I failed high school, leaving with one B grade and two E grades (and the E didn’t stand for Excellent). I based my choice of final year subjects on the advice of a careers advisor who told me that I should choose subjects I wasn’t very good at, because “What’s the point of studying subjects you do well in without trying?” Happily it’s a very different mindset and approach from the far more sensible, modern careers advice students receive at Carmel School.

Each Carmel student is guided carefully, professionally and individually through the process of subject selection and their potential future careers by a team of educators who care about their future opportunities and plan the process with them.

In Year 10, the Morrisby assessment involves an hour and a half of detailed questionnaires and online testing which suggests areas of interest based on a student’s answers. Students are fascinated by the information provided, which takes into account their natural strengths and abilities, their motivation and their personality type as well as what they enjoy doing. The results of the assessment tool support decision-making in terms of which subjects to choose, what next steps to take.

Morah Zsuzsi then invites students (and parents who are able to attend) to an individual meeting, in which they discuss the many options available and start to craft a pathway to whatever future is desired. The reason the students look forward to the process is because it focuses on their thoughts and aspirations for the future and supports them to get where they want to be.

There are many different pathways at Carmel School, which cater for students’ desired individualised outcomes. And for those who aren’t yet sure what they want for their future, there are sensible ways of keeping open as many opportunities as possible, too. Concerned Carmel parents have previously asked me why we only cater for ‘academic’, exam-loving students who want to be doctors, engineers and lawyers. The easy answer is that we don’t! Having heard this misperception a few times now, I created a document which summarises half a dozen different pathways that past students have taken to attain their ultimate goal. You can read this document here.

As you can see, we cater effectively for all at Carmel School and we carefully plan Year 11 and 12 options to enable students to achieve what they want. If they do want to be a doctor, engineer or lawyer, we can help them work towards that future. And if they want to be a builder, entrepreneur or hairdresser, we can also make this happen.

Last night’s Careers Expo in the BT Hall brought together a number of providers from various universities and institutes, who talked to the students about the options available to them. And the last piece in the puzzle is encouraging parents to take their children to the universities’ open days, as these often inspire ideas and provide a direction for the students, who then find it motivating to work towards a goal.

With all this in place, I am confident that Carmel students receive the best advice possible when planning their futures and every year I get excited hearing about the direction our fabulous students plan to take and imagining their success.

 

Julie Harris

Principal