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Operation Encompass - We are an Operation Encompass School 

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Operation Encompass - We are an Operation Encompass School 

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We are part of the Operation Encompass Scheme

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A Guide to Career Options 2023 / 2024 | RateMyApprenticeship

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Read our digital guide to Apprenticeships and School Leaver Programmes in 2023 / 2024, featuring the top apprenticeship employers’ table as voted for by students

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Exam Time and Exam Stress - Parents guide to support

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Exam Time and Exam Stress - Parents guide to support

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If you're worried about how your child is coping with exams at school, here is our advice and information on where you can get help.

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Exams are a stressful time for any young person

Mood swings and outbursts are more likely to occur during this period. Look out for other signs that your child may be struggling, including poor sleep patterns or a change in appetite or behaviour.

It's worth preparing ways of supporting your child during exam weeks and thinking about how you will react and respond on the day if they don't get the result that they, or you, are hoping for.

Things that can help your child in the lead up to exams

Work with your child to find what revision style works for them.

Encourage your child to take revision breaks and find a balance between studying and doing things they find enjoyable and relaxing.

Make sure they are eating and drinking at regular intervals.

Encourage them to take some time after revising to wind down.

Reassure them - reinforce that you are and will be proud of them no matter what happens.

Remain positive and hopeful!

Plan a treat or an activity together to mark the end of the exams.

Set aside one to one time so that they can talk to you about any worries.

Let them know their feelings are valid and normal, but also offer support and solutions where possible.

Anxiety is often worst at night and this means it is useful to encourage a good bedtime routine.

Work with them to develop relaxation techniques.

If anxiety and stress start impacting their day-to-day life, seek help from your GP.

Helping your child to plan a realistic revision timetable, which breaks the days and subjects down into manageable chunks, will reduce their anxiety by increasing their sense of control and confidence.

How to help your child manage exam stress

How the school can support you

Speak to your child's teacher(s) to find out what revision techniques they recommend.

If your child is struggling with a specific subject, talk to the relevant teacher and explore whether they can provide additional help.

Find out if the school has learning mentors that can help with practical steps including revision timetables.

If your child has additional learning or developmental needs, speak to the school SENCO and establish what specialist provision they can put in place.

Exam Stress - Roundup | YoungMinds Parents Lounge

How to manage a 'disappointing' exam results day

If your child is unhappy with their exam results it can be tough to deal with. Here are some things that can help:

If your child is happy to show you their results statement, you might find it helpful to have a look, just in case they have misread or misunderstood, or overlooked something.

Accept their feelings, whatever they are - disappointment, anger, embarrassment, bravado. Their feelings are neither right nor wrong, they just are. Don't offer immediate judgement, or solutions, or even reassurance - there will be plenty of time for conversations later.

Reflect back how they are feeling to show you have understood, for example, "I can see you're disappointed with the Maths result."

Let them know you love them through highs and lows. Big hugs are good (although probably very embarrassing in public).

Show you're on their side - it could be something small like getting their favourite snack.

Give yourself some breathing space and time to reflect.

Ask the school to help your child explore any possible next steps, such as re-takes, re-marking or alternative courses.

If your child is disappointed with their results, they might also be embarrassed. Agree with your child how they want their results discussed with family and friends, if at all.

You might also find this helpful:

Where to get further help

Useful helplines and websites

While we take care to ensure that the organisations we signpost to provide high quality information and advice, we cannot take responsibility for any specific pieces of advice they may offer. We encourage parents and carers to always explore the website of a linked service or organisation to understand who they are and what support they offer before engaging with them.

Help us improve our content

Whether you love the page or think something is missing, we appreciate your feedback. It all helps us to support more young people with their mental health.

Please be aware that this form isn't a mental health support service. If your child is in crisis right now and you want to talk to someone urgently, find out who to contact on our urgent help page.

At YoungMinds we take your privacy seriously. If you'd like to read more about how we keep the information we collect safe, take a look at our privacy policy.

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Exam Time & Exam Stress | Parents Guide To Support

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Exams are a stressful time for any young person, if you're worried about how your child is coping read our tips and advice on how to help.

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Open Events at City of Liverpool College

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Open Events at City of Liverpool College

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The next College open event takes place this week on Wednesday 24 May between 4-6pm.
Click HERE to register at a campus listed above

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Would you like to be participate in our careers programme ?

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Would you like to be participate in our careers programme ?

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If you would like to be involved  in our careers programme , attending our careers fair , discussing your career , offering  work experience or work place visits we would be delighted to hear from you please don't hesitate  to get in touch  . Please email j.boyd@gateacre.org

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Link to students safeguarding and wellbeing  padlet ( online notice board)

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Link to students safeguarding and wellbeing  padlet ( online notice board)

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Access information and resources for parents and carers on keeping your child safer online including conversation starters and video guides.

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About Fearless

Fearless is the dedicated youth service of the independent charity Crimestoppers. We give young people the power to report crime 100% anonymously .

You can give information to us using our online form or by calling our freephone number, 0800 555 111.

We cannot track your IP address or your phone number. We have no way of knowing who has contacted us.

After receiving your completed form or your call, we create a report, ensuring it doesn't contain any info that could identify you, and your report is then sent on to the relevant authority with the legal responsibility to investigate.

We are not the police. We are a charity. You will not be contacted by the police after passing information on to Fearless as the police have no way of knowing who the information has come from.

Want to know more? Have questions about how it all works? Check out our FAQs

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Fearless is the dedicated youth service of the independent charity Crimestoppers. We give young people the power to report crime 100% anonymously . You can give information to us using our online form or by calling our freephone number, 0800 555 111. We cannot track your IP address or your phone number.

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Advice on grooming and sexual exploitation

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Advice on grooming and sexual exploitation

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Children and young people can be groomed online or in the real world, by a stranger or by someone they know. If you’re worried about a child, we have advice to help.

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Advice on criminal exploitation and gangs

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Advice on criminal exploitation and gangs

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Children and young people involved with gangs and criminal exploitation need help and support. They might be victims of violence or pressured into doing things like stealing or carrying drugs or weapons. They might be abused, exploited and put into dangerous situations.

We have advice about what to do if a child is being groomed to join or has already joined a gang.

