NHS Careers is delighted to introduce a new competition for students in Years 8 and 9 which encourages them to think about the breadth of their career opportunities, develop their job-seeking skills and make informed decisions about important GCSE or diploma choices.

Developed with practising teachers, this project supports the non-statutory framework for careers education and helps teachers and advisers to deliver many of the learning objectives outlined for Key Stage 3. There are strong links to the English Curriculum too.

The Brief Students are challenged to select one of the careers available with the NHS and, working individually or in groups of four, to create a job description, a job advertisement and a CV of the perfect candidate. A diverse panel of experts in the fields of health, education and Government policy will judge the competition when it closes on 31st March 2009, with the winners announced in May. 

Over 500 prizes to be won There are over 500 prizes to be won with 10 regional winners and one overall national winner, plus 500 runners up. The overall national winner (either group or individual) will each receive a state-of-the-art laptop, while regional winners are awarded £50 Amazon vouchers and every runner up wins a memory stick.
 
Curriculum Links
Careers Education - as outlined in the non-statutory framework including:
Undertaking a realistic self-assessment of aptitudes.
Identifying areas for development and gaining a positive self-image.
Developing understanding of how the world of work is changing and the skills required for employability.
Recognising that the world of work is more than paid employment.
Identifying and using a variety of sources of careers information.

English - in particular for activities to promote and support 'Writing for a purpose'.

PSHE and Citizenship - supporting self development, career exploitation and management.

Diploma in Society, Health and Development - a useful preparation tool for students planning to embark on this diploma.

Supportive resources for teachers
At the end of January, a comprehensive pack of materials was sent to careers education contacts at secondary schools in England. The pack included a CD-Rom of support materials, a poster for classroom display, a teacher guidance booklet and a briefing form for students. Should you have any difficulty locating these resources, you can download all the key competition materials from here

For full terms and conditions, see the guidance booklet available here