Careers

We are committed to providing the high quality, impartial advice, guidance and information needed to enable students to make informed choices and the right decision for them whether they are going onto higher education, apprenticeships, or employment. This is in line with Gatsby Benchmarks and the Baker Clause.

Our careers focussed education has been designed to help you think about your long term goals and reaching your full potential.

There are a number of ways in which we will help you with planning for your future:

  • 1:1 career advice appointments
  • Higher education events
  • Careers and apprenticeship events
  • Industry guest speaker events
  • Work placements
  • Training opportunities
  • Volunteering opportunities
  • Help sourcing apprenticeships
  • Trips to universities
  •  Skills development workshops
  • Links to industry and business and much more.

Please click on the tabs below to find out more:

The provider access policy can be found here.

An example of careers activities taking place this year can be downloaded here

See our latest Careers & Enterprise Compass Tool Tracker results

Work experience is an important part of your college experience, and all students should look to undertake some during their time at college. Placements will give you a great insight into the type of career you might be interested in and help you develop the skills needed for employment. Work experience is also imperative for some Higher Education courses. If you are looking to study medicine, health and social care related courses or veterinary science, admissions tutors will look closely to see whether you have undertaken any work experience alongside your course. Doing so shows your commitment and dedication to the subject you are interested in, but also develops those soft skills that you might not get to use during your lessons. All students studying a pre level 3 programme and those on double/triple vocational courses are required to complete work experience as part of their course.

There are many aspects linked to employability and we will offer you a menu of activities to ultimately make you more employable, whether this is to help you secure part time work, a work experience placement or getting that dream apprenticeship.

We will run a variety of workshops and events on the following topics:

  • CV writing
  • Application writing
  • Cover letter writing
  • Job seeking guidance
  • Interview techniques
  • Mock interviews.

We work closely with local universities (including Southampton, Surrey, Solent, Winchester,  Bournemouth, Portsmouth and Chichester), as well as the Southern Universities Network project, to help our students from all walks of life achieve their goals.

Help with university applications is available throughout the year and we have an excellent record for supporting student progression to highly selective universities.

We actively promote and encourage students to take advantage of the many summer school opportunities offered by businesses and universities. Former students have taken part in the Access to Southampton (A2S) scheme, through the University of Southampton.

We can help students who choose not to go to university to secure apprenticeships, by assisting with applications, any tests that applicants have to undertake, as well as practice interviews and help with presentation skills. We have helped students secure places at prestigious companies such as IBM, Ernst & Young, Deloitte, Arqiva and Fiander Tovell.

Useful careers websites:
  • www.prospects.ac.uk – A website with everything in one place from careers quizzes, job profiles, qualification information and much more.
  • https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk – Main website for the National Careers Service, there are links to job profiles, CV writing and other careers information.
  • www.careerpilot.org.uk – A free website with helpful quizzes for students and parents to discuss what careers they might like to do in the future. Provides information about salary, qualifications and skills required for each job.
  • www.careersbox.co.uk – Parents’ Club, free work-related film content covering hundreds of different employment and training opportunities
Apprenticeship websites:
  • www.apprenticeships.org.uk – The main National Apprenticeship website – students can register and apply for apprenticeship vacancies in their chosen occupation.
  • www.notgoingtouni.co.uk – Information for those who would prefer an apprenticeship, distance learning or employment with training, rather than university when they leave college.
  • www.amazingapprenticeships.com – Information, advice and support around applying for apprenticeships. Monthly Parents Pack Apprenticeship available with up to date information and support
  • https://www.sunoutreach.org/students/resources/apprenticeships/ – The Southern Universities Network support for parents helping their child access an apprenticeship in the future
University information:

We are delighted to announce that Richard Taunton Sixth Form College works with SUN (Southern Universities Network).

SUN offers a range of events and activities that aim to help young people decide on the best educational path for them. These activities are for RTSFC students who live in certain postcode areas and is an additional externally funded resource to benefit all students directly or indirectly. As part of the programme, students could have the chance to get involved in activities such as:

  • Visits to universities
  • Mentoring (individual support and guidance about education and career options, perhaps from people who are currently at university, in employment or doing an apprenticeship)
  • Courses held at a university where students take part in activities and stay in university accommodation
  • Career discussions
  • Workshops, assemblies and academic taster sessions held at the college.

If you are a parent/guardian and would like to know a little more about how SUN works, take a look at their website.

We work closely with local secondary schools so that students have all the information they need to make an informed choice on their next steps. We want students to feel fully supported when transitioning from school to college.

Here are some of the activities that can be delivered in schools:

  • Bespoke Presentations
  • Application Advice & Guidance
  • Support Transition Workshops
  • Attending Year 9 Networking Events and Option Evenings
  • Attending Year 10/11 Parents/Information evenings
  • Pop-up Shops
  • Assemblies.

If you’re a parent or employer and you’d like to support us, we’d love to hear from you. Here are a number of ways you can help:

  • Employer Encounters / Careers Fairs (Opportunities to speak to a group of students about your career, how you got there, skills required)
  • Mentoring (Supporting a student to transition into an apprenticeship or college placement)
  • Work Experience (Offering a placement to students to be able to access a place of work)
  • Curriculum links (providing time during curriculum time to explain how your work links your area)

If you would like to get in touch, please contact our Careers & Progression Manager / Careers Leader: Jemma Cheviot jemma.cheviot@lighthouselearningtrust.ac.uk.

Careers & Progression Manager / Careers Leader: Jemma Cheviot | jemma.cheviot@lighthouselearningtrust.ac.uk

Group Vice Principal for Student Experience, Welfare and Progression / Careers Leader: Thom Young | Thom.Young@lighthouselearningtrust.ac.uk

SUN (Southern University Network) Progression Mentor: Laura McCarthy | maccarthyl@richardtaunton.ac.uk

Careers & Progression Officer: Tamara Trengove | trengrt@richardtaunton.ac.uk

Careers & Progression Assistant: Antoni Wadham | wadhama@richardtaunton.ac.uk

Contact our Careers Leader

Contact our Careers Leader