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We have advice about how to spot the signs of criminal exploitation and involvement in gangs and about what support is available for children and young people.

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Parentsafe  from LGFL - Tips for  keeping your child safe online

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Parentsafe  from LGFL - Tips for  keeping your child safe online

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It's never easy to know how to keep our children safe when they aren't with us, and sometimes even when are, if we don't know what's happening in their lives or on their devices! Who are they talking to, what are they doing, are they okay? Don't despair though...scroll through this page for help or click a button to go straight to a particular topics.

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This page is for parents - if you are a teacher, click here

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We recommend a family agreement to make clear what is allowed...or not, how much time you can spend on devices, and ground rules like no phones at the table or in the bedroom at night-time. Shared expectations will reduce arguments and keep everyone safe & healthy.

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National Careers  Week 23 Virtual Careers Fair

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National Careers  Week 23 Virtual Careers Fair

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VCF Lobby - NCW 2023 Virtual Careers Fair

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Click to explore a space... Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

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National Careers Week - Virtual Careers Fair , advice , opportunities 6-11 March 23 

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National Careers Week - Virtual Careers Fair , advice , opportunities 6-11 March 23 

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Monday - Natwest Group - Virtual Careers Fair

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Monday - Natwest Group - Virtual Careers Fair

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Monday NatWest Group From our headquarters in Edinburgh, NatWest Group serves over 19 million customers. We take our place in the world seriously, and believe we only succeed when our customers, our communities and the economies we’re a part of succeed as well. This belief is at the root of our purp…

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LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION

What is Labour Market Information?

Labour Market Information focuses on giving you information about the local area you live in

Wage rates

Job availability

Skills gaps

Unemployment rates

Reports from professional bodies

Economic summaries from the local area

Labour Market Information ensures that young people are equipped with the information needed to make well informed realistic decisions.

Labour Market Information for the local area

Liverpool-Growth-Sectors-summary.pdf LMI-Summary-Liverpool-City-Region-Final-.pdf

Labour market summary report from the Liverpool LEP

Useful Links

National Careers Service site - This website offers advice and guidance to young people. Young people and their parents/ carers can caht online to an adviser and /or find out about 800 job profiles.

Labour market summary report from the Liverpool LEP  This report will provide useful information on major employers and sectors and developing trends.

LMI for All is an online data portal that offers  sources of high quality, reliable LMI. The Careerometer Widget below allows users to select different careers and find out about average wages, number of hours worked and potential growth.

Nomis is your one-stop shop for labour market information. The summary pages provide key trend data about a local area.

I Could provides 1,000 different video clips of LMI and personal career stories to help students explore different career routes and pathways.

Get In Go Far is the government portal for information about apprenticeships, with a linked website to find live apprenticeship vacancies.

Amazing Apprenticeships provides ideas from Apprenticeship Champions on how to promote apprenticeships. The site also provides free talks and guidance to schools via the Apprenticeship Support Knowledge service (ASK).

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Careerometer is a useful tool which enables you to compare working hours and average wages of job roles in the UK that you're interested in pursuing.
How to use the Careerometer

The Careerometer is a simple way for you to find out more about a specific industry and career. All you need to do is type in the job you're interested in and then select it from the drop down menu. You can then add more options to compare which route you would prefer to go down. You can find information on a variety of careers from engineering to public services, hair and beauty plus much more!

Ready to explore careers that are right for you?

National Careers Week (NCW) is an exciting prospect to explore career guidance and the free resources available for you to use in education. Do you recognise the importance of high-quality careers education? Do you want to make the difference for young people? Together we can!

From dealing with cyber security and minimising the impact of natural disasters to developing sustainable energy, food, housing and products; engineers help pave the way to a better future for everyone.

Apprenticeships have been in the news in recent years as a solid alternative to the 'flight path' route to employment which suggests students go from GCSEs to A Levels, on to University and then into graduate-level jobs.

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Careerometer is a useful tool which enables you to compare working hours and average wages of job roles in the UK that you're interested in pursuing.

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Pathways at 16+
Students aged 16+ who are ready to begin level 3 training and education have three main choices.
T-Levels
T-levels were introduced in 2020 and are currently being rolled out across the country. Your child will take a two-year course designed with employers and spend approximately 80% of their time in a classroom setting at school or college and 20% on an industry placement with an employer. One T-level is equivalent to three A-levels.

Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships combine part-time study with training in a paid job. Your child will spend most of their time at work and at least 20% of their time 'off-the-job' studying, usually in a classroom setting at a college or with a training provider. From age 16, a young person will usually begin a level 2 or level 3 apprenticeship.

A-levels
Most students select three subjects to study at A-level, over a two-year period. However, your child could choose to combine A-levels with other qualifications or to study more than three A-levels.

Pathways at 16+
Students aged 16+ who are ready to begin level 3 training and education have three main choices.
T-Levels
T-levels were introduced in 2020 and are currently being rolled out across the country. Your child will take a two-year course designed with employers and spend approximately 80% of their time in a classroom setting at school or college and 20% on an industry placement with an employer. One T-level is equivalent to three A-levels.

Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships combine part-time study with training in a paid job. Your child will spend most of their time at work and at least 20% of their time 'off-the-job' studying, usually in a classroom setting at a college or with a training provider. From age 16, a young person will usually begin a level 2 or level 3 apprenticeship.

A-levels
Most students select three subjects to study at A-level, over a two-year period. However, your child could choose to combine A-levels with other qualifications or to study more than three A-levels.

Other options from 16+

As well as the three main options listed above, there are others available from 16+ that you may want to explore with your child.

These include:

Transition programme
This is a one-year study programme that might benefit your child if they need additional time to get ready to study a T-level. It will give your child the relevant knowledge, practical and study skills to excel in their chosen subject. Talk to your local T-level provider to find out more.

Other level 3 qualifications
As well as A-levels and T-levels there are other specific qualifications at level 3 that can prepare your child for particular job roles or further study

Level 2 qualifications
Additional GCSEs or other level 2 qualifications might be the right next step to help your child build their pathway to further study or the workplace

Traineeships
A traineeship could help your child develop the right skills to begin an apprenticeship or to prepare for work and includes a placement with an employer

Pathways from 18+

Employment
Employment options available from age 18 will vary depending on where you live. To start exploring the options, you could have a conversation with your child's school or college. They can advise on the best job prospects locally, as well as roles that are suitable for your child.

