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Penryn College

Careers

At Penryn College we strive to prepare our students for life after school. Our Careers page features a wide range of information for students, parents/carers, employers, and teachers.  When our students conclude their time with us, the majority move on to a variety of sixth forms and colleges. These include Falmouth Sixth Form, Falmouth Marine School, Truro College and Cornwall College Camborne. With the help of our dedicated Careers team, our students are given help and guidance to make the most appropriate choices for their post-16 education.

You can access our different careers pages – which feature apprenticeship vacancies, careers resources, and more – via the tabs below.  You can also access our Careers policy on our School Policies page here

Access Statement

Employers

We are always looking to provide as many opportunities as possible for our students here at Penryn College. If you would like to play a part in providing these opportunities, please get in touch with us via careers@penryn-college.cornwall.sch.uk

Career Pathway Options

Click on the links below which feature key information on the various career pathway options available for young people.

Downloads

Education Guide for Employers

The Education Landscape: A Guide for Employers (see below) describes options for working with schools, colleges, universities, young people, and older learners, and the benefits of doing so for your business. You can also find out how technical education is changing to better meet your needs – including apprenticeships, T Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications.  

Downloads

Labour Market Information

Labour Market Information (LMI), in its purest form, is data of employment trends, and provides vital information on the current jobs/skills supply and shortages, plus ones that may exist in the future. This data can play a huge part in deciding on a future career path. Check out further LMI details below.

Key Information

Careers Hub – Cornwall & Isles of Scilly: Find out more about Labour Market Information and, specifically, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly’s Labour Market Information. Please click here to access the Careers Hub website.

Careermag for Inclusion: This e-magazine offers fantastic advice on offering work experience to young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Please click here to access the latest edition of Careermag for Inclusion.

Parents and Carers

 

We know that students value the advice of their parents/carers, particularly when it comes to making important decisions for the future.

We also know that keeping up to date on the wide range of ever-changing options for students can be challenging. That’s why this section of our website provides key information in a concise format so that parents and carers can help their children make informed decisions.

Please click here to access ‘A Parents Guide for Empowering Careers’, an article written by The Careers Hub Cornwall.

Apprenticeships

The latest local apprenticeship vacancies, plus information packs for parents and carers.

Local Apprenticeship Vacancies

Check out the latest local apprenticeship vacancies below.

Apprenticeships in Cornwall

Truro College Apprenticeships

Choices Magazine – Parent & Carer Guide

Amazing Apprenticeships’ monthly Choices magazine features information and resources to help you support and guide your child with apprenticeship and technical education decisions.

It’s a fresh, updated version of the Parent & Carer guides which you may have read in the past, and you can access it by clicking here.

The Parent Perspective Podcast

The Parent Perspective is an exciting podcast series for parents and carers, helping them to support their children with careers advice and guidance. To access the podcast, please click here.

SEND Apprenticeship Resources

Working closely with the SEND Advisory Network – a collaboration of more than 100 careers professionals throughout England – Amazing Apprenticeships have developed a range of SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) apprenticeship resources.  Please click here to access these resources. 

Apprenticeships Explained

Do you have a child who would like to do an apprenticeship or is considering one after they leave Penryn College?  Please have a look at some of the many resources available in the download box below. If you have any questions or would like to find out more, please contact the Careers team via careers@penryn-college.cornwall.sch.uk 

Downloads

Careers Hub – Decisions in Secondary Education

This guide by Careers Hub Cornwall & Isles of Scilly has been designed to help parents/carers support their children in finding their best next steps in education, employment or training:  Careers Hub - Parent & Carer Guide

Careermag for Parents and Carers

A one-stop hub of advice and information to help parents/carers support their child’s career choices. Click here to access the latest edition of Careermag.

Career Pathway Options

Which Way? Your Way!

The ‘Which Way? Your Way!’ (click here to access) directory aims to:

  • Support young people in Cornwall with information on the different career progression opportunities available.
  • Provide information on the wide range of opportunities that are available.
  • Provide information on the organisations in Cornwall that manage and deliver post-16 education, training and skills, and the best people for you to contact.

Next Steps South West

Next Steps South West provide impartial information and signposting so you can make an informed decision about your future. Please click here to access the website.

Talking Futures Family Action Packs

The Talking Futures Family Action resources below allow parents/carers the opportunity to explore their child’s ideas in more detail, with a view to finding a pathway they would like to focus on. 

