Produce a personal development plan

Personal Development Plan

Overview and Objectives
Overview: I am currently studying 5 subjects in sixth form. These subjects are IT,
Mathematics, English, Physics and Business.
My objectives when I have left sixth form are that I would like to go to University and study
a degree in Computer Science. This would enable me to become a computer systems
analyst in the future which is what I aspire to be.
My current Position, strengths and weaknesses
My current position is that I am in year 12 studying the first half of my A Level courses, and I
will take my AS exams in the summer.
My current knowledge of the subjects that I am studying is quite detailed but will become a
lot more complex and developed over the next year.

My Strengths Areas for development Ways in which to develop

my weaknesses
 I work well in a team  Use more  Ask more relevant
 I am punctual communication questions when
 I have good  Contribute more in unsure
attendance class discussions  Speak up in class
 I have good time  Confidence  Contribute to
management skills  To gain more discussions
 I have good knowledge about  Research different
organisation skills what is needed for universities to
 Good self-motivation the degree that I establish what the
want to entry requirements
are and the degree
programmes entail

Options to help me to achieve my objectives

In order to achieve my objectives, I must prioritize the things that I think are most important
and that I think can enable me to achieve what I want to do. An example of this would be to
stay in and revise for a test that I have the next day rather than going out with my friends.
Another thing that I will have to do in order to help me to achieve my objectives is to work
hard and be committed to the subjects that I am studying. If I work hard then I will be able
to achieve my full potential and then I will get the grades that I need in order to meet the
requirements that I need to get into University.
 Produce a personal development plan

Options to help me to achieve my objectives Priority

Consider doing some work experience that will help me to understand the roles that I require to
become a computer systems analyst. This work experience would include shadowing people 3
who are in that profession and industry and learning from them.

Use my free time or school holidays to study hard so that I am able to get the grades that I
require. 2

Start looking into the University courses available so that I understand what is needed to be able
to meet the requirements and what I would study. This will prepare me for my studies at 4
University.

Attend University opening evenings so that I know what the Universities are like and so that I
can: 1
 Select my choices of University
 Select an appropriate degree programme
 Gain a better understanding of the programme of study
 The grades I will need to achieve
Go on a course or work experience in the summer that will give me further insight into the
subjects that I will be studying at University. 5

Action Plan

An Action Plan describes when and why you are doing something. It is prepared so you can stay on
schedule, meet your goals and be successful.

An Action Plan should be;

 Specific: clearly state what is to be achieved; e.g. to become a computer

systems analyst in the next 6 years.
 Measurable: the desired outcome is a number value that can be measured,
e.g. how long it took and the grades that were achieved
 Achievable: the target set should be challenging but can be achieved eg to
achieve a honours degree
 Realistic: the target is possible and will be able to be achieved e.g. an
unrealistic target would be, to complete a degree in Computer Science and get a job
in that area in the next 2 1/2 years
 Timed: the target will be met within a given period of time, eg 6 years
Produce a personal development plan

Action Measure Support Completion How will I know when it

Date has been achieved?
Speak to my Attend the Teacher August 2014 I will know that I have
1 teachers to revision support achieved my objective when
find out about sessions to I meet my target grades in
revision help me the summer. I will have
sessions achieve the regular reviews with my
grades that I teachers to discuss my
need progress
Organise work Arrange for Potential February 2014 I will finish my work
2 experience work employer and experience and know that it
experience in school is the sector that I would
an area where placement like to work in. It will
I can gain an officer enable me to make a more
insight into informed decision for my
the role of career path
being a
computer
systems
analyst
Complete my I will get my A Teacher August 2015 I will pass all of my A Level
3 A level & level support exams at the required grade
Cambridge Certificates and achieve a Distinction*
Technicals in with the for the Cambridge
IT courses to required Technicals Diploma in IT.
the best of my grades and a This will enable me to study
ability Distinction* Computer Science at
for my University.
Cambridge
Technicals
Diploma in IT
I will go to the After visiting Guidance August 2014 I will be able to select which
4 opening the from the Universities I am in
evenings for Universities, I tutors from interested in along with the
different can then make the degree programme I want
Universities choices as to Universities to study
that I am which degree
interested in. programme I
want to study
and where I
want to go to
University
I will I will develop Employer August 2015 I will have a better insight
5 participate in an support into the role of computer
work understanding Placement systems analyst by talking to
experience of the Officer the employer and the
where there requirements employees. I will also gain a
are people needed in better understanding of the
working as order to work types of work that is carried
computer in this out.
systems particular area
analysts
Produce a personal development plan

After I will have Support from August 2018+ I will have achieve my
6 completing gained a the University degree in Computer Science
the degree in degree and been accepted for
Computer Computer employment as a computer
Science, I will Science in 3 systems analyst
apply for jobs years and I
in this country will have
as well as identified
abroad. potential
employment
opportunities

The Requirements of my role as a student in Sixth Form;

• meet all deadlines that are set

• complete all the homework
• ask questions in class if I don’t understand
• I must be able to keep a high standard of work at all times
• use the knowledge that I have gained through my GSCE courses to my advantage
• working with class mates to develop a better understanding of the subjects

The Requirements of my role as a computer systems analyst;

• investigate a company's computer systems and business procedures to determine how the
company can operate more efficiently
 determine whether new technologies can help a company as well as analyse the costs and
benefits of implementing new systems
 oversee the upgrading of existing computer systems or the installation of new systems
 Employee training.

To fulfil the requirements of my role I must;

• work hard to achieve the results that I need and want

• use my independent studying wisely
• research about the University course and the job that I want to go into
• keep up to date with my work and meet deadlines

Conclusion

I believe that if I follow this personal development plan, I will be able to achieve the things that I
want to achieve. I must work hard and so a lot of independent studying will be required in order to
discover what I need to do to be able to meet the requirements. I have already carried out some
research into different Universities and talk to people who have studied Computer Science degrees,
so this is helping me understand what I will have to do for my studies and where I can study the
degree.