Careers information for Years 7-11

Exploring future career options helps young people develop aspirations, understand the world of work and make informed choices. 

You could start this process in Year 7, focusing on your child's self awareness and interests. Activities you could try include personality quizzes, hobby mapping and job of the week research.

In Year 8 you could explore careers. Activities could include virtual job tours, career card games and interviews with family and friends.

In Year 9 you might start to focus on skills for work. These include CV writing, volunteering and budgeting basics.

In Year 10 you may want to focus on pathways and qualifications. This could include:

• GCSE/IGCSE options
• Functional Skills
• Vocational and/or academic routes
• Careers fairs 

In Year 11 you will be looking at next steps. This will involve college and/or apprenticeships research, mock applications and interview prep.

Activity ideas  

• Create a vision board of future goals and dream jobs 
• Use career colouring sheets or pictorial job cards 
• Make a career comic strip showing a day in the life of a chosen job  
• Role-play workplace scenarios (such as asking for help, teamwork) 
• Practice interview questions using AAC tools or scripts 
• Record short videos talking about a job they like 
• Explore daily routines and how they relate to work. For example, timekeeping or dressing appropriately
• Practice money skills using mock shopping or budgeting games 
• Learn about travel training and workplace safety 

Careers information and advice 

• National Careers Service - careers advice, job profiles, information and resources
• BBC Bitesize Careers - videos and articles on hundreds of jobs 
• icould - career videos by real people  
• icanbea... find out about jobs and careers in Norfolk and Suffolk and make your own CV  
• Skills Builder Hub - free resources to develop essential skills like teamwork and problem solving  
• Young Enterprise - business and finance challenges for young people   
• LifeSkills - developing work and life skills from Barclays
• Financial education - learning for children and adults from moneysavingexpert.com
• Youth Employment UK - free skills and careers resources for home education students

For SEND children you can see a list of options and support at Further education, higher education and training. Planning for the future may include:

• Supported Internships 
• Researching local colleges with inclusive vocational programmes 
• EHCP reviews to include career planning and aspirations  

Work experience, volunteering and paid work

For more information about work experience and volunteering, see Secondary KS3/KS4.

For more about children working while of school age, see Your home education questions answered - work experience and paid work.