Careers Leader:  Zena Hole

Contact: [email protected] 
Tel: 0208 668 5136

Information for students, parents and care givers 

Parents and carers are key influencers on our pupil’s progression, and it is important that all parents and carers understand important dates for careers in the school calendar and that everyone can access up to date information on future pathways.  In addition to our Unifrog careers software, parents can access information using the following web sites:

National Careers Week Resources – Parent’s Guide to Careers online magazine and this magazine gives you access to more specific parent’s online guides to options post 16, post-18, university and apprenticeships.

UCAS has a parent site to help you with supporting your child’s application to university and a section on student finance for parents. 

National Careers Service provides up to date information on careers and a course search for local opportunities. 

Amazing Apprenticeships has a career zone for parents which includes apprenticeships broadcasts. 

We appreciate that young people with special educational needs and their parents and carers may require different or additional information.  We ensure that all students with special educational needs are prioritised for early careers meetings with our independent EDT Careers Adviser and Careers Leader/Adviser to support their planning and track their progress.  We also ensure that sixth formers with additional needs get early support with finding work experience opportunities from the Careers Leader and the Pastoral Assistant.

Student Entitlement of CEIAG 

Riddlesdown students are entitled to:

  • A programme of careers education that gives chances to cultivate and apply knowledge, understanding and skills necessary to make realistic careers decisions. 
  • Individual guidance from Tutors, Education Development Trust’s impartial Careers Advisors, Careers Leader and external business partners and/or members of the Senior Leadership Team as part of their Post 16 applications and Year 9 options. 
  • Access to the physical and online careers library with comprehensive and up to date information about opportunities in Education, Training and Employment. 
  • Support for the processes of preparing effective CVs, learning interview presentation skills and individual action planning. 
  • The opportunity to experience the world of work. 
  • The opportunity to visit workplaces both in person and virtual 
  • The opportunity to meet with employers and employees 
  • Computerised careers guidance through Unifrog online careers platform which provides job ideas and careers information, employability, what to study, where to learn, and advice on the best combination of subjects for different careers 

              This ensures we are providing inspiration and innovative experiences within and beyond the classroom and ensure we are delivering successful outcomes and positive futures for all our students in line with Riddlesdown Collegiate’s development plan.   

              The choices pupils make during their time at Riddlesdown will have an impact on their future career choices and happiness.  So, it makes sense to start thinking about their future as soon as possible. 

              To prepare for life after they leave Riddlesdown, there are questions pupils should be thinking about and the answers you give will likely shape the GCSE subjects they choose, and what routes they wish to take post-16, whether it’s A Levels at College VI, vocational qualifications at a local college or an Apprenticeship. 

              Some of the questions students should be thinking about: 

              1. What are they most interested in? What do they like doing? 
              2. What are they best at? What skills do they have? 
              3. What types of careers interest them? What do they involve? What skills and qualifications do they require? 
              4. What can they do to find out more about careers that interest them? 
              5. What can they do whilst at school to make future employers more likely to hire them?

              Unifrog online careers platform 

              Unifrog is a platform that supports our school with delivering outstanding careers guidance to students aged 11 to 18.  It provides impartial and up-to-date information on the full range of post-16 and post-18 options, all in one place.  Students can compare university courses in the UK and around the world.  Additionally, Unifrog provides students with access to a comprehensive database of apprenticeships across the UK as well as further education courses. 

              As well as providing tools to help students explore their interests to the full range of pathways open to them, Unifrog providers tools and guidance and CV writing and personal statements for university. 

              Students will be provided with a password from Year 7 and parents can also have their own login where they can access all the tools and resources to help their child make informed decisions about their next steps. Unifrog also produces a monthly newsletter for parents and caregivers, and they can contact the school for a login code. If you are a parent with a child at Riddlesdown Collegiate and would like a password, please contact the Careers Leader. 

              Apprenticeships 

              Riddlesdown’s careers programme will provide you with an understanding of Apprenticeships and advice on how to explore the opportunities they offer. 

              An apprenticeship is a real job with training which would allow you to earn while you learn, whilst gaining a nationally recognised qualification. Apprenticeships take between one and five years to complete and are available in thousands of occupations across hundreds of industries ranging from construction and trades to manufacturing and engineering through to IT and the creative and digital sectors. 

              All apprenticeships will include elements of on the job and off the job training leading to industry recognised qualifications. Some apprenticeships will require an assessment at the end of the programme to assess your ability and competence in the job role. 

              Apprenticeships are available to anyone over the age of 16 however there are different entry requirements depending on the sector and job. 

              Apprenticeships fall under 4 different levels: 

              Intermediate – often found in areas such as electrician, plumber etc. where you must start with the basics

              Advanced – Equivalent to 2 A Level passes 

              Higher – Equivalent to a foundation degree 

              Degree – Equivalent to a bachelor’s or master’s degree 

              We measure the success of our careers programme through student focus groups, reviewing records of engagement with employers across Key Stages and destinations data. We will also be engaging parents, EDT Careers Adviser and support staff in the school. In addition, we are building up our alumni network to better understand the longer-term impact of our career’s education. We will next update this section of the website by the second half of the Summer Term of the 2026-2027 academic year. If you would like more information about our careers programme or wish to support careers education at Riddlesdown, please contact our Careers Leader.