Giving careers advice to children/childrens parents

Oldernotwiser

7891368 wrote: »

As in a teacher's experiences of a subject may be helpful to advise an individual.

A teacher will (in a sixth form based school) know about the A level course offered so could explain modules and how the course is set out. So man people have preference over exams/coursework it could depend whether you choose to pick the subject or not.

In a further sense, an Alevel/college teacher should tell you that x subject may not be suitable for you to study further if they believe you may struggle. Not in a horrible way, they want whats best for you, they'd never turn around and say no don't do it but often open your eyes to further options.

I was going to study Law with French, I was advised against this by the colleges career advisor (I'm bilingual) as I would be bored and instead to tack on a module. I did exactly such, so now study more law modules and just took an extra exam at the end of the year. Thus achieving the same 'result' but with further modules than I would of. In addition to avoiding the boredom I would have suffered in lectures.

A professional Careers Adviser should be doing far more than discussing what courses are available within that school, which is why it is essential for this person not to be a member of the school's staff!

It might be more advantageous for a student to move to a different educational establishment for post 16 education or even to leave education completely. There is far more to careers advice than looking at the school's 6th form options with help from someone who has a vested interest in keeping the student within that school setting!

pinkshoes

I think Connexions are also about to axe 50% of their posts...

teacherrk

Hi,

Wow looks like I have caused some debate. Purple rose, the careersbox website is exactly the kind of website I was looking for, thanks. If you know of any similar then that would be great. The range of jobs is pretty good on that website although they seem to cover more of the larger organisations, but I guess these companies pay for that privilege.
Thank you everyone for their advice on careers advisors etc, but I was more interested in what I could do as a parent to help my children with their options or at least direct them appropriately together and this news about connexions potentially being cut by 50% makes me even more determined.