the role and realities about their specific career goal.   The project is unusual in that it provides a bursary of £750 to students who successfully complete the project 

 

Cambridge University Interviews and applying for Russell Group Universities

Students in Year 13 who  have the potential to apply to study at Oxbridge or other Russell Group Universites, have attended a workshop run by Cambridge University to help prepare them for the interview process.  These students will also be offered sessions at Oundle School to help advise and support them in making  their applications.

A number of students in Year 12 attended an event aimed at advising students on how to best prepare for applications to Russell Group universities.  Year 12 students will also have the chance to visit Cambridge University in the SummerTerm for further information on Oxbridge applications.

 

Mock Interviews for university applicants

All students in Year 13 were offered a mock interview with staff form De Montfort University to help prepare them for university interviews.  Students who are applying for medicine related fields have also been offered additional sessions at Oundle School to help prepare them for their specialised interviews.

 

 

 

Global Learning Programme

The Sixth Form Global Learning programme includes a wide array of presentations from universities and apprenticeship providers to ensure students can make an informed choice about their next steps.

 

All students in Year 12 and 13 also have the option to have a one to one careers interview with a Careers Advisor from Prospects at any point in the year.

 

In the Summer Term, all Year 12 students will have the oppotunity to visit Nottingham University and Loughborugh university for open day visits and  will also undertake a week of work shadowing.

 

COMPETITIVE EDGE PROGRAMME

Students in Year 12 and 13  have had  the opportunity to take part in the Competitive Edge Programme run by Prospects.  The programme is aimed at students who want to go directly into employment at the end of their sixth form studies.  Working with a range of employers, the programme is designed to cover the skills needed to make students employment ready covering areas such as the production of CVs, interview techniques and presentation skills.