Our aim is to help prepare you for life after school. There will be many opportunities to participate in a range of activities and meet a wide variety of people who have followed very different career paths. Careers based enrichment sessions will help develop the skills and attributes to select the right paths after GCSEs and for further education apprenticeships, training or employment. Access to impartial information, advice and guidance is always available from our dedicated Careers Adviser, Mrs. Green. 

Careers work related education is embedded across the curriculum and delivered through PSHE, assemblies and workshops, visits to employers, colleges and universities to help support important decisions at key transition points in both Year 9 and Year 11.

What can you expect in Year 7?

• Access to a qualified impartial Careers Adviser

• Access to careers software, for example, icould, Greater Essex Your Future and u-explore to help with career exploration and to address stereotypes or misconceptions

• A progressive Careers Education programme delivered by Form Tutors in PSHE time

• Attend an interactive workshop delivered by  BAE Systems, Royal Navy and RAF to engage students and enable them to understand importance of STEM and the variety of opportunities available
  
  

What can you expect in Year 8?

• Access to a qualified impartial Careers Guidance Adviser

• Access to careers software, for example,  icould, Greater Essex Your Future and u-explore to help with career exploration and to address stereotypes or misconceptions

• A progressive Careers Education programme delivered by the Form Tutors in PSHE time and students start participating in careers based workshops - Dell, HSBC and assemblies to start understanding the importance of development of soft skills through activities both in and outside of school for their future employment.

• Attend a Finance based workshop delivered by HSBC

What can you expect in Year 9?

• Access to careers software, Sparks Computer Programme, National Apprenticeship Website, icould and Greater Essex Your Future to support with development of knowledge of opportunities for their future and to address stereotypes and misconceptions

• Appropriate subject specific advice in preparation for making option choices in Year 9

• Access to the Sigma Trust Virtual Careers Convention to support with Year 9 Options

• Information sessions provided by Further Education colleges, apprenticeship providers, and specialists in different areas of employment

• Workshops are provided to help continue development of students for future employment

• A progressive Careers Education programme delivered by Form Tutors in PSHE time

• Attend a Careers Fair to help our students start considering options for their future and the pathways to achieve this

• Transition support is offered for students and parents / carers before making choices about Options for GCSE including information evenings and access to an Options interview with a qualified impartial Careers Adviser.

What can you expect in Year 10?

• A one to one interview with a qualified impartial Careers Adviser

• Access to careers software, Sparks Computer Programme, National Apprenticeship Website, icould and Greater Essex Your Future to support with development of knowledge of opportunities for their future and to address stereotypes and misconceptions

• Talks from specific employers with current and future labour market information

• A progressive Careers Education programme delivered by Form Tutors. This includes Employment Laws, Health and Safety and preparation for working life.

• Support from Greater Anglia on writing of CVs

• Attend a Careers Fair to support students in thinking about future options

• Visits to employers to obtain information on the opportunities they provide

• Visits to and from universities and colleges and access to student finance talks and managing personal budgets

• Revision Skills workshop delivered by Student Ambassadors from University of Essex

• Aspirations workshops

• A progressive Careers Education programme delivered by Form Tutors in PSHE time

• Attend a finance based workshop run by HSBC

What can you expect in Year 11?

• A one to one interview with a qualified, impartial Careers  Adviser

• Access to careers software, UCAS, Prospects, National Apprenticeship Website, icould and Greater Essex Your Future to support with development of knowledge of opportunities for their future and to address stereotypes and misconceptions

• A progressive Careers Education programme delivered by Form Tutors including writing letters / emails of application for jobs, writing personal statements, how to research job opportunities and applications

• Access to the Sigma Trust Virtual Careers Convention

• Assemblies from colleges, universities and apprenticeship providers and universities on opportunities to help students making decisions for their future

• Attend NHS Careers Fair

• Support with college applications and interviews

• Mock Interviews with a variety of individuals from local, national and global employers and Rotary Club of Colchester Forum

Year 7

In Tutor time, the programme aims to help students understand more about themselves - Self Development through careers and work related learning. Students also learn about the difference between a job and a career.