They can also help you access labour market information, which shows existing jobs in the local area, the skills needed for certain roles and which local industries are likely to need more employees in the future.

Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships from 18+ combine study with training in a paid job. They are offered at different levels, depending on the nature of the job, starting at Level 2 (GCSEs are Level 2 qualifications for example) and including Level 6, which is the equivalent of a bachelor's degree.

Higher education
The options for higher education include a bachelor's degree and higher technical qualifications (e.g., HNC/HNDs and foundation degrees). These courses are delivered in universities and further education colleges.

Further education
Employment or higher education may not be the best next step for your child at 18+. They may wish to complete a level 3 qualification instead, for example, which supports entry into the workplace or further study. Your local further education college can advise on the options available at this stage.

Pathways from 18+

Employment
Employment options available from age 18 will vary depending on where you live. To start exploring the options, you could have a conversation with your child's school or college. They can advise on the best job prospects locally, as well as roles that are suitable for your child.

They can also help you access labour market information, which shows existing jobs in the local area, the skills needed for certain roles and which local industries are likely to need more employees in the future.

Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships from 18+ combine study with training in a paid job. They are offered at different levels, depending on the nature of the job, starting at Level 2 (GCSEs are Level 2 qualifications for example) and including Level 6, which is the equivalent of a bachelor's degree.

Higher education
The options for higher education include a bachelor's degree and higher technical qualifications (e.g., HNC/HNDs and foundation degrees). These courses are delivered in universities and further education colleges.

Further education
Employment or higher education may not be the best next step for your child at 18+. They may wish to complete a level 3 qualification instead, for example, which supports entry into the workplace or further study. Your local further education college can advise on the options available at this stage.

Extra support

A range of help is available

Your child's school or college is required to publish a careers plan, which you will find on its website. These career plans include details of events and activities you and/or your child might want to attend.

The website will also have contact details of the careers leader who will be a useful starting point for any career discussion.

You may feel more comfortable speaking to a teacher you already know, such as your child's form tutor. They can also provide guidance on where to access more information and the careers specialists who can help.

You can speak to a specialist careers adviser through the National Careers Service website.

If your child has special educational needs and disabilites (SEND), their school or college can help you find out what additional support is available.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking "Accept All", you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.

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Students aged 16+ who are ready to begin level 3 training and education have three main choices. T-Levels T-levels were introduced in 2020 and are currently being rolled out across the country. Your child will take a two-year course designed with employers and spend approximately 80% of their time in a classroom setting at school or college and 20% on an industry placement with an employer.

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Understanding Relationships, Sex and Health Education at your child’s secondary school: a guide for parents

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Understanding Relationships, Sex and Health Education at your child’s secondary school: a guide for parents

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Relationships education, relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education: FAQs

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Relationships education, relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education: FAQs

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The Department for Education is introducing compulsory Relationships Education for primary pupils and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) for secondary pupils from September 2020. Also, from September 2020 it will be compulsory for all schools to teach Health Education.

Through these subjects, we want to support all young people to be happy, healthy and safe - we want to equip them for adult life and to make a positive contribution to society. Throughout our engagement process as we developed this curriculum, we have heard a number of wide ranging concerns.

Below, we have explained some of the common misconceptions around the subjects.

Q: Will my child's school have to consult with me before teaching these subjects?

A: Schools will be required to consult with parents when developing and reviewing their policies for Relationships Education and RSE, which will inform schools' decisions on when and how certain content is covered. Effective consultation gives the space and time for parents to input, ask questions, share concerns and for the school to decide the way forward. Schools will listen to parent's views, and then make a reasonable decision as to how they wish to proceed. What is taught, and how, is ultimately a decision for the school and consultation does not provide a parental veto on curriculum content. A school's policies for these subjects must be published online, and must be available to any individual free of charge. Schools should also ensure that, when they consult parents, they provide examples of the resources they plan to use, for example the books they will use in lessons.

Q: Will my child be taught sex education at primary? This is too young.

A: We are not introducing compulsory sex education at primary school. We are introducing Relationships Education at primary, to put in place the building blocks needed for positive and safe relationships of all kinds. This will start with family and friends, how to treat each other with kindness, and recognising the difference between online and offline friendships. Some primary schools choose to teach sex education (which goes beyond the existing national curriculum for science), and in those instances we recommend you discuss this with the school to understand what they propose to teach and how. If you continue to have concerns, you have an automatic right to withdraw your child from these lessons.

Q: Does the new Relationships Education and RSE curriculum take account of my faith?

A: The subjects are designed to help children from all backgrounds build positive and safe relationships, and to thrive in modern Britain. In all schools, when teaching these subjects, the religious background of pupils must be taken into account when planning teaching, so that topics are appropriately handled. Schools with a religious character can build on the core content by reflecting their beliefs in their teaching.

In developing these subjects, we have worked with a number of representative bodies and faith organisations, representing all the major faith groups in England. Several faith organisations produce teaching materials that schools can choose to use.

Q: Do I have a right to withdraw my child from Relationships and Sex Education?

A: Parents will have a right to withdraw their child from sex education delivered as part of RSE in secondary schools which, unless there are exceptional circumstances, should be granted up to three terms before their child turns 16. At this point, if the child themselves wishes to receive sex education rather than be withdrawn, the school should make arrangements for this to happen in one of the three terms before the child turns 16 - the legal age of sexual consent.

There is no right to withdraw from Relationships Education at primary or secondary as we believe the contents of these subjects - such as family, friendship, safety (including online safety) - are important for all children to be taught.

Q: Has the government listened to the views of my community in introducing these subjects?

A: A thorough engagement process, involving a public call for evidence and discussions with over 90 organisations, as well as the public consultation on the draft regulations and guidance, has informed the key decisions on these subjects. The consultation received over 11,000 responses from teachers, schools, expert organisations, young people and parents - these responses have helped finalise the statutory guidance as well as the regulations that have been laid in Parliament.

Q: Will these subjects promote LGBT relationships?

