It’s National Careers & British Science Week!
Next week is a key week in education with National Careers Week running from March 4th – 9th and British Science Week beginning on March 8th. There are projects to do at home, with friends over the Easter break, competitions and exciting resources and helpful videos and guides available. We’d heartily recommend sharing these links with family and friends who have children at school or just graduating this summer.
On March 4th we are exhibiting at a School Careers fair for 11-18 year old. It’s made us reflect on our own experiences as parents, teachers, employers and mentors as we create materials to share. In our STEM working party we have found a free education site of particular value in terms of aiding decision making about both academic subject options and career planning for students evaluating career paths via Apprenticeships at Higher and Degree level and University.
During National Careers Week Success at School.org are issuing daily emails about career options to anyone registered with a free account, these cover:
Monday: Law
Tuesday: Banking, Finance and Accountancy
Wednesday: Engineering
Thursday: Tech
Friday: Entertainment
The website has also has some detailed Digital Guides introduce students to subject options, qualifications and skills needed for jobs in all career zones.
Anyone can sign up for a ‘Success at School’ Free Account Here:
https://successatschool.org/?utm_source=Parents&utm_campaign=b9e186b069-NCW_premailing_Parents&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-4f2c370b74-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&goal=0_075a5d0dae-b9e186b069-212274880&mc_cid=b9e186b069&mc_eid=2ef1e8312d
Once you have an account – Try these links to useful Digital Guides which we have found very informative.
Apprenticeship Guide
https://mailchi.mp/successatschool/apprenticeships-parents-2024
STEM Guide
https://79590737.flowpaper.com/STEM2022/#page=2
National Careers Week Newsletter
The newsletter below was written for young people. To share it with a send them this link:
https://mailchi.mp/successatschool/national-careers-week-2024-students
British Science Week
The British Science Week website has a whole suite of fantastic biography videos on YouTube where specialists talk about how they entered their job and what it involves. There is a serious message for girls.. and boys, we need to always questions stereotypes and research the facts to ensure we make the right decisions of our future success. Do it early at a measured pace so you are ready for key decisions!
#SmashingStereotypes gives great insight into how scientists and engineers have star qualities in the future new world of work. There are fun projects in the community download guides for the holidays too and opportunities to volunteer for Nature’s Calendar projects and the BIG PLASTIC COUNT at home with family over the week.
What else are we doing?
As soroptimists we are challenging ourselves in our STEM project how to help encourage more girls to study for a rewarding career in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) related roles in government, health, education and industry. Filling the gender gap at work is a key outcome for all UN countries and here in Britain, whilst things are improving year on year with more girls applying to study associated subjects there is much exciting work underway to achieve parity. Skill and identification of ability starts in education from a young age and becomes more significant as your child enters senior school and faces more homework and evaluation. We plan to share more information for those helping their youngsters and students at the careers fair. Features:
- Developing a ‘Me Map’ from a young age with a child
- Encouraging a child to explore the world of science and technology outside school
- Help ensure a student keeps all options open with their GCSE options
- Helping your young person choose ‘A’ Level options this autumn
- Encouraging access to skill based activities beyond school
- Enabling fun learning and building independence, resilience and the ability by extra curricular activities.
- Encouraging ‘Life Long’ Learning
There are so many low cost opportunities to cover all types of interests, build friendships with liked minded local children and learn new skills and behaviours, just a few examples..
- Sea scouts, Guides, Venture Scouts, Air Cadets
- Learning an instrument or joining an online child’s book club
- Formalising capability with a non English mother tongue through classes
- Boys and girls team work, sport is key to this if not at school outside e.g. community football for girls and boys /rugby/cricket, learn to row on a river near you, a perfect sport for those who hate contact sports and enjoy regular strength and fitness training, maybe netball.. in fact any sport!
- Build on a love of drama, singing, performing
- Earn pocket money with a part time Saturday job, be a volunteer, babysit or as competence develops helping a local charity of club with its social media
Watch out for our feedback after next week!