About the Department

Career Education at Loretto aims to prepare pupils for adult life by fostering initiative in making informed choices, and in doing so, to develop a positive attitude towards themselves and others. Pupils are made aware of the opportunities that are available to them and of the skills and qualifications they will need to achieve their goals.

The Higher Education Department aims to provide frameworks for Sixth Formers to enable them to analyse realistically their academic interests and strengths, to develop awareness of the nature and range of courses available, to provide information on courses and guidance which is supportive, and to help them become aware of the options open to them.

Teaching and Learning

On joining the School, all pupils are made aware of the lay-out and resources available within the Careers and Higher Education Library (relocated and updated into the CRC in September, 2006). Structured Career Education lessons are given within the PSHE programme to include preparation for choosing GCSE, AS and A2 courses. This includes outside speakers, Fifth Form preparation for the Futurewise (including the Morrisby Profile) service, Lower Sixth Centigrade Higher Education Questionnaire, interview techniques workshop, preparation for work experience and UCAS preparation.

Activities

Outside the classroom, senior pupils have the opportunity to visit Careers and Higher Education Conventions, Gap Fairs and University Open Days as well as take part in the Young Enterprise Scheme and Career Experience Courses. As part of the Upper Sixth Life Skills programme, everyone undergoes an interview skills training day and mock interview at Edinburgh’s Chamber of Commerce.

As a member of ISCO (Independent Schools Careers Organisation) all Fifth Form pupils are offered the Futurewise service. This entails a Preparatory Questionnaire, psychometric tests, a feedback session by the Scottish Director of ISCO and a one to one interview.

Futurewise is a personalised, career guidance and planning service dedicated to young people. The service is geared to individual pupil’s needs. It brings together an array of support to assist in decision-making. It focuses on key transitional stages in a young person’s educational development.

Futurewise members benefit from:

personal guidance

  • individual profiling
  • developmental tools
  • information resources
  • learning opportunities

Futurewise members are given a secure, personalised webspace through which to coordinate their research and decision-making. It provides a framework that helps them to discover and develop their potential from enrolment to their 23rd birthday. It informs and supports their choices during this period and can integrate parents, schools and professional partners into the process.

Loretto’s next Careers and Gap Convention, to which all parents are invited, will be held on Friday 25th May, 2007.

Staff

Paul Dunn (Head of Careers) dunnfnl.jpg
Paul followed his BSc (University of Strathclyde) in Mathematics with a PGCE from St. Andrew's College of Education (now Glasgow University). Joining Loretto in 1988, he has previously headed up the ICT Department plus developed his pastoral experience as Assistant Housemaster of Pinkie House.

He now leads Career Education.

He and his wife, Judith, have recently had their first child (Charlotte). Paul enjoyes a wide range of sports and he coaches cricket,hockey, badminton and squash. He recently completed his first marathon.

John Elder (Higher Education) elderfin.jpg
John studied for his BA at Hull University before going to Glasgow University where he was awarded an M.Litt. for a thesis on Scottish politics. His teaching qualification is from Birmingham University. Before joining Loretto he taught in Liverpool where he developed an attachment to Everton. He has taught at Glasgow University and organised teacher training courses for the British Council in Romania. He is active in politics and been a candidate in both local and national elections. He has been running the Higher Education programme for many years.

Stuart Lucas (Armed Forces Liaison) slucas.jpg
He is currently studying for Diploma SpLD (dyslexia) at the University of Edinburgh and previously has been awarded an M.Litt. Literary Linguistics for the Teaching of English Language and Literature (University of Strathclyde), a BA (Hons) English Studies (University of Stirling) and a. PGCE (English/History) (University of Strathclyde). He fell into the trap that is education and has never escaped!
Enjoys reading Voltaire and Yukio Mishima. He runs the Naval branch of the CCF and has been the liaison co-ordinator for all Armed Services for the last three years.

Gavin McDowall (Work Experience Liaison)
He retired eight years ago, after thirty years at Loretto, teaching physics. He was housemaster at School House for fifteen years and ran the sailing club. He was involved with the CCF throughout his time at Loretto, latterly running the navy section. For about ten years he has been responsible for work experience.