Careers

Having completed my A-Levels aged 18 I realised that I did not know what I wanted to do with my future. Having stumbled across working with young people due to coaching rugby, aged 22, I realised that I wanted to work with young people, and make a difference to their lives. Upon reflection, I knew that careers provision was not acceptable at the school I attended.

Before joining Brompton Hall School, I have worked in secondary schools in York, Hull and Leeds. Whilst I worked in the Leeds school for nine years I held various roles. In addition to being Head of Key Stage 4, I was in charge of careers within the school. I worked tirelessly so that all the students had the best possible chance of being successful gaining entry onto the course or apprenticeships that they wanted to after Year 11.

I believe an extensive Careers programme aimed at raising aspirations of the students at Brompton Hall School is paramount to them being successful whilst at the school and in the future.

My name is Sue James and I am the Specialist Careers adviser working in Brompton Hall School. I have worked delivering Information Advice and Guidance for 15 years and have worked in Brompton Hall School for 4 years. My role is to support the students to explore the world of work and to be aware of the choices and options open to them post 16.

My work starts in year 9 with a group session which aims to spark interest in careers and future options. This is followed by a 1:1 guidance interview and career action plan which outlines where a student is now and where they see themselves after year 11. This is followed by a further group session in year 10 looking at labour market information and a further 1:1 guidance interview.

In year 11 my role is supporting students to make their choices. I support with college applications and visits, taster days, CV’s and apprenticeship applications.

Contact with parents and carers is essential and I write to parents every year explaining my role and the support I am able to offer. Parents and students are also able to contact me at any time with any queries or questions they may have.

At Brompton Hall we understand that every young person needs to leave with a positive destination. We have had great success with students moving on to FE College and training providers such as YH training and The Skills Village. We now have a number of students who are gaining apprenticeships and this is mainly due to the work experience program that the school have in place.

I believe very strongly that every young person deserves the very best opportunity on the pathway to adulthood. This can vary from student to student and some need more support to achieve their aspirations than others. The support is not only while they are students at the school but once they leave and move into their next provision. I maintain the support I am able to offer until the end of October and in some cases beyond.

It is a real privilege to support the students at Brompton Hall School on their personal journey into adulthood and it is with a sense of pride that I am able to see them flourish into independent adults who are proud of who they have become and what they have achieved.

After being inspired by secondary school physics teacher and my father (an engineer) I decided to investigate becoming an engineer. When I finished school, I was lodging in Manchester after my parents had moved to Pickering so I had to find a job remotely. I was successful in obtaining and apprentice overhead linesman post which was subsequently changed to multi-skilled electrician. I really enjoyed my apprenticeship and realised that I had made the right decision. Working with older, highly skilled staff encouraged me to investigate other engineering opportunities and I moved to RAF Fylingdales as a maintenance electrician and was soon promoted to Professional & Technology Officer. I was transferred to RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire and took on many additional interesting roles – Energy Conservation Manager, Apprentice Master and Health & Safety Officer. I attended the Royal School of Military Engineering for an Electrical to Mechanical Conversion course to become a Mechanical and electrical engineer. I loved every minute of my working life!

I then moved to Scarborough to work for Dale Electric and then on to Yorkshire Water to broaden my experience. I then realised that I wanted to start my own engineering business – Danemead Technical Services in 1987. The company grew to £1.5M in 2 years and I found I needed computer software system to operate the equipment and started a Software company with a friend. This again was very successful and very satisfying. Both companies were later sold to an international company. I then commenced work as a freelance consultant working throughout the UK and Europe and was very happy in this role. I have now retired and undertake a lot of voluntary work with local organisations and schools. A fantastic and satisfying career which I could not have planned better!! I now hope to transfer my knowledge, experience and enthusiasm to students to encourage them to work hard, be inquisitive and have ambition. They should not be frightened to take some risk and aim high.