Careers Advisor

Marsha Johnson – Careers Advisor

At David Nieper Academy, the Careers Advisor plays an essential role in supporting our young people to understand what qualifications or standards must be met to go on to meaningful destinations and are ready for the next stage of education, employment, or training.

Our Careers Adviser Marsha Johnson holds a Level 6 Careers and Guidance and Development. Her recent post was a Careers Lead at pupil referral units, across the Derby City area for several years. Marsha also works part time for the National Careers Service based in the Yorkshire and Humber area, with clients aged 18 and upwards who are unemployed or have suffered from long term illness.

Marsha has experience of delivering both one to one careers-based interviews and group work sessions, which are based around employability skills and careers exploration. Marsha has knowledge and experience of working with students who have SEN needs or students who are disengaged from education. Marsha enjoys meeting with students to support them with their career aspirations and goals.

How Our Careers Advice Works

Marsha meets separately with each David Nieper Academy student in Years 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. Marsha conducts group work sessions with our Year 7 & 8 students.

In Year 7, Marsha introduces herself and encourages students to think about careers.

In Year 8 and Year 9, Marsha encourages students to think about GCSE (Year 9) options and to understand how their subject choices might influence their future careers.

In Year 10 and Year 11, Marsha helps plan the move to Further Education, discussing options including A levels, college courses and apprenticeships.

In Year 12, Marsha explores with each student, all career options open after Year 13, perhaps to identify relevant universities, apprenticeships, and employers.

In Year 13, Marsha advises and assists with applications for Higher Education, jobs, apprenticeships, and training.

Action Plan Takeaway

After each meeting Marsha provides our Careers & Employability Leader, Mrs Victoria Fawcett, an Action Plan for each student, which reminds them of relevant sources of information, of any research needed, and of any goals, objectives and/or deadlines that have been agreed which is then uploaded to our Unifrog platform for students to refer to.

Our internal careers team are then on hand to provide follow-up support.