Dear Parents/Carers,

At Richard Challoner School, we are committed to providing our students with high-quality, impartial Careers Education, Information, Advice, and Guidance (CEIAG) to ensure they have the best resources available to plan for their futures.

Careers support is integrated throughout the school year via curriculum lessons, dedicated events, our careers library, and tailored support from our Careers Lead and CEIAG Advisor, Mrs Stansbridge. While individual guidance begins primarily with Year 11 students preparing for post-16 choices, all year groups (Years 7–13) receive targeted opportunities at key points in their school journey.

What to Expect for Year 8

• Spring Term Careers Unit: Completed on iPads via Showbie, focusing on preparing for Year 9 and identifying skills and qualities gained since Year 7.

• Take Your Sons to Work Day: A valuable opportunity for students to gain direct insight into real working environments and unexplored career fields. Detailed guidance and confirmation of dates will follow.

• Careers Appointments: Available during the Spring and Summer terms upon request by either the student or their tutor.

• National Campaigns: We celebrate National Apprenticeship Week (February) and National Careers Week (March) with dedicated tutorial activities and online resources.

• Xello Platform: Students continue using Xello on their iPads during guided careers sessions and for independent exploration. Parent platform access is planned for rollout later in the academic year.

How You Can Get Involved

Introducing future planning early helps students explore their strengths and make informed decisions. In addition to pastoral time and drop-in access to the Careers Office, we regularly host guest speakers and industry professionals to inspire students and connect learning to the working world.

If you can support these activities by giving a talk, representing your company/industry, or sharing your career story, please complete our brief Parent Support Google Form. Click Here

Next Steps & Contact Information

Please take this opportunity to discuss future aspirations with your son at home. For regular updates on events and parent resources, visit our School Careers Page Click Here 

If you have questions or would like to speak to the Careers Department, please contact us at careersiag@richarchalloner.com. I will write to you again with a further update later in the academic year.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs L Stansbridge

CEIAG Lead (Careers Education, Information, Advice, and Guidance)