
Welcome to Career North at Our Lady Queen of Peace
We are delighted to announce that Career North Ltd is the new provider of Independent Careers Advice and Guidance at Our Lady Queen of Peace.
Career North are a local Careers Company who have been providing high quality CEIAG in the North West for over 10 years. Your child will receive valuable, impartial, careers advice and guidance which will support them to make well informed decisions about their future.
Career North’s Advisers are highly experienced and professionally qualified in Careers Guidance. All students will be offered the opportunity to have a one to one Career Conversation and will receive a detailed action plan to support them with their career planning. Career North welcome the opportunity to meet with parents/carers and will be attending Parents Events throughout the year, additionally students can request appointments through their form tutor, by asking Mrs Downing or by emailing Careers@olqp.lancs.sch.uk
Welcome to the team
Holly Jones
Careers Adviser for Career North is a highly qualified and experienced Careers Guidance Practitioner and Secondary English teacher who has over 15 years extensive experience working with students from 11 to 18. Holly has supported, inspired and enabled young people with their career choices and next steps, including high achievers pursuing academic routes post 16/18 and vulnerable pupils who are re-engaging in learning. Holly’s depth of knowledge, enthusiasm and approachable nature ensures she is able to inspire pupils and support them to make the right choices.
Kelly Lyon
Careers Adviser for Career North initially volunteered for Career North and after 12 months successfully applied for a Careers Adviser position. Kelly’s substantial previous work experience supports her effectively in her career guidance role. Kelly has had a longstanding interest in working with young people demonstrated through her studies at Level 3 and Level 4 in IAG and she subsequently gained significant experience working in 6 schools for Career North. Her breadth of experience with a wide range of students ensures she is flexible in her guidance approaches and quickly gains their trust.
Jayne North
Managing Director of Career North Ltd has worked passionately with young people of all ages for the last 29 years to bring about change and fuel their inspiration, Jayne provides high quality education consultancy, coaching and training and is committed to excellence in Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance. She is a published author, national trainer and a Master Practitioner in Neuro Linguistic Programming.
Zack North
Trainee Careers Adviser for Career North before joining Career North Zack had 3 years experience working in sales, marketing, procurement, Vat and Tax within the Sovini Group and following significant voluntary experience with Career North has undertaken a Trainee Careers Adviser role. Zack brings a high level of enthusiasm and creativity to his role and his youthful approach ensures he quickly establishes rapport with young people and gains their trust which is key to the provision of impactful careers guidance. He is currently undertaking the Level 6 Diploma in Careers Guidance and the Level 3 Association for Coaching Certificate.
Holly Jones

Kelly Lyon

Our passion is inspiring young people to be the best version of themselves. We work hard to enthuse and motivate students, ultimately providing all the support they need to be prepared for their next steps and excited for their future.
Career North recognise that every young person has a different set of skills, abilities and interests and therefore we take a flexible approach to our delivery.
What we do in Our Lady Queen of Peace ...
- Deliver individual careers advice through our effective Career Conversations (parents/carers are welcome to attend their son/daughters appointment)
- Provide detailed Action Plans which guide pupils on their next steps
- Advise about all of the opportunities available after Year 11
- Raise awareness of Apprenticeship opportunities and help pupils apply
- Support pupils with applications for College
- Promote opportunities at University and broaden awareness and widen participation
- Help pupils find voluntary work and relevant leisure time activities
- Provide help with study skills and revision techniques
- Provide help and support to find part time work
- Run Master classes in Apprenticeship Application, Presentation and Interview Skills, Growth Mindset and resilience, CV and supporting letters, Study and revision skills etc.
We are here to help,
Don’t delay book an appointment today!
We look forward to meeting you soon!
Holly, Kelly and Zack
Our Company motto…

Gatsby Benchmark Careers Plan
The Gatsby Benchmarks |
What
this looks like at OLQP |
Impact |
Next
developments |
1.