• Increase knowledge of where to find out information linking to careers.

• Build the foundation for understanding the world of work.

• Looks at Transition from Primary into Secondary education. Introduces the idea of skills and qualities needed in life..

• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) careers are introduced to the students with BAE Systems , Royal Navy and RAF roadshow for all students.

• STEM Club is available to all students

• Robotics Club is available to all students

Year 8

• In Tutor time, the programme aims to help students understand more about themselves and the importance of starting to develop soft skills through activities they undertake both whilst at school and in their own lives and understanding how these can be transferred from one role to another. This is supported by an assembly by an employer.

• Increase knowledge of where to find out information linking to careers.

• Parents and students attend Parents Evening.

• National Careers Week, National Apprenticeship week activities cross curricular

• Students participate in various workshops - Dell Powering Transformation Trust Challenge and HSBC finance workshop.

• 30 students participate in Big Debate at University of Essex

Year 9

• In Tutor time, the programme aims to help students continue their development of research through using careers based websites to start considering their future and options and this is supported by an assembly with an Apprenticeship provider.

• Increase knowledge of where to find out information linking to careers.

• Looks at the variety of careers and develops more knowledge of different workplaces and on the transferable skills for employment.

• Access to the Virtual Careers Convention to support understanding of industry sectors and the opportunities available.

• Visit to the University of Essex to start understanding the opportunities provided by attending a university and what university life is like.

• Students attend aspiration visits to workplaces

• 50 Students attend STEM-tacular at University of Essex

• 15 students visit BT

• National Careers Week, National Apprenticeship week activities cross curricular

• Attend TLA Careers Fair so students can talk to college, universities, training providers and employers

• 1:1 interview with Careers Adviser for identified, targeted students (SEND, Pupil Premium, EAL) and the LA SEN Careers Adviser meeting with EHCP students.

• Careers Adviser available at Parents / Options Evening.

Year 10

• In Tutor time, the programme starts to focus very much on supporting students readyness for employment by supporting them with writing CVs.

• Increase knowledge of where to find out information linking to careers.

• Looks at the variety of careers and develops more knowledge of different workplaces and on the transferable skills for employment. Identifying their own distinct skills and qualities.

• Students attend workplace visits and attend assemblies by employers and apprenticeship providers enabling them to start considering options for their future.

• Students studying Hospitality & Catering participate in the Royal Navy's Ready Steady Cook challenge

• Revision Skills workshop with Student Ambassadors from University of Essex

• Finance based workshop with HSBC

• 30 students attend Shakespeare Project at University of Essex

• Taster day at Colchester Sixth Form College - for 15 students

• Students attend Employer visits related to subject areas

• Attend TLA Careers Fair so students can talk to college, universities, training providers and employers

• Post 16 Taster Day – All students visit either a Further Education provider or university

• Opportunity to speak to Careers Adviser at Parents Evening

Year 11

• In form time, the programme aims supports students in learning how to write a letter of application for a job, personal statement and how to find job opportunities and complete the application process.

• Assemblies from Sixth Form Colleges / Schools, Colchester Institute, Apprenticeship providers, universities to help support students in making their next step decisions..

• Further Education Information Evening for parents / carers, supporting study and post 16 decision making.

• Virtual Careers Convention providing information on various Sectors of industry and the opportunities they provide.

• 30 students interested in a career in the Health Sector attend a careers fair run by the NHS.

• Mock Interviews with a range of local, national and global employers and Rotary Club of Colchester Forum

• Career Adviser Meeting for every student to provide support and guidance is given in applying for Post 16 opportunities.

• NCOP – Inspirational speaker

• Opportunity to speak to Careers Adviser at Parents Evening

You will be invited with your son / daughter to attend a Further Education Information Evening at Thomas Lord Audley  School in September of Year 11. The aim of the evening is to inform you about post-16 education options and apprenticeship and employment opportunities.

