Careers advice
Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) forms an integral part of student life at Westfield School.
We encourage all students to develop high aspirations and consider a broad and ambitious range of careers. We use contacts from the world of work and further education to help students understand where different choices can take them in the future.
The majority of careers guidance is delivered in PSHE lessons through their schemes of work, through careers events, off-timetable days and one to one careers interviews delivered by an impartial careers advisor.
The main way we measure the success of our careers programme is through progression statistics for our leavers. We were proud that in 2021, the last year for which we have statistics, students from Westfield were very successful in accessing education and training post-16, with Westfield students more likely than other students both locally and nationally to be in education, employment or training after leaving our school.
Our CEIAG policy is available to read under the policy section on the school website. For further details on Westfield's careers entitlement, please click here.
Careers team
Becky Ray - Work Related Learning Advisor
Steve Rastall - Work Related Learning Advisor
Sara Roberts - Careers Advisor
The careers team can also be contacted by telephone by ringing the school reception on 0114 248 5221.
careers and college information
The careers corner in the school library is full of post 16 information, including college and 6th form prospectuses, CV templates and interview techniques.
For details of the Post 16 application process, please visit the Sheffield Progress website at www.sheffieldprogress.co.uk
You can view our post 16 parent and carers presentation here and a copy of our parent pack here.
Apprenticeships
What is an apprenticeship :
- An apprenticeship gives you the opportunity to combine on the job training with study meaning you can earn while you learn.
- With some apprenticeships you can even get a degree.
- It usually takes between one and four years to complete an apprenticeship depending on which level you take.
- Apprenticeships are available across a wide range of industries and many high quality, prestigious companies offer them.
- Pay is dependent on the industry, location and type of apprenticeship.
Click here to watch a YouTube webinar to provide information to parents and students on apprenticeships and how they work. You can also visit the National Apprenticeships website which has details of all apprenticeships nationwide at https://www.gov.uk/education/apprenticeships-traineeships-and-internships.
The Amazing Apprenticeship is a leading organisation in the education sector, founded to tackle misconceptions about apprenticeships and promote the benefits. Their monthly packs are an excellent resource to help parents and students navigate the world of apprenticeships. You can visit their website at https://amazingapprenticeships.com/parents/.
Useful links
- https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/
- https://www.nationalapprenticeshipweek.co.uk/industries/ Explore the diversity of apprenticeship opportunities available to you below from leading employers and training providers.
- https://amazingapprenticeships.com/vacancies/- National employers who offer apprenticeship programs – this portal only shows vacancies with the providers listed. There are thousands of other apprenticeship vacancies on the
- GOV.UK find an apprenticeship website- https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
- Meet real apprentices and view video cases studies-http://amazingapprenticeships.com/apprentices/ these films will help to build an understanding of day to day responsibilities and the range of apprenticeships available.
- Amazon announces 1,500 new apprenticeships for 2022 www.amazon.co.uk
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60208466
- Further details on apprenticeships can also be found at the AMRC at www.amrctraining.co.uk
If you have an interview for an apprenticeship :
What Apprenticeship Interview Questions Might You Be Asked?
- Why Do You Want This Apprenticeship?
- What Are Your Strengths?
- What Are Your Weaknesses? -Admitting to weaknesses shows strength.
- Why Do You Want to Work for This Company?
- What Skills Would You Like to Improve During this Apprenticeship?
What to Avoid Doing When Attending an Interview?
- Turning up late or joining the online video call late
- Turning up completely unprepared
- Appearing like you don’t care
- Chewing gum
- Negative body language
- Dressing inappropriately
Here are a few questions which you could ask:
- What are the qualities of someone who you have seen succeed in this role?
- Is there a permanent position available at the end of my apprenticeship?
- Will there be opportunities for further training and development?
You will need to complete a CV and cover letter. Sara Roberts can assist with this if required. targetcareers.co.uk/careers-advice/applications-and-interviews/198-how-to-write-a-cracking-school-leaver-cv has useful information and an example CV.
employer information
We are keen to engage with businesses and employers to help us inform and educate students on both local and national employment opportunities. This links directly with the Gatsby Benchmark 5 (Encounters with employers and employees) and Gatsby Benchmark 6 (Experience of work places). We provide many opportunities for businesses to interact with students through open evening events, our annual "Be Ambitious Day (Boss Your Future)" and work experience programme.
