Careers Information and Guidance

Our Careers Office is led by Miss Nichola Ward, Careers Leader for KS3-KS5, supported by Mrs Louise Nash, Careers Assistant and is open Monday to Friday. We offer impartial, informed advice and guidance to all students from Year 7 to Year 13, supporting them in exploring future pathways beyond Felpham Community College.

If you would like to get in contact with us you can do so via careers@felpham.org.uk

Students have access to a wide range of high-quality careers resources, including:

• Xello (online careers platform)
• Sixth form and college prospectuses
• Young Money Matters materials
• Apprenticeship guides
• Labour market information
• And much more!

Throughout the academic year, students take part in a variety of careers-focused lessons and events across all year groups. These include visits from employers, apprenticeship providers, colleges, universities, and other organisations. For a full overview, please refer to our Careers Learning Journey. These experiences are designed to inspire and inform, helping students actively engage with their future possibilities through workshops, lessons, and interactive activities.

In addition, Year 10 students are offered appointments with our qualified Careers Adviser, Mrs Ponterosso, to discuss their aspirations and receive tailored support to help them achieve their goals.

Xello – Supporting Students in Shaping their Future

Xello is our all-in-one digital platform designed to help students explore and plan their future careers. All students at Felpham Community College have access to Xello from Year 7 through to Year 11, and again during their time in Sixth Form.

Through Xello, students and staff can track progress and development. Students are encouraged to log their skills, achievements, activities, and competencies, helping them build a personalised profile over time. The platform also supports CV creation and offers access to a rich careers library, enabling students to explore a wide range of future pathways.

By the time students leave FCC, they will have developed a comprehensive profile that reflects their journey, strengths, and aspirations – ready to support their next steps beyond school.

We work closely with the Careers & Enterprise Company and our Enterprise Advisor to ensure our careers programme aligns with the Gatsby Benchmarks, the national framework for high-quality careers guidance. Our progress is reviewed each term using the Compass and Compass + tools to ensure we are continuously improving.

Since 2018, we have proudly partnered with Barfoots as our Enterprise Partner, and since 2023, we’ve built a strong relationship around educational engagement work with the West Sussex Growers Association. These partnerships provide valuable opportunities and insights into local industries.

Work Experience

We are proud to continue offering our Year 12 students the opportunity to take part in a one-week work experience placement, chosen by the student and aligned with our policy guidelines. For Year 10 students, we provide a dedicated Work Shadowing Day – an opportunity to observe a professional environment and gain insight into the world of work.

These experiences are designed to help students develop a deeper understanding of the workplace and prepare them for their future careers.

At Felpham Community College, our goal is to deliver a comprehensive Personal Development Programme for every year group. This programme is designed to inspire students, build their employability and lifelong learning skills, and equip them with the confidence and independence to pursue their individual pathways beyond school.

Careers & Apprenticeship Websites

Below are some useful Careers websites that Teachers, Parents and Students can use to find information about further education and career options.

• Amazing Apprenticeships – The official site to discover exciting apprenticeships, explore classroom resources, book free support and meet real apprentices. www.amazingapprenticeships.com
• Careers Box – National Careers film library, a free careers resource showing hundreds of real people doing real jobs www.careersbox.co.uk
• Career Pilot – All the information and tools you need to explore your future career www.careerpilot.org.uk
• Finding an Apprenticeship – Register you profile, search vacancies and apply for an apprenticeship. www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk
• Getmyfirstjob – A recruitment platform which offers you a whole new way to find your first Apprenticeships and jobs, with the best employers and training providers. www.getmyfirstjob.co.uk
• Health Careers – Make a difference with a career in health. Get all the information you need to take the next step in your career. www.healthcareers.nhs.uk
• iCould – This website allows you to watch short video clip of people in a wide range of job sectors. www.icould.com
• National Careers Service – Provides careers information, advice and guidance. They can help you make decisions at all stages in your career. www.nationalcareers.service.gov.uk
• Prospects – Aimed at students seeking a graduate career. An excellent resource offering information, advice and opportunities to students and graduates. www.prospects.ac.uk
• Start – Start is a free, online careers platform, designed to connect 11-18 year olds with their future career potential. www.startprofile.com
• Step into the NHS – Doctors and nurses may be the obvious choices but with 350 choices available they are certainly not the only ones. www.stepintothenhs.uk
• UCAS – UCAS stands for Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. It’s the centralised service that students use to apply to university. It can be a useful tool for students of all ages to find out about what courses are available for future study. www.ucas.com