CAREERS CATCH UP
Meet Adam Priestley Director of External Relations
Life after Sixth Form
What are my options?
Work Experience
Be open-minded
Creative Careers
Where they can take you
Prior’s Field Alumna Isabelle Duncan
Careers Competition
Spring Term 2024 Vol 7
CAREERS
The spring has sprung, the sun is out, and we are nearing the end of the busiest term of the year for the Careers department. In the second half of the Spring Term the whole school had an assembly to start off National Careers Week. Then all of our PSHE and PAW sessions for the half term were focused on ‘Living in the Wider World’ where the students can explore their next steps and develop their Employability Skills.
The Third Form have all undertaken their Morrisby profiling to inform them of which subjects and careers might be particularly suited to them.
The Lower Sixth attended the UK Universities and Apprenticeships Search Fair at the University of Surrey to learn more about their future options.
Meanwhile, the Upper Sixth have been receiving some excellent university offers – a massive congratulations to them all!
If you would like to have a chat about Careers or your subject options then please contact Mrs Wilson, Head of Careers - by popping into the Careers Office, or Huxley House, or send her an email at kwilson@priorsfieldschool.com
Life after Sixth Form – What are my options...?
There are a range of different options to choose from after Sixth Form. Many students choose to go to university and study for a degree. The majority of degree courses are for 3 years, but some are for 4+ years which may include a placement in the workplace. There are a huge range of degree courses to choose between and students can access the Unifrog search engine and explore their options. For example, it is amazing to see how many different types of degree courses come up if you just type in the word ‘History’! Apprenticeships are also becoming an increasingly popular option. They combine practical training in a job with study, while you are paid by the company. There are different levels of Apprenticeships from Level 2 to 7 and the highest levels will award you with a Bachelors or Masters degree. Some students decide to do an internship, which is a period of work which gives people the opportunity to gain new skills and experience in a profession. Another option is to go straight into getting a job, and perhaps to study part time alongside it. If you would like some help to decide on your next step, please contact Mrs Wilson who would be happy to help you. For further information please visit the links below: APPRENTICESHIPS I INTERNSHIPS I UNIVERSITIES
Competencies
and Skills – Adaptability: How adaptable are you?!
We all had to learn to be adaptable during the time of Covid and these skills are invaluable in a work situation too. Things are continually changing, whether we want them to or not, but the calmer we can be in responding to change, the more effectively we can deal with the situation.
Visit this link to read about the 7 Adaptability Skills which will help you to grow professionally
7 ADAPTABILITY SKILLS CURIOSITY LEARNING TEAMWORK RESILIENCE RESOURCEFULNESS COMMUNICATION ORGANISATION
STAFF FOCUS
ADAM PRIESTLEY
In each edition we will hear from a member of staff about their career journey and find out what they have to say about how and why they are in the job they are today.
In this issue we will hear from Adam Priestley, Director of External Relations
1. Have you always worked in education? If not, what else have you done and what was it like?
No, I have mainly spent my 20-year career in sport (marketing and commercial rights), but also in Higher Education and for a restaurant Group in London called Boisdale. I have always enjoyed the ability to use the skills I have built up over the years to try interesting sectors and I have had a long-held ambition to work in the independent school sector. It is great to have found the role here at Prior’s Field, a place that very much aligns with my values.
Unifrog
Unirog is a universal destinations platform used by students in the Fourth Form to Sixth Form at Prior’s Field. Click on the link below to explore your career options.
Unifrog - The universal destinations platform.
Careers Competition!
2. What skills do you think help you to succeed in your career?
I definitely feel that a couple of key things stand out. Firstly, connecting with people can be a huge asset, where, by building empathy and trust it allows for easy communication and collaboration, which is often the key in organisations. Also, being able to distil an idea/concept clearly and simply is really valuable and one that I have tried to harness over time.
3. What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t get too down if you receive a knock-back or something has gone awry. It’s all part of building experience and resilience and these things happen to everyone. If you listen to the most successful people in industry, they will always reference their many knock-backs and perceived failures.
4. What do you love about your current job?
The vibrancy of the school and the students and staff who are here. There is such a breadth of opportunity here and I really enjoy the everyday buzz of the school and each day is completely different to the one before, which makes it incredibly interesting and challenging… in a good way!
Should working hours change to 4 days a week rather than 5?! Let Mrs Wilson know what you think and why for a prize...! www.4dayweek.co.uk
WORK EXPERIENCE
Be open-minded!
The more experience of work you can get, the better! Obviously, it is particularly helpful if you can get experience in working in the exact job you are interested in, but why could it also be helpful to do work experience in something else? Firstly, you will learn general Employability Skills which can be applied to any career. Secondly, you will learn about something new which will broaden your knowledge. Thirdly, it will enhance any future applications by showing that you are pro-active and keen to learn. So do make the most of the Easter and Summer breaks to gain any new experiences that you can.
PRIOR’S FIELD ALUMNA
Isabelle Duncan
Leading Cricketer and coach
Isabelle Duncan is a leading woman cricketer and qualified coach, running her own cricket coaching organisation for boys and girls aged 4–13. She captains an all-male (apart from her) side at Albury CC in a Surrey League and is a member of the main committee at MCC, also sitting on the board of Girls on the Front Foot at Chance to Shine. She has played for numerous men’s and women’s teams over the past twenty years and most recently was a judge for the British Sport Journalism Award. Find out what it takes to represent your organisation at Number 10 Downing Street here
Featured Subject:
Creative Careers and where they can take you
The Art Scholars had a very interesting talk about Creative careers this term where they discussed the different routes into the industry, such as through a Foundation Year or a Year 0 which is a ‘bolt-on’ to a 3 year degree. Some degree courses will take students straight after A levels, with other options including working internships, or getting a
creative apprenticeship. There are a multitude of different careers which students can consider which include fashion journalism, makeup artist, technologist, interiors, tv roles, museums and galleries. Students will benefit from taking every opportunity to immerse themselves in different creative experiences such as developing their own work, going on visits to exhibitions, listening to podcasts and watching documentaries.