A: No, these subjects don't 'promote' anything, they educate. Pupils should be taught about the society in which they are growing up. These subjects are designed to foster respect for others and for difference, and educate pupils about healthy relationships. RSE should meet the needs of all pupils, whatever their developing sexuality or identity - this should include age-appropriate teaching about different types of relationships in the context of the law.

Pupils should receive teaching on LGBT relationships during their school years - we expect secondary schools to include LGBT content. Primary schools are enabled and encouraged to cover LGBT content if they consider it age appropriate to do so, but there is no specific requirement for this. This would be delivered, for example, through teaching about different types of family, including those with same sex parents.

Q: Will teachers receive training before delivering these subjects?

A: The department is committed to supporting schools to deliver these subjects to a high standard. We know that training is a priority for teachers and we will be consulting with teachers, trade unions and other key stakeholders over the coming months on how we structure the training.

In addition, we are encouraging schools to act as early adopters for this curriculum and to start teaching the subjects from September 2019. To help early adopter schools, we will provide further advice on how they can improve their practice. Lessons learned from the early adopters and best practice from schools will be shared with all schools from September 2020.

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Relationships education, relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education: FAQs

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The Department for Education is introducing compulsory Relationships Education for primary pupils and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) for secondary pupils from September 2020. Also, from September 2020 it will be compulsory for all schools to teach Health Education.

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Sexual Health & Wellbeing - Brook - Healthy lives for young people

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Sexual Health & Wellbeing - Brook - Healthy lives for young people

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Sexual Health & Wellbeing - Brook - Fighting for healthy lives

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Brook is the only national charity to offer both clinical sexual health services, education & wellbeing services for young people, plus training & support for professionals.

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Are you worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with you online? Make a report to one of CEOP's Child Protection Advisors

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Are you worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with you online? Make a report to one of CEOP's Child Protection Advisors

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CEOP is a law enforcement agency and is here to keep children and young people safe from sexual exploitation and abuse. Please complete the below to start your report to one of CEOP’s Child Protection Advisors.

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Year 7

Pastoral Leader Year 7 - Mr Cooper

Year 8

Pastoral Leader Year 8 Ms J Thomas

Year 9

Pastoral Leader Yr 9 Ms L Haines

Year 10

Pastoral Leader Yr 10 Miss T Harper

Year 11

Pastoral Leader Yr 11 Miss Imray

Safeguarding Team

Designated Safeguarding Lead - Mr A Growcott

Deputy Safeguarding Lead Mrs J Boyd

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Things you need to know about cyberullying

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Things you need to know about cyberullying

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What to do if your child is being cyberbullied

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What to do if your child is being cyberbullied

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Career Information Advice and Guidance (padlet.com)

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If you need advice and support about careers

See Mrs Boyd  ( Careers Leader) - In the atrium each lunch time and after school . Email  j.boyd@gateacre.org

Speak to our Careers Advisor Carol Byrne -  In schoo, Tuesday and Wednesday .  Email Carol.Byrne@careerconnect.org.uk

For advice with sixth form speaker to
Mrs Kinder  - Assistant Head Teacher j.kinder@gateacre.org
Miss Jane Thomas Assistant Head of Year 12 and 13 j.thomas@gateacre.org

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Parental advice on contacting social media sites

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Careers advice - job profiles, information and resources | National Careers Service

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The National Careers Service can help you with your career, learning and training choices. Find out more about us and the different ways we can support you. This service is available to people who live in England.

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Digital parenting advice, activities and ideas from the experts at Parent Zone

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Digital parenting advice, activities and ideas from the experts at Parent Zone

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Download the Little Wins planner from Google and Parent Zone - and celebrate those small successes.

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Evidence suggests there are 5 steps you can take to improve your mental health and wellbeing. Trying these things could help you feel more positive and able to get the most out of life.
1. Connect with other people

Good relationships are important for your mental wellbeing. They can:

help you to build a sense of belonging and self-worth

give you an opportunity to share positive experiences

provide emotional support and allow you to support others

There are lots of things you could try to help build stronger and closer relationships:

2. Be physically active

Being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness. Evidence also shows it can also improve your mental wellbeing by:

raising your self-esteem

helping you to set goals or challenges and achieve them

causing chemical changes in your brain which can help to positively change your mood

Read about exercise guidelines and workouts to help improve your fitness and wellbeing

3. Learn new skills

Research shows that learning new skills can also improve your mental wellbeing by:

boosting self-confidence and raising self-esteem

helping you to build a sense of purpose

helping you to connect with others

Even if you feel like you do not have enough time, or you may not need to learn new things, there are lots of different ways to bring learning into your life.

Some of the things you could try include:

4. Give to others

Research suggests that acts of giving and kindness can help improve your mental wellbeing by:

creating positive feelings and a sense of reward

giving you a feeling of purpose and self-worth

helping you connect with other people

It could be small acts of kindness towards other people, or larger ones like volunteering in your local community.

Some examples of the things you could try include:

saying thank you to someone for something they have done for you

asking friends, family or colleagues how they are and really listening to their answer

spending time with friends or relatives who need support or company

offering to help someone you know with DIY or a work project

volunteering in your community, such as helping at a school, hospital or care home

5. Pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness)

Paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental wellbeing. This includes your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you.

Some people call this awareness "mindfulness". Mindfulness can help you enjoy life more and understand yourself better. It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.

Read more about mindfulness, including steps you can take to be more mindful in your everyday life.

Further information

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Read about 5 steps you can take to improve your mental health and wellbeing.

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Home - Kind to your mind Liverpool

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Good mental wellbeing is essential to our day-to-day life. Difficult or negative experiences can impact our mood and the type of thoughts we experience. It can feel difficult to control our thoughts and feelings and at times it is easy to feel overwhelmed.

This site is aimed at adults over 25 to guide you through steps you can take to protect and improve your wellbeing, overcome challenges and help you on your way to recovery. If you are under 25 you can find services for children and young people on the Liverpool CAMHS website.

If you are a student, your university will offer support and information on wellbeing services.

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Good mental wellbeing is essential to our day-to-day life. Difficult or negative experiences can impact our mood and the type of thoughts we experience. It can feel difficult to control our thoughts and feelings and at times it is easy to feel overwhelmed.

