It focuses and continues the work of developing the personal, educational and vocational awareness of the students.

In line with school policy it provides a caring, supportive environment where skills and interests are developed so that students may adapt to changing patterns of work and gain personal satisfaction in their use of leisure.
Current trends and the changes in the world of work suggest that lifelong learning and employability skills will be essential features of future career patterns. This means that young people face challenges in terms of the opportunities that are available to them. They will need to learn to develop the employability skills to make the most of these opportunities. Their educational experiences should include the chance to develop:-

• Knowledge and understanding of themselves
• Awareness of the opportunities available to them
• A range of career management skills in order to cope with life changes, employability, decisions and transitions.

The Careers’ Department organise, with the help of Young Enterprise and other agencies, the running of courses on Entrepreneurship and Business Leadership for Years 10 and 11.
The Careers Department organise Interview Skills Programmes for Years 12 and 13.

The purpose of the careers education and guidance programme is to help pupils, through their education, to develop skills, attitudes and abilities, which will enable them to be effective in a variety of adult occupations and roles. The implementation of the programme should help students to:-
develop knowledge and understanding of themselves and others as individuals, their strengths and limitations, abilities, skills, personal qualities, potential, needs, attitudes and values;

• Develop knowledge and understanding of the world in which they live and the employment and other career opportunities that are available;

• Learn how to make considered choices in relation to anticipated careers and occupations;
• Manage the transitions from school to adult and working life effectively.

Careers Education is delivered from Year 10 through to Year 14. In Year 10 this is part of a module including Drama, Library Skills and ICT. Each class has one period per week for six weeks on a rotational basis. Year 11 students and Year 12 students have one period per week; sometimes this may be a double period to accommodate P.E./ICT classes throughout the year. Time is allocated for individual career guidance interviews for Year 13 and Year 14 students. Year 12 students are allocated an interview time with the Careers Officer. The Careers Officer also undertakes group work during class time. Students make use of the ICT suites to complete research on careers.

Each year Saint Catherine’s College Careers Department organizes a Medical Symposium for Year 13 students wishing to pursue careers in Medicine in conjunction with QUB Medical Faculty and our local teaching hospital, Craigavon Area Hospital. All local schools within the Southern Area Health Board are invited to take part. The Careers Department also organize a Professionals Allied to Medicine conference each year to facilitate students who wish to pursue careers in Physiotherapy, Radiography, Speech and Language Therapy, Dietetics, Occupational Therapy and Nursing.

Visiting speakers from English, Scottish and local universities give relevant careers and course information to our Years 12, 13, and 14 students.

Speakers from a variety of career areas are invited to talk to groups of interested students each year.

The Careers Department have a great relationship with all our local Colleges of Further and Higher Education establishments and students attend Open Days and ‘taster days’ in vocational career areas.

Quality work experience is structured for all year 13 students. Work experience is offered to all students in Year 12 taking the Occupational Studies Course.

Careers Links of Interest

Careers Work Sheets