College Courses

College is a popular pathway for many individuals following their time at secondary school, and provides a gateway to many exciting opportunities. This section features information on local colleges, and the wide range of courses available.

Cornwall College Group: The Cornwall College Group, which includes Falmouth Marine School and Duchy College, offers a range of courses and apprenticeships. Please click here to access the Cornwall College website.

Truro and Penwith College: Please click here to access the Truro & Penwith College website to view details on courses, open evenings, and more!

Falmouth College: There are more than 30 courses to choose from at Falmouth College, plus partnership courses with Plymouth Argyle Football Club, Falmouth University, Exeter University, and the National Citizen Service. Please click here to access the Falmouth College website.

Labour Market Information

Labour Market Information (LMI), in its purest form, is data of employment trends, and provides vital information on the current jobs/skills supply and shortages, plus ones that may exist in the future. This data can play a huge part in deciding on a future career path. Check out further LMI details below.

Careers Hub – Cornwall & Isles of Scilly: Find out more about Labour Market Information and, specifically, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly’s Labour Market Information. Please click here to access the Careers Hub website.

University Information

There is so much to gain during life at university, both in and out of the classroom. Here is an insight into university life, and the many opportunities available to those interested in becoming a university student. 

UCAS: UCAS is the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service – an independent charity providing information, advice, and admissions services to inspire and facilitate educational progression. Click here to access the UCAS website.

Unifrog: Unifrog brings all the available information into one single, impartial, user-friendly platform that helps students to make the best choices, and submit the strongest applications. Click here to access the Unifrog website.

University Taster Days: The UniTasterDays website provides fantastic resources for students considering university. You can search for university events across the country in the UniTasterDays directory. To access the website, please click here.

Uni Guide Podcast: The Uni Guide Podcast supports students, parents/carers and teachers with all things university! Check out all episodes by clicking here!

Work Experience

You can access our list of potential Work Experience placements here: List of Potential Work Experience Placements

Students

We want you to follow your dreams and succeed following your time at Penryn College. This section of our website provides a host of resources to help you make informed career-based decisions.

Apprenticeship Vacancies

Check out the list of apprenticeship vacancies here: Apprenticeships in Cornwall and Truro College Apprenticeships

The government’s website provides information on how pursue an apprenticeship-based role, plus other useful details. There are two areas you can visit: Area 1 and Area 2.

GetMyFirstJob offers you a new way to find apprenticeships, degree apprenticeships, work experience, and graduate opportunities. Click here to access the GetMyFirstJob website.

The Cornwall College Group has put together some very useful information for those students considering becoming an apprentice. You can access this information via the links below. 


Truro and Penwith College’s links below feature a ‘How to Become an Apprentice’ information pack and an ‘Apprenticeship CV Guidance’ booklet. 

Click here for a range of fun and educational games for students to play in the ‘Apprenticeship Arcade’ .... here!

Visit The Parents Tab above for Career Pathway Options, College Courses, University information, work Experience and Labour Market Information.

Careers Resources/Websites

Here are some fantastic careers resources, including online lessons and live-streamed talks. 

Apprenticeships: The government’s websites provide information on how pursue a apprenticeship-based role, plus other useful details. There are two areas you can visit: Area 1 and Area 2.

Barclays LifeSkills: The Barclays LifeSkills website helps people discover their interests and skills and find the path to future success. Please click here to access the Barclays Lifeskills website.

Careerpilot: Careers information and tools for 11-19 year old's, all in one place. To access the Careerpilot website, please click here.

Cornwall Opportunities: Information on a wide range of upcoming career-based events in Cornwall. Please click here to visit the Cornwall Opportunities website. Click here to access the Cornwall Opportunities Careers Magazine.

CSW Group: The CSW Group provides contracts that support businesses, young people and adults through key transition points. Please click here to access the CSW Group website.

Get the Jump: Click here to access the wide range of education and training choices available.

icould.com: icould.com uses personal stories to inform and inspire young people’s career choices. The site features over 1000 videos of real people talking about their careers – explaining their job roles, career paths and how different factors have shaped their choices. Click here to access the icould.com website.

LikeToBe: LikeToBe helps students explore careers, engage with potential employers and build their employability skills. Click here to access the LikeToBe website.

National Careers Service: The National Careers Service provides information, advice and guidance to help people make decisions on learning, training and work. Please click here to access the National Careers Service website.

Next Steps South West: Next Steps South West helps young people navigate their own personal journey to higher education. Please click here to access the Next Steps South West website.