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Skip to main content Skip to accessibility tools

Our Pathways Advisors

can support you with everything from housing and employment, to mental and physical wellbeing.

Pathways Advice Service

Learning your way

Come along to one of our learning sessions - there's something for everyone! From fitness sessions and mental wellbeing sessions to arts, crafts and music.

More about our learning offer

Our sites

We offer services across Merseyside, in our warm and welcoming sites in Walton, Lee Valley, Southport, and Bootle.

Find your nearest Life Rooms

Who are we?

We are here to help you improve your mental and physical wellbeing. Whatever the issue; from housing and employment, to lifestyle or exercise. We're here when you're ready to take your next steps towards a healthier life. Our services are available to anyone aged 18+.

Learning timetable

The Life Rooms provides a wide range of free, short courses to increase recognition, understanding and self management on symptoms such as anxiety, depression, psychosis, self esteem and many more.

Helping you get the right support

We offer a wide range of support to help you in the best way possible. Whatever the issue you might be facing.

Return to header

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Skip to main content Skip to accessibility tools can support you with everything from housing and employment, to mental and physical wellbeing. Pathways Advice Service Come along to one of our learning sessions - there's something for everyone! From fitness sessions and mental wellbeing sessions to arts, crafts and music.

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resilience challenges nature MH awareness week 21 (3)

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Menopause | Symptoms, Treatment & Help | Balance by Dr Louise Newson

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By making menopause support inclusive and accessible to all, we can change the narrative by educating and empowering people across the world! Discover more.

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How to relax | 8 relaxation tips for your mental health

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23 Feb 2018

It's good to have a friend who can help us cope, get things off our chest and say positive things. But if there's no-one there when unpleasant thoughts, memories or feelings can sometimes come up out of the blue can you do it on your own?

Read more

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23 Feb 2018 It's good to have a friend who can help us cope, get things off our chest and say positive things. But if there's no-one there when unpleasant thoughts, memories or feelings can sometimes come up out of the blue can you do it on your own?

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This page is for parents - if you are a teacher, click here

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Knowsley Community College Open Events 2022-23

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Parents and Carers - UK Safer Internet Centre

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Tips, advice, guides and resources to help keep your child safe online

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Explore guides, advice and information around all the online platforms and trends at the heart of digital family life.

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No one should go hungry - we're here to help

Food banks in our network welcome and support everyone who is referred to them, always acting with respect and without judgment. Volunteers will give a minimum of three days' emergency food and offer support to resolve some of the difficulties you might be facing.

How to get a food voucher

In order to get help from a food bank you will need to be referred with a voucher, which can be issued by a number of local community organisations (for instance schools, GPs and advice agencies). Your local food bank can advise which agencies can help. Find your local food bank here.

If you're worried about money and struggling to afford essentials, the free helplines below offer personalised support:

If you live in England or Wales

please call Help through Hardship for free to talk confidentially to a trained Citizens Advice adviser on:

0808 208 2138
(Open Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm. Closed on public holidays.)
They can help address your crisis and provide support to maximise your income, help you navigate the benefits system, and identify any additional grants you could be entitled to. If needed, they'll issue you with a voucher so you can get an emergency food parcel from your local food bank.

Please ask the adviser if you need a translator, this will be provided via Language Line. If you can't hear or speak on the phone you can use Relay UK. Find out how to use Relay UK →

If you live in Northern Ireland

please call for free to talk confidentially to a trained Advice NI adviser on:

0800 915 4604
(Open Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm. Closed on public holidays.)
They can help address your crisis and provide support to maximise your income, help you navigate the benefits system, and identify any additional grants you could be entitled to. The advisers can also provide specialist debt and budgeting advice to people calling the line. For more information, click here. If needed, they'll issue you with a voucher so you can get an emergency food parcel from your local food bank.

Visiting a food bank

We know that visiting a food bank can seem daunting, but all the food banks in our network will offer you a warm welcome in a safe environment. Trained volunteers will provide a listening ear and support to find further help while your food parcel is prepared.

What's in a food parcel?

A parcel consists of nutritionally balanced, non-perishable tinned and dried foods, which provide at least three days of healthy, balanced meals for individuals and families.

Support beyond your emergency food parcel

Many food banks in our network offer additional support . This might be guidance on where to find help with benefits, housing and debt, or a referral to a specialist advisor (sometimes within food banks themselves). If your food bank does not offer additional services, please call the free helpline above.

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Crisis situations can occur for lots of different reasons, foodbanks work closely with frontline professionals to identify individuals in need of help.

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Join us for our 7th year of the Liverpool NOW Festival, which will be hosted at magnificent Black-E!!! The festival will take place on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of February 2022. Come along and see some of Liverpool's children and young people showcase their pieces all around the theme of mental health and "What [...]

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Join us for our 7th year of the Liverpool NOW Festival, which will be hosted at magnificent Black-E!!! The festival will take place on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of February 2022. Come along and see some of Liverpool's children and young people showcase their pieces all around the theme of mental health and "What [...]

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Parents' Resources - Educate Against Hate

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Messages of hate can take many forms. Extremist groups use them to recruit young people. Parents can find answers to common questions and resources to help protect your child below.

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Thoughts and feelings

Constantly feeling on edge. Expressing a feeling of dread or a fear of dying. Verbally stating they are worried or do not want to do something. Uncontrollable overthinking. Wanting to escape a situation.

Behaviours

Avoidance​, list-making​, checking things over and over again​, withdrawal​, scratching/biting nails​, blotchy rash​, fidgeting/pacing​, angry outbursts​, emotionally fuelled behaviour, seeking reassurance​, needing to be with certain people​, frequent use of the toilet​, rituals, panic attacks. ​Hypervigilant. Clingy to parents/caregivers. Find it difficult to do things when others are watching. Difficulty concentrating.

Physical symptoms

Problems with sleep, lack of appetite, sweating, dry mouth, heart palpitations, hot flushes, heavy and fast breathing, shaking, hair loss, dizziness, fainting, stomach ache and sickness.

Ways you can support your child/young person experiencing anxiety

Things young people say help with their anxiety are:

Writing their thoughts down on paper​ or in a "worry diary".

