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Message ST DAMIANS RC SCIENCE COLLEGE CAREER COMPASS WELCOME! Welcome to the St. Damian’s termly Careers newsletter! This newsletter may be used as a resource to discover new career paths, find out about careers events happening inside and out of school and every term, a teacher’s journey into teaching and the other jobs they have done will be put under the spotlight. Careers Week National Careers week is running from the 3rd to the 8th of March 2025. This is a fantastic opportunity in school to learn what career paths are available to you in your favourite subjects. You will also listen from speakers from a range of industries. Use this opportunity to take ownership of your own potential Career and ask relevant questions. IMPORTANT DATES Open Days/Evenings Every year in school, you will be provided with Labour Market Information (LMI). You will get to see what skills and jobs most in demand in Greater Manchester are. You can then use this information to help you make informed decisions about your future. Helping you head in the right direction. Year 10 Career & Apprenticeship Trip – 13th March 10:30 – 12:30 Tameside College - 28th April 5pm – 8pm Clarendon Sixth Form – 28th April 5pm – 8pm Oldham College – 10th May 10am – 1pm Year 10 Work Experience 14th - 18th July 15 of our Year 10 students visited the most prestigious University in the world, Oxford University on Tuesday 4th February. This was an amazing opportunity to get a firsthand look at how Oxford University operates, advice on the application process and wide range of subjects available and a tour of the campus and the city. It was an incredible experience and has hopefully inspired our students to aim for the stars.

St. Damians RC Science College Careers under the spotlight If you didn’t become a teacher, what career do you think you would have pursued? I wanted to train as nurse initially and approached the Army to train as part of their cadet course. I thought that way I could combine my love of physical activity with a career and maybe see the world too. I knew I wanted to follow a career where I was around people or could help people. Who or what influenced your career? Parents, 6th Form College PE lecturer and the advisory team at my Nursing Degree interview!!! What was the worst job you had? Pot washer in Littlewoods Café! Hair net, tabard, you name it; I hated it! What’s the best career advice you have ever been given? A career is something you love or at least like doing every day; otherwise, it’s just a job and jobs can come and go! Career Advice Websites Apprenticeship Advice – www.apprenticeships.gov.uk Graduate Research – www.prospects.ac.uk University Research – www.ucas.ac.uk Alternatives to University – www.notgoingtouni.co.uk What other questions would you ask Miss Guilfoyle regarding work and careers? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Once you left school, what pathway did you take? Sixth Form college to study A Levels in English Literate, Biology and PE. I then took a year out from studying to learn to drive, train as a lifeguard, volunteer, and worked part time in Halfords to save money for University and to travel. I travelled to America to work as a summer camp counsellor for 5 months. I led activities like football, arts and crafts, canoeing and sailing. I took kids on camping trips and taught them to swim whilst lifeguarding on the Lakes of the Ozarks. I then went to University to study a degree in PE/Sport Science with English Literature before a final teaching year at Chester University. Whilst at University I worked as a swimming teacher and coached at Tranmere Rovers FC part time. I travelled to the states again during the summer terms, but this time to coach football along the east coast to children aged between 3 – 18yrs old. These were the best summers of my life and one of the reasons I support anyone who is thinking of a gap year!