Parents have a key influence on the choices their child makes.
Careers advisers are there to help so that parents feel confident in supporting their child make important decisions in their career planning journey.
P7/S1Transition
- When pupils are making the transition from P7 to S1, careers advisers attend parent events to outline the support on offer to their child and them
- Career management skills are introduced and parents are encouraged to register on My World of Work and visit the parent area for information and advice
Option choices
- For pupils in S2 and S3, careers advisers attend parent events that focus on option choices. This is to support parents in helping their child consider their career management skills and make informed decisions
Senior phase option choice
- Careers advisers attend parent evenings and events throughout the senior phase to support informed decision making and the development of career management skills
- My World of Work’s dedicated parent area provides information to help parents support their child.
In Whalsay School, our Skills Development Scotland careers advisor is Alison Shearer.
Parents and young people can contact Alison by email or by telephoning the Careers Office, which is based in Charlotte House, Lerwick.
Email – AlisonJane.Shearer@sds.co.uk
Telephone – 01595 695791
Address – Charlotte House, Commercial Rd, Lerwick, Shetland ZE1 0LQ
Newsletters:
April 2024
Feedback on Skills Development Scotland’s (SDS) career service:
Parents and carers are key influencers over young people’s career ambitions and choices. SDS work in close partnership with schools to support our young people to make informed career choices and they would value feedback from parents and carers on their services. You can do this by taking part in a short survey.
All responses are confidential and anonymous, and the results will be used to inform SDS services. The survey should only take about 10 minutes to complete.
June 2024 Update
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) advisers have been in all PSE classes from S1 -S6 this year and we have also been working with individual pupils in S4-6, as well as having short option choice meetings with S2 pupils. We provide careers information, advice and guidance as well as employability support.
We have started working with the new S4, 5 and 6 already and are meeting pupils who may still be waiting to see if they are successful in finding apprenticeships/jobs/college or university places over the summer as well as those who plan to stay on till the end of S6.
SDS are keen to remind pupils, parents and carers that we continue to offer this support beyond school. Some leavers may be applying for different opportunities and still waiting to hear back, some may have conditional offers and be waiting for results to confirm their places, some may not know what is out there or where to start. SDS advisers will be checking in with leavers to see how they are getting on and offering support as required. For anyone with no plans in place, we offer regular ongoing support for as long as you need it. This might mean parents/carers getting a call on the home number provided to us if we cannot get in touch with the leaver through the contact details we hold for them on our system.
SDS are open throughout the school holidays so leavers/parents/carers can get in touch directly with us if they would like to arrange a face to face appointment or Teams/phonecall with one of our advisers. You do not have to have met with advisers in school in S4/5/6, our service is available to everyone – we offer an all age and all stage service as well as working in schools.
What happens if you change your mind and decide that the course or job you started is not the right thing for you at this time? Or if you don’t get the grades you hoped for or needed on Results Day in August? You can contact us at SDS to speak to an adviser to talk through your ideas and work together to find an alternative option you are happy with.
You can call us on 01595 695791 or email us at lerwick@sds.co.uk
