Careers (CEIAG) at Calderstones School

Calderstones School is committed to providing a comprehensive and fully inclusive careers education for all of our pupils from year 7 to 13 with a view to inspire our pupils to develop an understanding of the different career pathways and opportunities open to them.  

In recognition of our commitment to CEIAG we were one of the first schools in the Northwest to be awarded the Careers Connect Award for Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance.  

Careers Education, Information Advice and Guidance is regarded as an integral part of the holistic development of students at Calderstones School. Calderstones believe in educating individual pupils of all abilities, each to a maximum of his/her potential, so that every student can enjoy a high quality of life and contribute responsibly and fully to the life of the community. Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance is embedded throughout the school and all staff see it as their responsibility to deliver sessions to motivate and inspire learners.  

Throughout the last couple of academic years, our pupils have been involved in:

• Information advice and guidance assemblies and weekly registration activities delivered by form tutors, our in-house careers mentor and an independent careers advisor.
• We have welcomed contribution from the City of Liverpool College, Jamie Carragher Sports and Learning Academy, Young Peoples Opportunity Programme and SALT (Sport and Leisure Training) in order to meet the needs of all of our students.
• We have created a lower school and sixth form Careers Wall to post up to date information, opportunities and apprenticeships. We have a careers library and our website has been populated with an extensive range of up to date and relevant links.
• Inspiring Your Future Day - 40+ organisations provided careers guidance. There was a real buzz throughout this careers fayre/market place.
• DWF, Hill Dickinson and Weightman’s LLP worked with potential law students.
• Two students were given the opportunity to visit Bibby Offshore, Aberdeen. Scottish Power and United Utilities offered work place visits and apprenticeship advice. Business workshops, site visits and mock interviews were provided by Royal Sun Alliance. Laing O'Rourke Construction gave potential engineering students the opportunity to visit the new Alder Hey Building.
• UCAS Futures week - a number of lecturers from Bradford University, LJMU (Future Smart), Hope University, Edge Hill University and Manchester Metropolitan University promoted their courses and subsequent career opportunities. Past students returned to discuss their experience of post 16 opportunities. Time management, financial management and stress busting workshops were also provided.
• A senior partner of Inflexion Private Equity and a Consultant Paediatrician from Alder Hey Hospital gave their time to offer personal advice and guidance.
  Y11 & 12 students attended the BMA conference this year at Liverpool Conference Centre
• We offer financial support to enable students to attend Medlink conferences and Cambridge University's Villiers Park residential courses. We proactively promote Nuffield Research Placements.
• Involvement in subject masterclasses at Liverpool University and subject shadowing at LJMU.
• We support and promote student applications to work with Social Mobility Foundation Scheme and have an active involvement in the Liverpool University's Scholars Scheme
• Visit to Oxford University for most able students. Involved in the coordinate Cambridge HE+ scheme across the city for our most-able students
  Through work with National Citizenship Service, students have developed their transferrable skills and improved their CV and interview techniques
• Business in the Community – currently agreeing a 3-year programme- in the process of conducting a needs analysis.
• Visit to the UCFB Turf Moor Site to promote sports/business based courses at their university.
• TTE engineering - employability programme delivered in school (pupils have enrolled on engineering apprenticeships directly from this programme)
  Extensive participation in the International Festival of Business activities including the Employability day at Aintree Racecourse
• New Horizon Programme working with a discreet group of year 10 and 11 students on a 6-week employability programme
• Ambition Programme (Employability Solutions) a local training group working with year 11 pupils regarding career choices and employability
• ‘Jobs for the Future’ with Merseytravel and Peel Holdings as part of the school’s forum.
• Staff, parents, governors and alumni provide an extensive programme of employability interviews for Year 10 pupils.
• Our 6th form students won the inaugural Peel Holdings Enterprise competition as part of the Liverpool’s International Business Festival 

• Mr P Richards
  Head of 6th Form/Careers Lead
  Mr P Richards

  After completing my GCSEs and A Levels in my hometown of Leicester, I studied Physical Geology and Geomorphology at Liverpool University, graduating in 1995. During the holidays at university, I had a number of jobs, including bar work, picking orders in a bread factory and manufacturing double glazed windows. I completed my PGCE in Geography at Liverpool Institute of Higher Education (now Liverpool Hope University) and started work at Calderstones School as an NQT in 1996!