NHS Careers: The NHS Careers website provides valuable information on the 350+ different careers within the NHS. Please click here to access. 

Speakers for Schools: The Speakers for Schools website provides young people with a fantastic opportunity to watch free live-streamed talks from leading figures in various job fields. Click here to access the Speakers for Schools website for more information.

Start: Start provides a huge amount of information on almost every job role within almost every industry. Please click here to access the Start website.

UCAS: UCAS is the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service – an independent charity providing information, advice, and admissions services to inspire and facilitate educational progression. Click here to access the UCAS website.

Unifrog: Unifrog brings all the available information into one single, impartial, user-friendly platform that helps students to make the best choices, and submit the strongest applications. Click here to access the Unifrog website.

NHS Careers: The NHS Careers website provides valuable information on the 350+ different careers within the NHS. Please click here to access. 

Job of the Week

Each week we include a Job of the Week feature in our newsletter. We include key information such as the skills required to work in different fields of employment, the average salary, average hours worked per week, and more.  Click here to access all of the Job of the Week posters. To download the posters, click on each individual one and right click > save as.

Careers Events

Click here to check out the huge variety of upcoming careers events taking place in Cornwall!

Open Days

Cornwall College Group: Click here to view the Cornwall College group’s (which includes Falmouth Marine School) upcoming Open Days!

Truro and Penwith College: Check out Truro and Penwith College’s wide range of Open Events and insights by clicking here.

T Levels

What are T Levels? T Levels are equivalent to three A Levels. They combine classroom theory, practical learning and a three-month industry placement with an employer to make sure students have real experience of the workplace. T Levels have been developed in collaboration with employers so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work. They provide the knowledge and experience needed to open the door to highly-skilled employment, an apprenticeship, or higher level study. Around 80% of your time will be spent at college, with the remaining 20% being spent at your placement. This differs to an apprenticeship, which is typically 80% on the job and 20% in the classroom.

Experience with a real employer in a real workplace will allow you to apply the skills and knowledge you learn in the classroom to the job, giving you a taste of the world of work you can expect once you complete your studies.

How long are the courses? Two years.

What qualifications do you need? Four GCSEs at Grade 4 to include either English Language or Literature and/or Maths. A Level 2 Diploma at Merit in an appropriate subject can also be considered (plus English and/or Maths).

Where can I complete T Levels? T Levels can be completed at Truro College.

What subjects can I do? New T Levels are being introduced every year, with current subject specialisations including Business and Law, Computing and IT, Construction, Engineering, Education, Health and Childcare, and Science.

Find out more by clicking here!

Teachers

It’s not only the members of our Careers team who strive to provide students with resources and guidance to make informed decisions on their futures, but also our teachers and other support staff.  Below you will find information on what we do as a school to provide our students with a wide range of career opportunities.

  • Career Pathway Options - Visit the Parents Tab above
  • Labour Market Information - See the Parents Tab above
  • Support Resources - My Learning, My Future: Benchmark 4 resources to support subject teaching staff, from 27 subjects at Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 and Post 16, to engage students in curriculum learning by highlighting the relevance of their subjects to future careers, opportunities and pathways. Please click here to access.

Poster Resources

  • Planit provides a wide range of subject career posters featuring lists of careers in each of the 30 subject fields. Please click here to access these posters.
  • The Women You Should Know website has downloadable STEM role model posters which celebrate female innovators, as illustrated by female artist. Click here to access these posters.
  • The Stem Learning website features a downloadable STEM poser which shows 100 exciting job roles that link to science, technology, engineering and maths. Click here to access this poster.
  • Halsbury Travel’s website has informational posters for each school subject. Examples include ‘Anne Frank Timeline’, ‘Where Will Languages Take Me?’, ‘River Systems Poster’ and ‘Make Your Classroom Greener’. Click here to access these posters.
  • The Medical Mavericks website includes medical informational posters for ‘Medicine & Surgery’, Nursing, Midwifery & Radiography’, ‘Physiology’ and more. Click here to access the website.
  • SkillsBuilder’s website has posters to support teachers and learners to use consistent language when referring to essential skills such as: listening, speaking, problem solving, creativity, staying positive, aiming high, leadership, teamwork.
  • The iCEV website features posters for each pathway within the 16 ‘Career Clusters’ to help students explore their career options. Click here to access these posters.
  • Posters celebrating women in science from A Mighty Girl. Please click here to access these posters. 

 Resources & Links