A Stable Careers Programme Every
school and college should have an embedded programme of career education and
guidance that is known and understood by pupils, teachers, governors and
employers. |
SLT
and governors support a 5 year programme to meet the
benchmarks and target key transition periods (e.g. post 16, KS3 to KS4). Identified
AHT provides clear aims and objectives. Age
appropriate and timely activities. Careers
Education is one of the five strands of the school ‘Curriculum for Life’. Shared
information via the website with links for students, families, teachers and
employers. Letters,
meetings and information are shared with students and parents at key points. Careers
section within the library. |
A
Gatsby guided programme: •to support students
and parents to make informed choices. *to improve knowledge
of the labour market and local/national trends. *to improve to
develop employability skills • to raise standards
of achievement • to increase the
commitment to learning, motivation and self-confidence of students • to
improve the retention of young people in learning after the age of compulsory
schooling. • to
raise aspirations. |
Compass
careers benchmark tool to audit and fill gaps in provision. Track
and intervene with individual students within year groups. |
2.
Learning from Career and Labour Market Information Every
pupil, and their parents, should have access to good quality information
about future study options and labour market opportunities. They will need
the support of an informed adviser to make best use of available information. |
Shared
information via the website with links for students, families, teachers and
employers. Directing
all stakeholders to find advice via the links on the websites, e.g. Lancashire
LEP, nationalcareers, start, careerpilot
which updates using LMI. This includes CEIAG
in-house taught sessions as part of Curriculum for life sessions. CEAIG
sessions promote a focus on employability skills. |
Sustained
improvements in destination data Students
are able to make informed decisions during key transitions (post 16, KS3 to
KS4). Students
focus on all their skills and attributes beyond academic achievement. |
Ensure
website information is high-profile, user-friendly and fit for purpose
(student and parent questionnaires for example). Share
LMI with staff |
3.
Addressing The Needs Of Each Pupil Pupils
have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for
advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each pupil. A school’s
careers programme should embed equality and diversity considerations
throughout. |
Curriculum
for Life challenges all stereotypes, in particular gender and sexuality. All
students will have a Curriculum for Life personal careers folder to track
their careers education and encounters. Curriculum
for life rotations have been planned to support
students during transition points. We
promote all staff as positive role models. Post
16 applications and destinations are tracked in Y11 and followed-up in the
next term. |
Destinations
data indicates raised aspirations. 98% of the known 2017/18 cohort are in
sustained education or employment/training. The
school actively and explicitly aims to raise aspirations and broaden
horizons. This is reinforced via staff CPD, student briefings and rewards
linked to these values. Tracking
documents ensure that destinations are appropriate, aspirational and there
are no gaps especially for disadvantaged students. Student
surveys support that we prepare students well for their next stage in life. |
Destinations data on cohort 2018/2019 to be collated by end of November 2019. Systems
are needed to keep systematic records of the
individual advice given to each pupil and not just cohorts/year groups. Further
development is needed for students to record their career developments. |
4.
Linking Curriculum Learning To Careers All
teachers should link curriculum learning with careers. STEM subject teachers
should highlight the relevance of STEM subjects for a wide range of career
paths. |
Dedicated
Careers lessons for all students in all years through Curriculum for Life. School
Careers Week in October – every subject planned and delivered a careers
activity relevant to their subject/curriculum. This is evident in their SOW. Future
U organisation are used to deliver Sector Skills
workshops in relevant subject areas. STEM
activities are promoted through our STEM
co-ordinator and Engineering school status. This includes enrichment such as
STEM Club, STEM careers activities, STEM first activities, International
links. Engineering
link learning programmes to industry links and have organised industry visits
linked to lessons and/or classroom projects. |
Students
can make career links to all subjects across the curriculum. STEM
remains high profile across the school. Weekly
STEM club engages students in workshops, projects and visits throughout the
year. Annual
trip to The Hague to sell STEM products made by students in STEM club. Formula One competition entered and
attracts sponsorship from local business. Students
are aware of the wide range of STEM employment opportunities in Skelmersdale. |
Check
SOW on website include Careers activity from Careers week. Improve
displays. Maintain
momentum with STEM activities. Keep
up-to-date with the development of T levels as technical
training routes evolve from 2020. |
5.
