Higher Education and Careers

We recognise that different career guidance is needed at different stages and that opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each student. To this end, all pupils in the First and Second Form participate in self-reflective skills-based activities using Unifrog to assess personal strengths and weakness and explore transferable skills and career pathways.  

From the Third Form, all pupils participate in, and engage with, the Morrisby Programme and have access to / receive personal individual support from Tutors, Heads of Year and the Higher Education and Careers team as they make decisions about GCSE subject options. 

In the Middle School, pupils complete two hours of Morrisby psychometric testing and have follow up, one-to-one interviews to reflect upon the results as well as their skills and competencies. Pupils also draft CVs and have progression interviews with members of the Sixth Form team.  

All pupils in the Sixth Form are informed, guided and supported through the university application process, be that to universities and colleges in the UK or abroad as well as with applications to apprenticeships or direct entry into work. Where requested, past pupils continue to receive support with tertiary applications after they have left the School. 

Resources: 
The Careers Reference Library is in the Sixth Form Centre and is stocked with advice on careers and prospectuses for Higher Education. Interactive software packages such as Morrisby and Unifrog are also used by pupils to assist in decision making and there are further resources available on the School’s Higher Education and Universities’ share point site. All students are able to access Unifrog (https://www.unifrog.org/sign-in) and all students from Third Form upwards have access to Morrisby (https://app.morrisby.com/login).  

Higher Education: 
All pupils are assisted to register on the UCAS system and receive guidance and support with writing personal statements, finance and budgeting, preparing for life at university and presentation / interview skills.  Additional support includes mock admissions tests and interviews, opportunities for academic extension, advice on portfolios or auditions and hosting visiting speakers. 

To assist pupils make informed decisions, the School encourages pupils to attend university open days and invites current undergraduates back to the School to talk to pupils about What’s it Like To Study ?  (WILTS) a particular subject at university. All Fifth Form and Lower Sixth pupils are invited to attend these WILTS sessions. Support for alternative routes, such as apprenticeships or other training opportunities are also provided. School trips to Oxford and / or Cambridge are run for pupils interested in studying at these universities.  

Oxbridge 
The School has extensive experience of successfully assisting pupils to apply to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The programme of provision is overseen by Mrs Cubbon and prospective applicants receive academic mentoring, participate in academically challenging extension activities and receive clear guidance and support as they prepare for admissions tests and interviews. Prospective applicants are also expected to show initiative and take full advantage of the mentoring provided by academic departments in their specific subjects. 

Medical Studies  
The School has an enviable record of successfully supporting pupils who wish to study Medicine or Dentistry. The programme is run by Dr Pines, himself a trained medical doctor, who has extensive knowledge of the application and interview procedures, drawn from years of experience in medical admission. Potential medical students receive support with everything from recommended reading and admissions test and interview preparation to support with choosing the right medical school. 

Pupils applying for Veterinary Science follow the same process and timings as those applying for Medicine or Dentistry with the advice and support being tailored to their needs. 

Overseas Universities 
The School ensures all pupils are aware of the opportunities available for overseas study, and each year, overseas institutions visit the School to interact with our pupils. Those wishing to study abroad are supported by Mrs Cubbon, who specialises in advising on overseas applications. In recent years, student have been offered places at universities such as: Boston, Georgetown, Pennsylvania State, Rice, Texas A&M and Bocconi (Milan). 

Degree Apprenticeships 
Those interested in applying for a Degree Apprenticeship receive support from Dr Hacksley. In recent years, students have successfully gained Degree Apprenticeships at firms such as JP Morgan, EY and Dyson.  

All pupils explore their future options through PSHEE sessions, careers focussed assemblies and tutor time. All teachers are encouraged, as and where appropriate, to link curriculum learning with careers and this is further supported through the School’s Enrichment programme.  

There are a series of Careers Evenings run throughout the year, featuring speakers from various industries and professions to which parents and pupils are invited. There is also a programme of lunchtime What’s It Like to Work In…?  (WILTWI) talks and careers networking breakfasts designed to assist students to explore career areas and opportunities, with visiting speakers, parents and alumni coming into School to share their career experiences with pupils. In addition to these opportunities, pupils across all years participate in initiatives such as Green Careers Week and National Careers Week. Fourth Form pupils take part in an entrepreneurship challenge and students in the Lower Sixth attend a Higher Education and Careers conference. Pupils also have the opportunity to explore areas of interest through trips organised by the School. 

All pupils in the Lower Sixth are expected to complete at least one week of work experience (either on-site or virtually) to help them explore career opportunities and expand their networks, and pupils in the Fifth Form are encouraged to try and find meaningful work experience or shadowing during the summer holiday, prior to entering the Lower Sixth. Whilst work shadowing / work experience below the Fifth Form is not mandatory, the School is in favour of and supports the principle of pupils spending time between First to Fifth Form (Years 7-11), with a family member or guardian at their place of employment, in order to gain more insight into what the world of work is like and what it takes to be successful in the workplace.  

Through engaging with visiting speakers and participating in work experience and progression interviews, pupils have the opportunity to learn about the world of work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace.  

One-to-one Support and Feedback:  

Every pupil has an opportunity for guidance interviews with their Tutor, Head of Year, the Assistant Head Higher Education and Careers, his Deputies or an external Careers Consultant.  

All pupils in the Third Form, Middle School and Sixth Form have one-to-one meetings with staff in which they are able to discuss subject options and their impact on careers choices. Pupils are also able to attend ‘Futures clinics’ to receive further, individual support from a member of the Careers Team. 

In addition to impartial, one-to-one in-house support from members of the School’s Careers Team, all students also have access to the National Careers Service should they wish to speak to an adviser not associated with the School.