  As well as teaching Geography I have held a number of positions at the school including Head of Travel & Tourism, Head of Year (7-11) and I am currently held the post of Head of Sixth Form since 2010. Alongside my current role I have been given the opportunity to develop the schoolï ¿ ½s career programme as Career Lead and I completed the Level 6 Career Leader qualification in 2019.

• Mrs S Coulson
  Deputy Head Teacher
  Mrs S Coulson

• Mrs R Barlow
  BSc (Hons), PGCE
  Mrs R Barlow

  Iï ¿ ½ve been here before! I completed my GCSEs and A-Levels at Calderstones and in 2002 went on to Newcastle University to study Biomedical Sciences. I returned to Liverpool in 2005 where I did some temporary office work until going travelling across North America in 2006. After flying home, I spent some time in Manchester working for a graduate recruitment company before returning to Science when an opportunity came up to do work experience in the Natural History Museum in London. I stayed in London for nearly five years, working in the University of Greenwich.

  In 2010 I made my final move back home to Liverpool to start my PGCE in Secondary Science at Liverpool Hope University. In 2011 I joined the team at Calderstones as a newly qualified Science Teacher. During my time here I have been involved in many aspects of the teaching and learning of Science including visiting local primary schools to deliver science club as well as helping facilitate Science club here at Calderstones. As a Biologist I have participated in a ï ¿ ½Future Physics Leadersï ¿ ½ course run by the Institute of Physics and have been mentor to a number of trainee teachers of Science over the years.

  Last year I began working with Farm Urban and was responsible for a team of year 9 students participating in their Future Food Challenge which we won! I am currently completing the Level 6 Careers Leader Qualification from which I hope to help further develop our Careers Programme in School, supporting the great work Mr Richards, Miss Schofield and the careers team already do.

• Mr C Murphy
  B.A. (Hons) Learning Development and Support (LaWP)
  Mr C Murphy

  My career started somewhat differently than my colleagues. I left school at 16 after O-Levels and started on a three year training programme at Tesco as a trainee manager. Working in various stores around the country and studying at Millbank College of Commerce on a day release basis I left after five successful years to join my best friend in the wholesale fruit market importing fruit, vegetables and salad from around the world and distributing around the country!

  I joined Calderstones in 2001 initially working for SENISS working on a one to one basis with pupils with additional needs, I had attended Underlea Special School up to the age of 11 so this was something I had always wanted to do. I had the opportunity to join the schoolï ¿ ½s mentoring team in 2002 and our team of four are still working together today!

  During my time as a Mentor I have been involved in various projects including the Increased Flexibility Project where students attended college to study for vocational qualifications alongside their GCSEï ¿ ½s. I have also worked closely with Connexions (Career Connect) and have completed the qualifications in Understanding Connexions and The Connexions Diploma. I have also completed my BA (Hons) degree at JMU.ï ¿ ½ I have been privileged to have had the opportunity to be involved in many of the extra-curricular activities ï ¿ ½ I have run numerous school football teams, I have been involved in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme and been involved in many school trips both home and abroad. I have also served on the school governing body for two terms.

  As a dad of five whose children have all embarked on their different Career paths from Medicine, Nursing, Bio Chemistry, Teaching and my youngest on the front line in Morrisonï ¿ ½s hoping to start University in September ï ¿ ½it is a privilege to interview and offer impartial advice and guidance to your children.

• Mr J Rowe
  Link Governor - BSc (Hons)
  Mr J Rowe

  After finishing my GCSE's at SFX I went to Myerscough College to complete a BTEC in sport for three years. I loved my time at Myerscough and it opened up a lot of potential career paths in sport which I didn't think were available to me following some disappointing GCSE grades. During my time at Myerscough I started volunteering at Everton in the Community which is the official charity of Everton Football Club. After spending almost two years volunteering I knew I wanted to pursue a career in coaching.

  After finishing college I went on to LJMU to complete a sports development degree. I continued volunteering at Everton in the Community which gave me some of the best experiences I have had in my career so far. Following the completion of my degree I went on to get a full time job at Everton. The job was volunteer coordinator, it involved me recruiting and placing volunteers onto the many projects that Everton run in the local community. In 2011 I was asked to run our National Citizen Service (NCS) programme that I'm sure you have heard about. NCS is a fantastic opportunity for young people in year 11 to meet people from different communities and backgrounds, to learn more about their community, develop skills and give something back through social action. Since 2011 we have worked with over 2000 young people. NCS is something I am still involved with today.