Listening to their favourite music (this is also a good resilience factor)​

Getting a hug off someone they trust​, offering calm physical reassurance.

"A scrap box'' - put all of their thoughts and feelings on post-it notes and rip them all up and bin them at the end of the week/month​

Distraction - reading a book, going for a walk, colouring in.

Reading positive quotes online

Reassure them that the anxiety will pass and that they will be okay.

Positive self-talk and saying nice things to themselves in front of the mirror​

Physical sensations such as smells of lavender or a comfort teddy.​

Being creative and doodling​

Having a quiet, safe space

Spending time with people and socialising ​

Ask them to think of a safe and relaxing place or person in their mind .

Breathe exercises that can be done together. You can count slowly to five as you breathe in, and then five as you breathe out. If this is too much, try starting with shorter counts.

If it works for them, gradually encourage your child to breathe out for one or two counts longer than they breathe in, as this can help their body relax.

Try using all five senses together. Connecting with what they can see, touch, hear, smell and taste can bring them closer to the present moment and reduce the intensity of their anxiety. You might think together about five things they can see, four things they can touch, three things they can hear, two things they can smell and one thing they can taste.

Where to go for support?

(include a brief description and links to relevant CAMHS partner, external organisations including YoungMinds)

Visit the young person's 'about anxiety' page

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Constantly feeling on edge. Expressing a feeling of dread or a fear of dying. Verbally stating they are worried or do not want to do something. Uncontrollable overthinking. Wanting to escape a situation.

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If any pupil or parent/carer is worried about an immediate risk their own safety or that of another person, the following advice should be followed:

In an emergency always, ring 999. Using a silent 999 call followed by 55 (or tapping/coughing into the phone) will enable police to respond.

National Domestic Abuse 24 hour Support Helpline: 0808 2000 247

RESPECT National Helpline, perpetrators (9am to 5pm): 0808 802 4040

If the risk/threat is not immediate, support can be accessed by ringing:

1. Liverpool Domestic Abuse Services 0151 263 7474

2. Merseyside Domestic Violence Service 0780 272 2703

3. South Liverpool Domestic Abuse Services 0151 494 2222

4. Ruby Project 0771 428 9180

5. Savera UK (honour based abuse & harmful practice specialist) 0800 107 0726

6. Worst Kept Secret Helpline (Merseyside) 0800 028 3398

7. Men’s Advice Line (Freephone) 0808 801 0327

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If you are a child or young person in crisis, you can call the crisis care line 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 0151 293 3577 but you should only present to Accident Emergency Department if you need medical treatment or are struggling to keep yourself safe in the immediate moment.

GYRO is a collection of youth groups (separated by age) for young people who identify themselves as: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Trans*, or who are Questioning their sexuality or gender identity (LGBTQ+)

We also have a sibling group 'THE* (Trans* Health Education) Action Youth' which specifically supports young people around gender identity.

The group provides age-specific weekly (afternoon/evening) drop-ins, where young people can attend to socialise, meet other like-minded people, take part in informal group activities and receive 1-1 support.

Do you work with other family members?

In most cases young people self-refer, and some do so without the knowledge of their family or carers as they may not be open about being LGBTQ+. We occasionally have contact with parents or carers with the young persons consent, or in an emergency, we will say we are calling from YPAS so as not to put a young person at further risk by 'outing' them. Sometimes a parent/carer needs some advice and staff will do their best to assist.

Do you have appointments outside working hours?

Yes, 1-1 appointments can be made with anyone who would like to know more about the service and /or would like to engage with the groups.

There is also the possibility to work 1 to 1 with a young person with the Information, Advice and Guidance (LGBTQ+) worker on practical support around coming out or reaching a goal or exploring terminology. This service may be more suitable for young people who find it difficult to engage in groups or have a specific need they want to meet.

Where do you see young people?

The GYRO drop-in groups take place at YPAS' Liverpool city-centre location:
36 Bolton Street, L3 5LX (It's between the Adelphi Hotel and Lime Street station)

Do you take referrals directly from children/young people, parents/carers?

Yes - YPAS takes self-referrals, which means making your own referral direct to YPAS.

A young person can just turn up to the appropriate group when it is open, no referral required.

If 1:1 support is needed a referral can be put in via YPAS clinical admin or electronically via http://www.ypas.org.uk/make-a-referral/ and a referral can be made by a parent/carer/professional/ appropriate adult. Consent must be obtained from the young person to have the referral made

What kinds of things do you help with?

We offer information, advice and guidance (1:1 support) on a range of issues relevant to LGBTQ+ young people in particular, including coming out, bullying, sexual and emotional concerns, mental health and well-being, trans specific issues. If additional support is required e.g. counselling, we will refer them within YPAS or onto other organisations. GYRO also operates as a safe social space for young LGBTQ+ people to be themselves without fear of persecution. The groups are alcohol and drug-free and always have experienced staff working on them.

GYRO also offers fun activities such as drama, music, games, art, creating zines etc. They also take part in Liverpool Pride each year and attend other external LGBTQ+ youth activities around the country.

If more specific support around gender is needed we have experienced and knowledgeable staff who run a group THE* (Trans* Health Education) Action Youth on a Wednesday afternoon. They can also offer 1 to 1 Information, Advice and Guidance regarding gender identity issues such as accessing appropriate health care.

What will happen at the first appointment?

For gyro drop-in: Most young people self-refer by attending the drop-in. When they access they will receive an induction including some paperwork and an explanation of how the group works and what it can offer. They will be asked if there are any particular issues they may want support with and if they are receiving any support elsewhere.

If the appointment is for IAG: The worker will have to do an initial assessment which may take up to 1.5 hours. This will involve collecting some personal information and finding out how the staff member and young person can work together to achieve some goals.

What will happen after that?

Young people will be informed about the drop-in opening times and planned activities they may take part in.

For IAG: future appointments may be made to continue working on goals on a 1-1 basis.

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If you are a child or young person in crisis, you can call the crisis care line 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 0151 293 3577 but you should only present to Accident Emergency Department if you need medical treatment or are struggling to keep yourself safe in the immediate moment.

