As you move through school, your PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) programme should increasingly discuss your career options and the choices you will make after school.
Thinking about your next steps
Although the working world may seem far off, it can be helpful to start building up an idea of what you want to do for a job early on in secondary school. Some jobs require certain qualifications from GCSE level onwards so there is no harm in starting to think about this early, but of course your ideas may change as you investigate and learn about what is out there.
Getting career advice
Wherever you live in the UK, you can visit our 'Starting working' pages to find out how you can get in touch with your nearest careers adviser.
RNIB and Action for Blind People have an extensive programme of employment support, which can help you, and your careers advisor at school in starting to think about what you might like to do.
Our Starting Work section has a wealth of information about entering the world of work, including the Access to Work scheme which supports people with disabilities and their employers in meeting support needs.
Work Experience
Work experience is perhaps the most valuable element of career planning, both in finding out what certain careers are like, but also to add to your school and college qualifications to increase your chances of success in job applications later on.
Work Experience and the Access to Work scheme
Between 2011 and 2014 the government has announced that one billion pounds will be spent in order to provide unemployed young people with extra help as part of a new "Youth Contract". An extra 250,000 Work Experience places will be offered to young people during this period, and young people aged 18 to 24-years-old will be offered a Work Experience place, before they enter the Work Programme. As part of the Youth Contract, young people can also receive 'Access to Work' funding when completing work experience placements.
For more information about the Access to Work Scheme, eligibility under the Youth Contact and the support this offers visit www.gov.uk/access-to-work