Encounters With Employers and Employees Every
pupil should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work,
employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be
through a range of enrichment activities including visiting speakers,
mentoring and enterprise schemes. |
Employers,
employees, industry representatives and FE staff have attended a range of Shuttleworth
events, e.g. Y9 - Y11 careers and skills fairs, Open Evenings, assemblies,
apprenticeship Q&A sessions. All year 10
students visit a local workplace for a day, linked with their option subject. Students have the opportunity to
watch various Learn Live podcasts linked to their option areas. Employers involved in mock
interviews, personal statement preparations and CV writing workshops. |
Increased student and parental awareness of CEIAG provision within
the 5 year journey of experiences and guidance. All aspects of employability skills are developed
through curriculum for life and the wider school curriculum. Work experiences are developed during option lessons. Apprenticeship opportunities information is gathered and applications
are made. |
Extend
the directory of employer contacts to ensure as many
options are available that match industry availability. NHS,
Keepmoat Homes, Hotters, Stocks Hall all interested
in being involved. |
6.
Experiences Of Workplaces Every
pupil should have first-hand experience of the workplace through work visits,
work shadowing and/or work experience to help their exploration of career
opportunities, and expand their networks. |
All year 10
students visit a local workplace for a day, linked with their option subject |
Increased student and parental awareness of the world of work and the
need to make informed decisions. There is a constant reinforcement that the
opportunities are immense and that research and information gathering is
essential to make informed decisions. Work experience and shadowing is linked to
students’ option choices. Aims and desired outcomes from the experiences are
communicated to the employers so that the visits have maximum impact
in the limited time available. Students and parents’ understanding of LMI is increased within a
local context. |
Extend
the directory of employer contacts to ensure as many
options are available that match industry availability. |
7.
Encounters With Further and Higher Education All
pupils should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are
available to them. This includes both academic and vocational routes and
learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace. . |
FE Taster days are attended by Y10/Y11 ·
West Lancs College ·
St John Rigby College All year 10/11 students have a Future U university talk which is an
assembly covering ‘What is university? What could I study? Where could I
study? Planning for independent living’ ‘student finances’ Careers fairs for Y9 - Y11 with FE presentations inform on the whole
range of post 16 choices. FE staff are directed to stress how academic
success links to future pathways. |
Increased student and parental awareness of the post 16 and lifelong
opportunities available, the world of work and the need to make informed
decisions. There is a constant reinforcement that the opportunities are
immense and that research and information gathering is essential to make
informed |
Continue
to systematically target
individual advice given to each pupil and not just cohorts/year
groups. Systems
are needed to keep systematic records of the participation of each pupil and not just cohorts/year
groups. Share
university facts including finance with parents. Visits
to local HE providors. |
8.
Personal Guidance Every
pupil should have opportunities for guidance interviews with a career
adviser, who could be internal (a member of school staff) or external,
provided they are trained to an appropriate level. These should be available
whenever significant study or career choices are being made. They should be
expected for all pupils but should be timed to meet their individual needs. |
‘The Careers Partnership’ services were purchased
to provide guidance for all Y11 students. Individual Careers Interviews for all students in year 10/11. Priority given to PP, LAC, SEND and potential NEET students. The
website promotes the national careers website helpline. |
Individual
Careers Actions Plans for all students. Action
Plans shared with parents, tutors and learning managers to keep all key staff
informed so they can fully support their studetns. Staff are given responsibility for their
tutees with Pastoral Leaders and mentors focusing on PP students. We aim to
ensure we meet the needs of all students, prevent NEET and ensure suitable
plans in place. |
Extend
personal guidance to those lower down the school, especially year 8 during
options time. Refine
appointment booking system. |