University
If you are thinking of applying to university it is never too early to learn more about the process and to begin thinking about your application. When applying to university you only complete one application and personal statement which is then sent to up to five universities / courses – because of this we recommend that you choose courses that are similar in nature. It is important to remember that the deadline for what UCAS calls ‘equal consideration’ for most courses is the 29th January 2025. If you are applying to Oxford or Cambridge or applying to study medicine, veterinary medicine or dentistry the equal consideration deadline is the 15th October 2024.
College
Applying to college can seem like a difficult task but with some research and planning you will be able to write an excellent application. The great news about applying to college is that you can apply for as many courses as you like and you can write different personal statements for each application. This means that you can keep your options open if you are still sitting on the fence about which type of course to study.
Apprenticeships
Explore the apprenticeships available (Foundation / Modern / Graduate), which employers you could be working with and the qualifications you’ll gain along the way.
Applying for Jobs
There are many ways to apply for a job but whether it is online or handing out CV’s the old fashioned way it’s important that you are able to describe your skills, qualities and interests. Use the resources in this section to help you produce a CV and cover letter that will hopefully secure you an interview.
Skills Development Scotland Careers Adviser
Our Careers Adviser is Pritpal Kalsi and pupils can email him to make appointments.
pritpal.kalsi@sds.co.uk
The Employment and Training Unit (ETU)
Falkirk Council’s Employment and Training Unit (ETU) are here to support people who would benefit from extra help with figuring out what their next steps are and how to get to where they aspire to be. Some examples of the type of support on offer are: help with gaining new qualifications, sector-based training courses, CV and interview prep, and finding an apprenticeship or job.
Graeme High School has their very own employment and training co-ordinator (ETC) from the ETU called Holly Flannigan.
If you want to have a chat through your post-school options and choices then ask your DHH to set up an appointment with Holly for when she next visits.
You can learn more about ETU by visiting their webpages online at www.falkirk.gov.uk/etu or follow ETU on Facebook.
Career Insights
Explore a vast range of career options by watching the career insight presentations kindly produced by friends of Graeme High School. In addition to this we have collated some excellent career insight resources produced by career planning experts. Before choosing your subjects for next year or applying to jobs, apprenticeships, university or college spend some time learning more about the different opportunities that are out there.
Work Placement
Taking the opportunity to gain experience in the workplace will allow learners to develop skills that are sought after by Employers, Further and Higher Education establishments alike. When in person opportunities are not available many organisations are offering virtual placements so do not miss out on the chance to gain valuable skills and insight.
Open University
Young Applicants in Schools Scheme
YASS, our Young Applicants in Schools Scheme, is designed to bridge the gap between school and university, college or employment and helps motivated students stand out from the crowd. It encourages independent learning and builds confidence. Taking part in YASS develops key skills like time management and using an online study environment.
Find your future
The Young Person's Guarantee is a commitment to bring together employers, partners and young people. It aims to connect every 16 to 24 year old in Scotland to an opportunity. This could be a job, apprenticeship, further or higher education, training or volunteering.
Discover what you could be doing next with your future using our opportunity finder. You can find it here.
Information for parents and guardians
A short video presentation from Abbie Wilson, Careers Adviser for Skills Development Scotland.
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Information for parents and guardians |
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My World of Work |
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SDS Forth Valley Facebook page |
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SDS Twitter @FHSCareersAdv |