Parent/Carer Page

Welcome to Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance
for Parents and Carers.

This page is designed to provide you with up-to-date information, guidance and impartial advice to support your child through their career journey.
We aim to give you as much help and support as possible. Should you have any queries you can contact our qualified Ambition Lead for Careers, Mrs Laura Cain who is also a member of the Careers Development Institute.
e-mail laura.cain@weversacademy.org.uk

Alternatively, you can contact the National Careers Service Careers advice - job profiles, information and resources | National Careers Service who have a dedicated helpline and webchat service Tel: 0800 100 900

FAQ’s

What support does my child receive in school in preparing for a career?
The school has a dedicated careers programme, the link to this is on the careers welcome page. Students receive support throughout their time in school through workshops, employer encounters, assemblies, personal guidance and through the PSHE tutor programme. Mrs Cain works comprehensively with all year 11 and sixth formers to ensure they have a destination and feel work ready by the time they leave school.

What are the options for my child at the end of year 11?
Raising of the participation age means that young people must remain in some form of education or employment with training, until their eighteenth birthday. At the end of year 11, your child could consider a range of options, including sixth forms, colleges, UTCs, apprenticeships and traineeships. School leaving age - GOV.UK

What happens if my child doesn’t participate?
If a child stops participating in education before their 18^th birthday there is a risk that they will become NEET. (Not in Education, Employment with Training). The local council monitor the destinations of all school leavers to ensure that they are participating. As a parent if you feel there is the possibility that your child may become NEET, please contact Mrs Cain as soon as possible, who will support you and your child to find a suitable placement.
If your child becomes NEET after leaving school, please contact Mrs Cain who can pass your details on to the local authority for support in finding a suitable placement.

Are there work experience opportunities for students at Weavers Academy?
The school strongly believes in the value of work experience. All students in year 10 are offered a week work experience placement and are supported throughout this process. Many students find this experience invaluable in helping them begin to make career decisions and discovering what it is like to be in a workplace. Sixth form students are also encouraged to find placements for up to one week. Both placements currently take place in the Summer Term.

My child doesn’t have a career plan. Should I be concerned?
Quite simply, No! It is very hard at such a young age for a student to truly know what it is they want to do. Therefore, it is not unusual for a child to be very vague about their career aspirations. There are certain things you can do to help. Firstly, discuss your own career journey and how your expectations have changed from when you were their age. Secondly, ask them what they enjoy academically and vocationally and discuss how those skills would be useful in the workplace. Encourage them to use Unifrog and you can share that platform with them. The school careers drop in is every Wednesday or contact Mrs Cain for a career’s appointment. You are welcome to attend the appointment with your child.

My child wants to go to university. What does that mean financially to my family?
All the debt for a university course belongs to the student. They do not start repaying the loan until they have left university and are earning over the threshold, which for student starting university after September 2023, will be £25,000 per year.

For example:

If you earn £25,000 a year, you will pay back approx. £0 per month
If you earn £30,000 a year, you will pay back approx. £37.50 per month

If you earn £40,00 a year, you will pay back approx. £112.50 per month

The tuition loan covers all tuition fees and is not means tested. The maintenance loan is on a sliding scale depending on parental income. The more you earn as a family the less maintenance loan your child will receive.
There are many useful websites that explain student finance and dispel some of the myths.

Martin Lewis' 6 need-to-knows about 'Plan 5' English student finance

Student finance in England - Everything you need to know

What are apprenticeships?
An apprenticeship is a blend of working and earning a wage whilst receiving training. There are many levels of apprenticeships from Intermediate level (equivalent to 5 GCSE passes, grade 4 and above) to Degree and even Master’s level. Pay also can vary significantly. Please see the link below for a full explanation.
Parent and guardian guide to apprenticeships | Undergraduate, Apprenticeships | UCAS

A parent’s guide to Apprenticeships: What you need to know | Careermap

Useful links

Unifrog
In keeping with our commitment to provide students with outstanding careers guidance and tailored support when choosing their next steps after school, we are using Unifrog; an award-winning, online careers platform.

Unifrog, is a comprehensive online platform designed to support students in making well-informed decisions about their futures. At Weavers Academy, we are committed to providing our students with the tools they need to explore careers, higher education options, and apprenticeship opportunities. Unifrog will play a key role in helping them navigate this journey.

Unifrog brings together all available information into one easy-to-use platform, allowing students to:

Explore careers that match their interests and skills.
Research universities, apprenticeships, and college courses in the UK and abroad.
Learn about different pathways, including technical/vocational training and work-based learning.
Develop key skills through interactive modules on CV writing, personal statements, and applications.

Students will have access to Unifrog throughout their time at Weavers Academy, and we encourage you to explore the platform with them. Should you wish to access the platform through your own account, you can do so by following these steps.

How to Access Unifrog as a Parent:

Visit Code - Unifrog
Enter the parent access code: WEAVparents
Follow the instructions to set up your account.

Additionally, the platform helps students successfully apply for these opportunities by writing their personal statement, applications and CVs and allows teachers to give live feedback.

Other useful sites

National Careers Service