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The Skills Toolkit

Learn new digital and numeracy skills at your own pace with a free online course using the Skills Toolkit. Pick from a range of digital topics and skill levels, available from introductory to advanced.

Digital and numeracy skills are valuable and sought after for all kinds of jobs. 82% of all job vacancies require digital skills.

A digital course could help you:

exercise your mind

progress your career

explore new job prospects

get started online

See our advice on getting the most out of online learning.
Explore free online courses
Search free courses for jobs

Search for free courses for jobs to get skills employers need, focusing on qualifications with good job opportunities and pay. Some of these courses are online or part-time, and they're free if you:

are aged 19 or over

do not already have a Level 3 qualification

You can visit GOV UK to learn more about whether you're eligible for free courses.

Explore free courses for jobs
Search other courses

Search for courses from learning providers, including colleges and local authority providers which may offer work-related courses on a wide range of topics.
Explore other courses

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Learn new digital and numeracy skills at your own pace with a free online course using the Skills Toolkit. Pick from a range of digital topics and skill levels, available from introductory to advanced. Digital and numeracy skills are valuable and sought after for all kinds of jobs.

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SACU - Career Quiz to match careers , subjects , courses

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SACU - Career Quiz to match careers , subjects , courses

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Careers - BBC Bitesize

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Whether you're deciding what to study, taking your exams, planning a career, or just curious, we're here to explain the world of work, with advice from people who've found the right path for them.

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Search Universities & Colleges | University & College Degrees

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Search for UK college & university courses, discover helpful reviews of courses & university rankings. Read student reviews, course funding/scholarships & fee information

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Her appointment follows the departure of Clare Marchant in September 2023, after 6 years in the position, to take up the role of Vice Chancellor at the University of Gloucestershire.

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UCAS connects people to University, post Uni studies including teacher training, apprenticeships & internships. Find all the information for your next step.

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InvestIN's parent event series is designed to give parents the essential tools they'll need to support their child on their career journey. Events are run by leading experts and are free to attend.

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InvestIN's parent event series is designed to give parents the essential tools they'll need to support their child on their career journey. Events are run by leading experts and are free to attend.

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Supported by business

T Levels were designed with leading businesses and are now supported by employers of all sizes to give students the workplace skills they need to succeed.

Hundreds of employers - including Lloyds Banking Group, Nestlé, Yorkshire Water, Persimmon Homes and NHS Trusts across England - have hosted T Level students on industry placements.

Many employers retain T Level students on completion of their course and support progression within their business onto an apprenticeship or into another role.

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T Levels are a 2-year qualification designed to give 16 to 19 year olds a head start towards the career they want.

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Webchat | Contact us | National Careers Service

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Webchat | Contact us | National Careers Service

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Read advice about loads of different topics, from what happens during puberty to bullying and abuse.

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It's so easy for young people to share online, that sometimes they might post something and wish that they hadn't.

If your child has posted something that they regret onto Facebook, YouTube, Instagram or another site, you should advise them to delete it from their account as quickly as they can.
What if someone else has posted something about your child?
Most websites provide an option for users to report to them to request removal of 'content' - such as videos, pictures, comments or profiles - that might be upsetting.

It's important to know that making a report doesn't mean the content will definitely be removed.

Most websites, including social media sites, have a set of rules - 'Terms of Use' - which they expect people using their site to obey. You or your child should check if any of the rules have been broken because websites will only take content down if this is the case.

Facebook calls their rules 'Community Standards', YouTube's rules are called 'Community Guidelines' and other sites like Tumblr, Twitter and Instagram have their own sets of rules and ways to report.

You should also make sure your child understands how to report content to the site.

The quickest way of removing content posted by others, is to ask the person who has posted it to take it down - if known to your child.

If your child has been a victim of online bullying and has had a nasty message, picture or video posted about them, you can ask their school for support to help find out who might have posted the content. In addition to your child speaking to you, they may wish to talk to someone outside of the family about what has happened to them and how it made them feel. Let them know that they can always call Childline with any worry, big or small on 0800 11 11.
How to reduce the risk of your child being in an upsetting situation
In order to avoid these sorts of situations in the first place, it's worth sitting down with your child before they start using any website and reading the terms and conditions to learn what is, and what isn't, acceptable on the site.

You should check whether your child is old enough to have an account with a particular social media website. Many sites including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Yubo require users to be 13 years old and will deactivate the accounts of any users suspected to be under this age.
Other tips for increasing your child's online security:

Set their privacy settings to medium or high. Without updating their privacy settings, anyone can contact them and their profile information is visible.

Explain to them that they should not share personal information with people you do not know, such as your address, school, parents name, etc

Children often share their passwords. Know your child's passwords and discuss that passwords are "secret" words and should not be shared with friends.

Children sometimes leave themselves signed in at friend's house on someone else's mobile device or computer. We suggest that you remind them to always be sure to log out.

If your child receives an unwanted friend invitation be sure to ignore the request and also block this person from contacting again.

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It's so easy for young people to share online, that sometimes they might post something and wish that they hadn't. If your child has posted something that they regret onto Facebook, YouTube, Instagram or another site, you should advise them to delete it from their account as quickly as they can.

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The internet and online technologies are an important part of children's lives at home and school, providing great opportunities for learning, communicating, playing and creating. As we know, these technologies create huge opportunities for us all, however, they can sometimes be a bit overwhelming, and present challenges to keeping your family safe online.

We go to great lengths to keep your child safe whilst using the internet in school. However, it is recognized by all leading agencies, including the Department for Education & Skills that using the internet can never be 100% safe. We are routinely conducting online safety assemblies and tutor group workshops as well as dedicated units in personal development lessons and Esafety ICT lessons.

Schools across the UK are now closed to most families. We know this is a difficult time for most parents. This page is intended to provide you with support and resources to help you learn about online safety at home with your child.

Advice for Parents and Carers

The parent and carers help sheets below contain key online safety advice and links to think you know resources, as well as support services.

Digital Advice from Merseyside Police containing top tips that parents and guardians can follow to help keep their child safe online Parent-Advice-Guidance-Digital-PCSO.pdf

Home Learning Activity Packs

Click on the links below to download your first home activity packs for each age range. Each pack contains two 15 minute activities to do with your child, using Thinkuknow resources. The next two will be released in a fortnight's time.

