Careers - The Discovery Academy

Careers Contacts

Named Careers Lead: Mr. D.Owen

Email Address: dowen1@alphaacademiestrust.co.uk

Academy Tel Number: 01782 882100

Our local authority Careers Advisor is Karen Harrison. Karen is available onsite on Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday each week. All Year groups can have access to the advisor in the careers office on the First Floor across from F46. You can contact Karen by email on karen.harrison2@stoke.gov.uk

If you are an ex student and wish to be apart of The Discovery Academy alumni, please follow the link below.
https://networks.futurefirst.org.uk/former-student/discovery

Quick Links

Contacts

Careers Downloads

Please click on the documents below for more careers information

Careers Noticeboard

Start is a free, online careers platform designed to connect 11-18 year olds with their future career potential. It combines the most comprehensive source of information with a personalised experience and career planning tools, helping our students to make more informed decisions about their future study and career options, as well as developing their employability. Start includes:

A student profile: students build their profile and access personalised study and career information.

Modules: activities to guide students through the information on Start at the right time.

Up to date information: engaging content on what to study, where to learn and the world of work.

Locker: an online record of achievement to evidence skills for future applications and CVs.

Employability action plan: Students can set goals and stay in control of their career planning.

School Leavers - Your Options at 16

Think carefully about the options open to you after year 11 before deciding on your next steps. There are many college courses, apprenticeships and training programmes to choose from. Find out about your options so you can compare them and decide what will suit you.

How to find out about your options:

Look on college websites, attend college open events, and talk to your careers adviser in school. Use the careers websites on the other side of this page to research A levels, BTECs, and Apprenticeships.
Talk to your family and teachers about your options, as they know you well and what may best suit you.

Courses start at different levels depending on your GCSE grades – a level 4 equals a Pass (C)

Types of courses & training offered:

Vocational Learning – BTEC Diplomas

This is a mixture of hands on learning, classroom learning and work experience
You are assessed through course work and exams
Courses directly relate to a career area like childcare, social care, I.T, hospitality and public services
There are different levels of Diploma (Level 1, 2 and 3) depending on your GCSE results

Academic – A Levels

Are more classroom and exam based and you usually choose 3 or 4 subjects
Most are now linear and you study for 2 years before taking your A Level exam
You can choose subjects that you did at GCSE, or you could choose different subjects that you have not done before like Law, Psychology, and Sociology
To get onto most A Level courses you will need to achieve at least 5 GCSE’s at grade A*-C (9-4 ) including Maths and English, with a 5/6 in the subject you wish to study. Some colleges may ask for higher grades so always check individual college entry requirements

Apprenticeships

This type of learning involves on-the-job practical training
You would usually go to college or a training provider one day a week then work for 4 days a week with an employer at their premises
You can do an apprenticeship in many career areas. To find out more look on the apprenticeship web site gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
You may have to find your work placement yourself and competition for vacancies is high, so you will need a backup option such as a full time college course, a study programme or a traineeship

Traineeships