As a school we are keen to ensure our students and their parents / carers are provided with the information needed so that their decisions for destinations post 16 are informed and suit the learning styles and career path that supports them to be successful.

Mrs Green is available 5 days a week between 8.00am - 3.30pm. Mrs Green is Level 6 qualified and will see all Year 11 students before the college deadline for applications.

 Mrs Green is available to talk to at both Parent Evenings and Option Evenings for students in Years 8 -11.

 Any Student can request an interview either by calling in at Careers or asking their Head of Year Form Tutor to email a request. 

This will be available to students in Year 9 and 11 during the school day.  Access to the Virtual Careers Convention can be made by students outside of school by logging onto the link.

We invite local, national and global business people and Rotary Club of Colchester Forum into school to interview our Year 11 students to prepare them for the next stage of their journey. Students are requested to complete a Record of Achievement folder which should include:

• CV 

• Letter of application to provide the interviewer with some background information about the student and the job they are applying for.

• Personal Statement

• Certificates / documentation in relation to activities that they have participated in whilst at Thomas Lord Audley School and also clubs etc that they attend outside of school.

We try to match students to an interviewer who might best suit their intended career path. Students are always nervous before the experience as this is usually their first interview experience, however they always come away smiling and gained so much from this invaluable experience.

 We always receive positive feedback from our interviewers. 

We work closely with our local colleges and businesses and have visits to various local industries to give students an insight into the world of work. We have developed close links with Ellisons Solicitors, Mersea Homes, Colchester General Hospital, Mercury Theatre, Royal Navy and the Edge Hotel.

We welcome colleges / Apprenticeship providers into school to have relaxed meetings with students.

If you wish to work with us and are able to provide opportunities for students to gain more knowledge through an employer you work for please contact Mrs Green - susan.green@tla.school

This will be updated as they become available

Colchester Institute –                                         Saturday 19th October - 10am - 1pm

                                                                           Tuesday 22nd October - 5pm - 8pm

                                                                           Thursday 24th October - 5pm - 8pm

Colchester Sixth Form College –                      Wednesday 23rd October - 6.15 -9.00pm

                                                                          Thursday 24th October - 6.15 - 9.00pm

Anglia Ruskin –                                                Saturday 12th October - 10.00am - 3.00pm

Formerly Writtle College                                  Saturday 16th November - Times tba

Colchester County High School for Girls –     Thursday 23rd October - 6.30 - 8.30pm

The Royal Grammar School, Sixth Form –    Date and time - tba

Sigma Sixth College - Colchester Campus –  Thursday 10th October - 5pm-7pm 

Suffolk New College –                                Thursday 3 October - 5.30 - 8.00pm - Ipswich Campus

                                                                    Tuesday 26 November - 5.30 - 8.00pm - Ipswich Campus

                                                                    Saturday 12 October - 10.00 - 12.00pm - Suffok Rural

                                                                    Saturday 7 December - 10.00 - 12.00pm - Suffolk Rural

Suffolk One College -                                 Saturday 5 October - 9.30 - 12.30pm

                                                                   Tuesday 5 November 5.00 - 7.30pm

                                                                   Tuesday 26 November - 5.00 - 7.30pm

Chelmsford College -                                Wednesday 9 October - 6.00 - 8.30pm

                                                                  Wednesday 13th November - 6.00 - 8.30pm

Stansted Airport College -                      Saturday 12 October - 10.00 - 2.00pm

Part of Harolow College                         Thursday 23 January - Times tba

What are NEET Figures?

The government tracks how well we are doing by monitoring our NEET data ( Students Not in Education, Employment or Training). These figures are collated each year when our students take up a place with a local college/employer and the data is shared with us.

Destinations by Further Education provider for our 2024 Year 11 leavers:

Colchester Institute                            89

Apprenticeship                                     5

Traineeship                                           0

Colchester Sixth Form                       46

School Sixth Form                              12

Other Further Education                      7

Employment with training                    2

NEET                                                      6

TOTAL                                                167