Whatever route you want to take in the future, we are here to help you choose the right path. DESC has a dedicated team of staff who are here to help guide you through your career and future options.

If you have any queries or wish to speak to someone about careers, please see one of our Careers Leaders:
Dustin King (Email: dking@desc.herts.sch.uk) 
Telephone 01442 247476 (option 2).

You can also contact Fay Bowman, Personal Advisor, Services for Young People Dacorum Team at the XC Centre, Jarman Park, Hemel Hempstead HP2 4JS Tel 01442 454060.

Visit Services for Young People website for further information regarding, jobs, careers, apprenticeships and CV writing.

 

Aims and Objectives

Careers at Key Stage 3 and 4
The careers programme includes a range of careers education sessions, career guidance activities, information and research activities and work-related learning opportunities. The majority of these sessions are delivered by the Services for Young People specialist team supported by external providers and local businesses.

Across all Key Stages there is a regular focus on the writing and updating of a Curriculum Vitae which evolves into a document suitable for applying for college and apprenticeships.

In KS3 learners are exposed to a range of external deliverers and business people through our flexible Hub programme including Enterprise and Community projects to help support the learner’s choices at the end of Year 9.

In KS4, Enrichment days are used extensively to deliver sessions around enterprise, college, apprenticeship and business speakers. Life Skills sessions include understanding a prospectus, labour market information and apprenticeship opportunities.

 

Some additional websites you might find useful are listed below:

National Careers Service
Students in Y11-Y13 who are looking for jobs and apprenticeships and volunteering opportunities, should have a look at the flyer from the National Careers Service. It is a free and impartial service. They will be able to give you information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and employment. Please also visit their website for further information - www.nationalcareers.service.gov.uk

HOP (Hertfordshire Opportunities Portfolio) -  www.hopinto.co.uk
Where you can find all you need to explore career opportunities in Hertfordshire - jobs, apprenticeships and support to make informed career decisions, explore the world of work in Hertfordshire, tips on gaining work experience, skills development and lots more

Learners can access the following:

• Education and employment  disability HUB
• Work Experience
• Decisions at 16+
• All about apprenticeships
• Higher Education
• Job search and training hub
• Careers direction
• Business start up
• Virtual employer encounters

Start
This is a free online tool which lets you look at job profiles, helps you find which jobs are linked to your interests, which subjects will best prepare you for the future world of work, develop employability skills and lots more - www.startprofile.com

CareerPilot 
Plan your study and work. Career tools to help you decide which choices to make at 14, 16 and 18, consider routes to different qualifications and find out about job sectors - www.careerpilot.org.uk

BBC Bitesize Careers
Videos explaining the world of work, with advice from people who've found the right path for them - www.bbc.com/bitesize/careers

icould
Listen to people from accountants to zookeepers tell their own story about their real life career journeys - www.icould.com

Success at School 
Career advice for schools and students aged 13-19 - www.successatschool.org