Further information can be found on our work experience page.
Silverdale Sixth Form
Westfield School is part of Chorus Education Trust, so our students have priority status when applying to Silverdale Sixth Form - which regularly has the best A-level results of all state schools in Sheffield, and is part of Silverdale School which was voted Top State Secondary School in the north by the Sunday Times in 2021.
This means that, as long as Westfield students meet the entry requirements, they will gain priority over any other external applicant for a Sixth Form place. Given that Silverdale Sixth Form is always heavily over-subscribed, this provides a great advantage to Westfield students.
You can find full details about all courses at Silverdale Sixth Form by viewing their website here.
useful careers resources and websites
A huge amount of careers information is also available online. Further sources of useful information include:
- National Careers Service covers information on over 800 different jobs and careers, alongside information on job search tips and techniques.
- iCould provides video clips from people working indifferent job roles, with facts and figures about their industries. The Buzz Quiz allows young people to start considering their personality and how that may affect their career choices.
- Sheffield Progress is the application methods for the majority of post-16 opportunities across Sheffield. All students at Westfield School will complete an application, and there is detailed information about all the options, and the application process.
- www.gov.uk for information on a wide range of learning and work related matters including money and the law.
- Careerometer tool provides salary information on a huge range of jobs, as well as essential information about whether such jobs are growing or in decline.
- Higher Education - Weigh it Up
- Websites for careers information and research
- Options 2021 - Your choices at 16 and beyond
- A Levels
- Thinking about higher education?
- Writing a CV
- New job hunting pack
- Not Going to Uni www.notgoingtouni.co.uk
- Careers box www.careersbox.co.uk
- BBC Bitesize careers www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/careers
- Prospects www.prospects.ac.uk
- Get In, Go Far www.youthemployment.org.uk/get-go-far/
- Sheffield Futures www.sheffieldfutures.org.uk
- Informed choices www.informedchoices.ac.uk
- All Saints Sixth Form www.allsaints.sheffield.sch.uk
- Chapeltown Academy www.chapeltownacademy.com
- Eckington Sixth Form www.eckington.chorustrust.org
- Forge Valley Sixth Form www.forgevalley.school
- High Storrs Sixth Form www.highstorrs.co.uk
- King Ecgbert Sixth Form www.ecgbert.sheffield.sch.uk
- King Edward V11 Sixth Form www.kes.sheffield.sch.uk
- Longley Park Sixth Form www.longleypark.ac.uk
- Meadowhead Sixth Form www.meadowhead.sheffield.sch.uk
- Notre Dame Sixth Form www.notredame-high.co.uk
- Silverdale Sixth Form www.silverdale.chorustrust.org
- Tapton School Sixth Form www.taptonschool.co.uk
- Government Finance www.gov.uk/student-finance
- Sheffield University www.sheffield.ac.uk
- Sheffield Hallam University www.shu.ac.uk
Special Options
- Sheffield SEN and Disability Information, Advice and Support www.kids.org.uk
- Sheffield Autistic Society www.sheffieldautisticsociety.org.uk
- Sheffield Mencap and Gateway www.sheffieldmencap.org.uk
- Sheffield Mental Health Guide www.sheffieldmentalhealth.co.uk
Looking for jobs and apprenticeships
- www.getmyfirstjob.co.uk
- www.jobs.nhs.uk
- www.meadowhall.co.uk/jobs
- www.crystalpeakscentre.com/jobs
- www.vas.org.uk voluntary work
- www.indeed.co.uk
- www.army.mod.uk
- www.raf.mod.uk
- www.royalnavy.mod.uk
Money Matters
- www.gov.uk/childbenefit
- www.gov.uk/1619-bursary-fund
- www.gov.uk/universal-credit
- www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates
Live Apprenticeship Vacancies
top skills to have on your cv
Soft Skills
- Problem solving
- Critical thinking
- Flexibility
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Organisation
- Creativity
- Emotional intelligence
- Attention to detail
- Responsibility
Hard Skills
- Computer skills
- Negotiation
- Maths
- Writing
- Foreign languages
The careers information on this webpage is due for review in September 2023.