Careers Education has a high profile in St. Margaret's Academy andstarts in S2, well before pupils and parents decide on subjectchoices.
All pupils are shown how to use the careers library and receiveindividual careers information.
Another quite unique service is the visit of students andlecturers from the Careers Diploma Course at Napier University whotake S2 in small discussion and information groups (sometimes a groupof one!) on two areas of their choice.
The entire year attends the Careers 2000 Convention in the SECC.The BBC publication "Which Way Now?" is used in Social Education andis sent home so that parents may discuss it with their children. ACareers Officer attends S2 Parents' Evening.
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S3 All S3 pupils complete the Lothian Region Careers Service JobPackage. Through a host of self-assessment exercises, pupils find jobfamilies suited to their interests and abilities. They then receivecareers information in these areas and are encouraged to do moreresearch in the careers library. Pupils attend a Work Simulation Dayat either West Lothian College or Oatridge College. There is a widevariety of courses from which they choose.
S4 The work done in S3 is used as a starting point for placingpupils for a week's work experience which is the highlight of theScotvec Module done by all S4 pupils. S4 leavers are given interviewsautomatically by the Careers Officer. Any pupil may request aninterview at any time and there is a "drop-in' clinic everyWednesday, at lunchtime.
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Those students considering entering Higher Education complete theUniversity Package during Personal Development Time. This covers suchareas as entry requirements, application procedures and grants.
Students have access to every UK prospectus and many videos ofinstitutions etc.
Schools Liaison Director from Edinburgh University visits andinterviews students who attend with a completed "dummy" applicationform.
A speaker from a Scottish University visits each year.
Reps from Edinburgh University Students' Association visit toinform about other aspects of student life!
Students are taken to the Higher Education Convention in EdinburghUniversity.
They are also made aware of, and are encouraged to visitindividually, other Open/Information Sessions appropriate to them.
An innovation this session is the Centigrade Programmeadministered to S6 by Napier University. This enables students toidentify strengths and aptitudes and gives each an action plan to actupon.
Those not entering higher education are also well catered for.There is a Christmas Leavers Convention, usually in the AssemblyRooms, Edinburgh.
Chrstmas Leavers have the opportunity to do a second workexperience placement and all S5/6 have the chance to work shadow.
Christmas Leavers this year will have an industrial visit and ajob search skills session with the Careers Officer.
Understanding Industry - Enhanced Course
Although UI courses are run in a few other Lothian Schools, St.Margaret's is still the only Scottish School to offer the enhancedcourse certificated by the Associated Examining Board. This sessionthe new Higher in Management Information Services will use the sametextbook and candidates for this will be encouraged to attend theU.I. course.
The course, structured over twelve weeks and led by businesspeople, is built into the curriculum. Session leaders visit schooland lead groups on the following topics: Marketing and Sales,Finance, Design & Development,
Production, Personnel, Management & Small Business. Each topicis covered by a different company and so a broad range of experienceis offered to the students. The emphasis is on participation.Industrial visits are also included in the course.
Vocational Experience 16-18
This is entirely different from compulsory work experienceundertaken by S4. Students spend a minimum of two days on anemployer's premises. They may choose:
a) A Vocational Assignment - a job study or work shadow of aparticular job or career area.
b) Curricular Project - e.g. to investigate an industrial processor system or to practise techniques related to the course.
Young Enterprise
Sixth formers in St. Margaret's have been involved successfully inYoung Enterprise for the last five years. Students and their advisersfrom Industry meet for two hours weekly after school on the advisers'premises
They acquire through direct experience an understanding of theprinciples of business management. They set up and registercompanies, sell shares, elect board members and sell products orservices in the open market.
They are involved in a nationwide competition and presentationevening but the real reward is the sense of the achievement inworking well together as a team and gaining confidence and a sense ofcommitment and responsibility. (They also have a lot of fun !)
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