Calderstones Careers Programme: Our Vision

We pride ourselves at Calderstones on giving students a well-rounded education and as part of their learning we have developed a broad and extensive careers programme in order to:

• raise student aspirations and broaden horizons
• inspire and empower students to make informed and realistic decisions at key transition points in learning and work
• provide good quality, independent and impartial careers advice to students, which inspires them and motivates them to fulfil their potential
• provide advice and guidance that is in the best interests of the individual student
• provide opportunities to work in partnership with employers, training providers, local colleges and others to provide opportunities to inspire students through real-life contact with the world of work
• develop enterprise and employability skills, including skills for self-employment
• support inclusion, challenge stereotypes and promote equality of opportunity

We strive to constantly improve the career provision at Calderstones and have a team of five staff working together to ensure students receive the best career advice and guidance as possible. 

Calderstones Career Team

All staff are actively engaged in giving career information and advice however we have a team of staff who organise, evaluate and develop the whole school programme.

They are:

• Mr P Richards
  Head of 6th Form/Careers Lead
  Mr P Richards

  After completing my GCSEs and A Levels in my hometown of Leicester, I studied Physical Geology and Geomorphology at Liverpool University, graduating in 1995. During the holidays at university, I had a number of jobs, including bar work, picking orders in a bread factory and manufacturing double glazed windows. I completed my PGCE in Geography at Liverpool Institute of Higher Education (now Liverpool Hope University) and started work at Calderstones School as an NQT in 1996!

  As well as teaching Geography I have held a number of positions at the school including Head of Travel & Tourism, Head of Year (7-11) and I am currently held the post of Head of Sixth Form since 2010. Alongside my current role I have been given the opportunity to develop the school�s career programme as Career Lead and I completed the Level 6 Career Leader qualification in 2019.

• Mrs R Barlow
  BSc (Hons), PGCE
  Mrs R Barlow

  I�ve been here before! I completed my GCSEs and A-Levels at Calderstones and in 2002 went on to Newcastle University to study Biomedical Sciences. I returned to Liverpool in 2005 where I did some temporary office work until going travelling across North America in 2006. After flying home, I spent some time in Manchester working for a graduate recruitment company before returning to Science when an opportunity came up to do work experience in the Natural History Museum in London. I stayed in London for nearly five years, working in the University of Greenwich.

  In 2010 I made my final move back home to Liverpool to start my PGCE in Secondary Science at Liverpool Hope University. In 2011 I joined the team at Calderstones as a newly qualified Science Teacher. During my time here I have been involved in many aspects of the teaching and learning of Science including visiting local primary schools to deliver science club as well as helping facilitate Science club here at Calderstones. As a Biologist I have participated in a �Future Physics Leaders� course run by the Institute of Physics and have been mentor to a number of trainee teachers of Science over the years.

  Last year I began working with Farm Urban and was responsible for a team of year 9 students participating in their Future Food Challenge which we won! I am currently completing the Level 6 Careers Leader Qualification from which I hope to help further develop our Careers Programme in School, supporting the great work Mr Richards, Miss Schofield and the careers team already do.

• Miss T Walsh
  BA (Hons), MA & PGDE
  Miss T Walsh

  I completed my Junior and Leaving Certified in my home country of Ireland in 2011. I then moved to the United Kingdom, Liverpool to complete a BA in Home Economics at Liverpool John Moores University. After completing this 3-year course, I completed a PGDE in Design and Technology (specialising in Food and Textiles) at LJMU. I started teaching in Calderstones in 2015 as a NQT Food and Textiles teacher.

  In my first year of teaching, I completed a Masters in Education practice, graduating in 2016 from LJMU. Since starting at Calderstones I have been involved in various positions including pupil premium co coordinator. Since 2018 I have been Head of Food and Nutrition at Calderstones.��Alongside my current role I have been given the opportunity to develop the school�s career programme as part of the Careers team and I completed the Level 6 Career Leader qualification in 2020.

• Mr C Murphy
  B.A. (Hons) Learning Development and Support (LaWP)
  Mr C Murphy

  My career started somewhat differently than my colleagues. I left school at 16 after O-Levels and started on a three year training programme at Tesco as a trainee manager. Working in various stores around the country and studying at Millbank College of Commerce on a day release basis I left after five successful years to join my best friend in the wholesale fruit market importing fruit, vegetables and salad from around the world and distributing around the country!

  I joined Calderstones in 2001 initially working for SENISS working on a one to one basis with pupils with additional needs, I had attended Underlea Special School up to the age of 11 so this was something I had always wanted to do. I had the opportunity to join the school�s mentoring team in 2002 and our team of four are still working together today!

  During my time as a Mentor I have been involved in various projects including the Increased Flexibility Project where students attended college to study for vocational qualifications alongside their GCSE�s. I have also worked closely with Connexions (Career Connect) and have completed the qualifications in Understanding Connexions and The Connexions Diploma. I have also completed my BA (Hons) degree at JMU.� I have been privileged to have had the opportunity to be involved in many of the extra-curricular activities � I have run numerous school football teams, I have been involved in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme and been involved in many school trips both home and abroad. I have also served on the school governing body for two terms.

  As a dad of five whose children have all embarked on their different Career paths from Medicine, Nursing, Bio Chemistry, Teaching and my youngest on the front line in Morrison�s hoping to start University in September �it is a privilege to interview and offer impartial advice and guidance to your children.

• Mr J Rowe
  Link Governor - BSc (Hons)
  Mr J Rowe

  After finishing my GCSE's at SFX I went to Myerscough College to complete a BTEC in sport for three years. I loved my time at Myerscough and it opened up a lot of potential career paths in sport which I didn't think were available to me following some disappointing GCSE grades. During my time at Myerscough I started volunteering at Everton in the Community which is the official charity of Everton Football Club. After spending almost two years volunteering I knew I wanted to pursue a career in coaching.

  After finishing college I went on to LJMU to complete a sports development degree. I continued volunteering at Everton in the Community which gave me some of the best experiences I have had in my career so far. Following the completion of my degree I went on to get a full time job at Everton. The job was volunteer coordinator, it involved me recruiting and placing volunteers onto the many projects that Everton run in the local community. In 2011 I was asked to run our National Citizen Service (NCS) programme that I'm sure you have heard about. NCS is a fantastic opportunity for young people in year 11 to meet people from different communities and backgrounds, to learn more about their community, develop skills and give something back through social action. Since 2011 we have worked with over 2000 young people. NCS is something I am still involved with today.