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Advice & Guidance
The Prospectus is packed full of up to date information about your learning options in and around Bradford. Advice and Guidance is about making sense of that information for You. This part of the website aims to give you information to help you make the best choice for you and help you to achieve your goals for the future. Scroll down to the Case Studies below to read about some young people from this area and the choices they have made.
Individual Advice
It may be helpful for you to talk with someone who is independent and impartial (not from any particular learning provider) about your choices and hopes. If you are in school, college or with a training provider there will be a Personal Adviser (PA) you can go and talk to. Part of their job is to offer you help to make choices about suitable careers and advise you on what you might need to do to put your plans into practice.
If you do not know who your PA is or you would prefer to talk to someone else you can get in touch with Connexions Bradford. You can ring them on (01274) 377800.
Connexions Bradford staff can provide you with advice and information about jobs, training, education and other opportunities. You can always get an Adviser to contact you later if that’s more convenient, or you can make an appointment to see someone at one of the Connexions Centres in Bradford or Keighley.
Connexions Centre opening times and contact details:
Bradford Connexions Centre Keighley Connexions Centre
29 Cheapside 79 Low Street
Bradford Keighley
BD1 4HR BD21 3QP
01274 377800 01535 618100
Monday: 9.00am – 4.30pm
Tuesday: 9.00am – 4.30pm
Wednesday: 10.00am – 4.30pm
Thursday: 9.00am – 4.30pm
Friday: 9.00am – 4.00pm
Case Studies
Ben
Ben was in Year 11 and on track to get Cs or Ds at GCSE, but he knew that he didn’t want to continue with full-time education. When he saw his PA in school he talked about being interested in Apprenticeships, preferably in bricklaying. The PA explained that he could apply for training, but that there were not many Apprenticeships around, and that he would have to contact local companies for a vacancy.
Ben got organized and wrote to 40 different companies. It took a while before he heard anything, then one employer offered him an interview, and said they would give him a trial run. Ben did just that and was then offered a permanent job.
Karen
Karen first saw her PA early on in Year 11, when she said that she really hated school, and it appeared that school were not too keen on her either. She had a poor attendance record and answered teachers back when she did turn up. The PA found out that Karen had a little experience of working in a café, and had enjoyed it. She decided to apply for a catering course at college and was surprised, but happy, to be accepted. This gave her a sense of direction, and she decided to go back to school regularly, took her GCSEs and is glad that she got onto the college course.
Asif
When Asif met his personal adviser in Year 11 he knew he wanted to join the Police, but as he couldn’t apply for a couple of years he wasn’t sure what to do next. His personal adviser discussed his options with him, as it could be helpful to have had a job during that time, or to have taken A levels or a college course. Asif didn’t feel that A levels were for him, nor did he want to take on a full-time job yet. He read about the Public Services National Diploma at college and decided to apply. He filled out the application forms and went for an interview. Asif passed the GCSEs that he needed to get onto the course, which he is now half way through and thoroughly enjoying.
Nadia
Nadia was very quiet and shy at school, and had suffered from some bullying. She left school with very low self-esteem, wasn’t good at communicating, and had no self-confidence. Her personal adviser helped her to get onto an e2e programme, where she settled in well, had good attendance and punctuality and a positive attitude. As a result she finished all her assignments ahead of schedule and was moved onto an Apprenticeship and is now fully employed at a private day nursery and is working towards an NVQ in Childcare.
Joe
Joe had always been good at rugby – his Dad had been a professional player and had introduced him to the game. During Year 11 Joe was playing regularly for a local rugby team. He was so wrapped up in the game that he had no other ambitions but to play rugby. He got seven GCSEs with grade C or above, but had no real ideas what to do next. His personal adviser talked him through his options, which could be staying on at school to take A levels, or possibly doing a Sport Studies course at college, or getting an Apprenticeship. He preferred either to stay on at school, or go to college, as this would give him more freedom to keep training and trying to get signed professionally. He knew that even if he made it as a professional that having some qualifications behind him would help because his career as a player might not last for long. In the end he decided to stay at school where his teachers had been very supportive of his rugby ambitions and it required the least upheaval. He decided to take A levels there in Sport Studies, Biology and Leisure and Recreation.