Choosing a career is an exciting journey, and at Bellerive FCJ Catholic College we are committed to guiding and inspiring every student as they explore their future pathways. Our careers provision begins in Year 7 and develops progressively through to Year 13, ensuring that each student receives high-quality, age-appropriate support at every stage.
Our programme is fully aligned with the Gatsby Benchmarks, providing a structured and ambitious approach to careers education. Students benefit from a wide range of opportunities, including personalised guidance, encounters with employers, meaningful experiences of further and higher education, and regular engagement with the world of work.
At Key Stage 3, students are introduced to the breadth of careers available and begin exploring the skills and qualities needed for future success. As students move into Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5, the support becomes increasingly personalised, with a strong focus on qualifications, pathways, apprenticeships, higher education and next steps beyond Bellerive. This ensures every student is equipped to make informed, confident and aspirational choices about their future.
Our careers curriculum is broad, progressive and designed to nurture ambition. Beginning with early awareness of the range of pathways and building towards tailored guidance on future destinations, we prepare students thoroughly for further study, apprenticeships or employment.
A detailed overview of the full careers offer at Bellerive can be found in the link below:
Students:
Planning your future is an important step, and understanding the range of opportunities available can help you make informed decisions with confidence. Below are some useful resources to guide you:
Career exploration & job profiles:
National Careers Service – Over 800 job profiles, skills assessments, and course search tools.
Prospects – Graduate job profiles, career quizzes, CV guidance, and sector insights.
Career Pilot – Options at 14, 16, and 18, plus job sectors and qualification routes
Education, training & apprenticeships:
Find an apprenticeship (Gov.uk) – Search and apply for apprenticeships across England
UCAS – University course search, personal statement support, and post-16 options.
Skills, strengths & career planning tools:
National careers service skills assessment – Quick quizzes to match interests to careers
Start Profile – Create a personal profile to explore jobs and training suited to your strengths
Work experience, CV’s & applications:
Get career confident – CV templates, interview tips, posters and downloadable guides
Prospects: CV’s & Applications – Guidance on writing CVs, cover letters & preparing for interviews
STEM focused career links:
IET Careers links – STEM career routes, apprenticeship information, and industry opportunities
The Big Bang Fair – Explore STEM careers through events and interactive resources
Downloadable career guides:
EBP south: Useful career websites PDF – Curated list of career sites for young people
Bellerive careers Padlet:
To further support our students, they have access to our dedicated Careers Padlet page where up-to-date careers information, useful links, employer insights, and details of upcoming events and opportunities can be found. This resource is updated regularly and is designed to help students research different pathways independently, understand options available to them, and make well-informed decisions about next steps as they move their way through Bellerive. Find the link for the
Parents & carers:
At Bellerive, we recognise the vital role parents and carers play in supporting students as they consider their future pathways. Our careers programme is designed to be clear, well-structured and easily accessible to families, enabling parents and carers to engage confidently with the guidance their daughter receives. To support this, we have provided a dedicated section on the Careers focused Padlet page containing up-to-date careers information, useful links and details of any upcoming opportunities. Find the attached page below:
Below are some other useful resources to guide you:
Guidance on supporting your child’s career choices:
Skills for careers: Parent advice and resources – Government guidance to help parents understand pathways, start conversations, and access support for young people
National careers service: Help a young person make career choices – Clear advice for parents on discussing skills, interests, and next steps with their child
Talking about careers at home:
Talking futures – A national programme helping parents have informed, confident conversations about education routes such as T-Levels, apprenticeships and university
Understanding pathways & qualifications:
Youth employment UK: Careers advice for parents – Guidance on GCSE choices, post-16 routes, apprenticeships, T-Levels, and how to support your child’s decision making.
Working with schools & colleges:
Careers & Enterprise Company: Brining parents and carers into career conversations – Resources designed to help parents engage with their child’s school or college and support career planning
Employers:
At Bellerive, we’re committed to preparing students for the world beyond the classroom, and partnerships with employers play a vital role in that mission. By working with us, you’ll have the opportunity to inspire young people, shape future talent and showcase the exciting careers your industry has to offer. Whether you can provide work experience, deliver careers talk or offer mentoring, your involvement helps students build confidence, develop essential skills, and make informed choices about their futures. We welcome employers of all sizes and sectors to join in creating meaningful, real-world learning experiences.
If you are an employer and you would like to work in partnership with is, please contact the Careers Lead, Miss Smith - smithl@bellerivefcj.org
Careers team:
Our independent Careers advisor, Mrs Woodruff, is commissioned by the school from Careers Connect to provide independent careers advice and guidance to our students. This is available to all students at their request. Appointments are co-ordinated by the Careers Leader at Bellerive, Miss Smith.
Miss Smith can be contacted via the school telephone number or via email at contactus@bellerivefcj.org.
Review:
Our careers programme is subject to ongoing, systematic review to ensure it remains fully aligned with the Gatsby Benchmarks and continues to meet the needs of all learners. We evaluate the impact of our provision through structured student voice activities, regular feedback from parents and carers, and consultation with external providers. This evidence informs continuous improvement and ensures our programme remains coherent, impartial, and effective.