Useful Websites

Useful Links

Parents and Carers Help sheets

The parent and carers help sheets below contain key online safety advice and links to think you know resources, as well as support services.

Home Activity Packs

Once you have read the help sheets, click on the links below to download your first home activity packs for each age range. Each pack contains two 15 minute activities to do with your child, using Thinkuknow resources. The next two will be released in a fortnight's time.

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The internet and online technologies are an important part of children's lives at home and school, providing great opportunities for learning, communicating, playing and creating. As we know, these technologies create huge opportunities for us all, however, they can sometimes be a bit overwhelming, and present challenges to keeping your family safe online.

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Pathways at 16+
Students aged 16+ who are ready to begin level 3 training and education have three main choices.
T-Levels
T-levels were introduced in 2020 and are currently being rolled out across the country. Your child will take a two-year course designed with employers and spend approximately 80% of their time in a classroom setting at school or college and 20% on an industry placement with an employer. One T-level is equivalent to three A-levels.

Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships combine part-time study with training in a paid job. Your child will spend most of their time at work and at least 20% of their time 'off-the-job' studying, usually in a classroom setting at a college or with a training provider. From age 16, a young person will usually begin a level 2 or level 3 apprenticeship.

A-levels
Most students select three subjects to study at A-level, over a two-year period. However, your child could choose to combine A-levels with other qualifications or to study more than three A-levels.

Pathways at 16+
Students aged 16+ who are ready to begin level 3 training and education have three main choices.
T-Levels
T-levels were introduced in 2020 and are currently being rolled out across the country. Your child will take a two-year course designed with employers and spend approximately 80% of their time in a classroom setting at school or college and 20% on an industry placement with an employer. One T-level is equivalent to three A-levels.

Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships combine part-time study with training in a paid job. Your child will spend most of their time at work and at least 20% of their time 'off-the-job' studying, usually in a classroom setting at a college or with a training provider. From age 16, a young person will usually begin a level 2 or level 3 apprenticeship.

A-levels
Most students select three subjects to study at A-level, over a two-year period. However, your child could choose to combine A-levels with other qualifications or to study more than three A-levels.

Other options from 16+

As well as the three main options listed above, there are others available from 16+ that you may want to explore with your child.

These include:

Transition programme
This is a one-year study programme that might benefit your child if they need additional time to get ready to study a T-level. It will give your child the relevant knowledge, practical and study skills to excel in their chosen subject. Talk to your local T-level provider to find out more.

Other level 3 qualifications
As well as A-levels and T-levels there are other specific qualifications at level 3 that can prepare your child for particular job roles or further study

Level 2 qualifications
Additional GCSEs or other level 2 qualifications might be the right next step to help your child build their pathway to further study or the workplace

Traineeships
A traineeship could help your child develop the right skills to begin an apprenticeship or to prepare for work and includes a placement with an employer

Pathways from 18+

Employment
Employment options available from age 18 will vary depending on where you live. To start exploring the options, you could have a conversation with your child's school or college. They can advise on the best job prospects locally, as well as roles that are suitable for your child.

They can also help you access labour market information, which shows existing jobs in the local area, the skills needed for certain roles and which local industries are likely to need more employees in the future.

Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships from 18+ combine study with training in a paid job. They are offered at different levels, depending on the nature of the job, starting at Level 2 (GCSEs are Level 2 qualifications for example) and including Level 6, which is the equivalent of a bachelor's degree.

Higher education
The options for higher education include a bachelor's degree and higher technical qualifications (e.g., HNC/HNDs and foundation degrees). These courses are delivered in universities and further education colleges.

Further education
Employment or higher education may not be the best next step for your child at 18+. They may wish to complete a level 3 qualification instead, for example, which supports entry into the workplace or further study. Your local further education college can advise on the options available at this stage.

Pathways from 18+

Employment
Employment options available from age 18 will vary depending on where you live. To start exploring the options, you could have a conversation with your child's school or college. They can advise on the best job prospects locally, as well as roles that are suitable for your child.

They can also help you access labour market information, which shows existing jobs in the local area, the skills needed for certain roles and which local industries are likely to need more employees in the future.

Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships from 18+ combine study with training in a paid job. They are offered at different levels, depending on the nature of the job, starting at Level 2 (GCSEs are Level 2 qualifications for example) and including Level 6, which is the equivalent of a bachelor's degree.

Higher education
The options for higher education include a bachelor's degree and higher technical qualifications (e.g., HNC/HNDs and foundation degrees). These courses are delivered in universities and further education colleges.

Further education
Employment or higher education may not be the best next step for your child at 18+. They may wish to complete a level 3 qualification instead, for example, which supports entry into the workplace or further study. Your local further education college can advise on the options available at this stage.

Extra support

A range of help is available

Your child's school or college is required to publish a careers plan, which you will find on its website. These career plans include details of events and activities you and/or your child might want to attend.

The website will also have contact details of the careers leader who will be a useful starting point for any career discussion.

You may feel more comfortable speaking to a teacher you already know, such as your child's form tutor. They can also provide guidance on where to access more information and the careers specialists who can help.

You can speak to a specialist careers adviser through the National Careers Service website.

If your child has special educational needs and disabilites (SEND), their school or college can help you find out what additional support is available.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking "Accept All", you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.

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Students aged 16+ who are ready to begin level 3 training and education have three main choices. T-Levels T-levels were introduced in 2020 and are currently being rolled out across the country. Your child will take a two-year course designed with employers and spend approximately 80% of their time in a classroom setting at school or college and 20% on an industry placement with an employer.

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From university and apprenticeships to work experience, Success at School's 2022/2023 careers guides are packed full of advice to help support your child in making the best career choices for them.
Simply add your details below, and we will send your free guides directly to your inbox.

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Get Your Downloadable 2022/23 Parents' Careers Guides

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From university and apprenticeships to work experience, Success at School's 2022/2023 careers guides are packed full of advice to help support your child in making the best career choices for them. Simply add your details below, and we will send your free guides directly to your inbox.

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This page is for parents - if you are a teacher, click here

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Speak Up about any form of bullying or abuse (office.com)