Careers

Our Thinking Ahead programme is ideal for pupils as they transition to secondary school, since it helps pupils explore the value of different curriculum subjects and build understanding of the education system through various interactive workshops. 

Pupils imagine an alien has landed on Earth, where they have to explain why we go to school and why we study different subjects. 

Learning outcomes for pupils include:

• Awareness of the value of subjects in relation to skills and knowledge beyond school.
• Understanding the educational process and the choices they have.
• Ability to articulate and provide evidence of key skills learned through school subjects.

Our Self-awareness programme introduces pupils to the concept of job families. Pupils imagine they are stranded on a deserted island, first identifying the key jobs they need to do to survive and then exploring how these roles evolve to build a functioning society. 

Activities completed throughout this programme help pupils develop self-awareness, explore careers and challenge job stereotypes. 

Learning outcomes for pupils include:

• Exploring the range of potential career options available and different types of jobs. 
• Considering changing patterns and the evolution of careers. 
• Examining individual strengths, skills, interests and the link to potential careers. 
• Challenging stereotypes.

Our Exploration programme helps pupils make informed choices about how to start taking steps towards their future career path, through a combination of interactive activities and the online Career Investigator tool.

Pupils explore the wide number of careers associated with an industry, debating the links between subject choices, skills and careers.

Learning outcomes for pupils include:

• Developing an awareness of the range of careers that exist within a single industry. 
• Promoting links between curriculum subjects and different careers. 
• Reflecting on their career personalities.

Our pupils are introduced to ULAS, an online platform, that allows them to investigate a range of careers options. They build a profile of themselves and record instances where they demonstrated key ‘soft-skills’ required in the workplace.

Pupils are audited according to their careers profile and targeted accordingly with opportunities to hear guest speakers and go on educational visits suited to their career ambitions.

All Year 10 pupils are offered the chance to have an academic or business mentor. These mentors support pupils in preparing for exams and developing revision techniques, as well as starting to work on communication and public speaking skills.

Learning outcomes for pupils include:

• Reflecting on whether their skills match up with their desired career path.
• Compiling a record of skills, then setting targets for those skills that need to be developed.
• Developing good study skills that help with preparation for GCSE examinations.

All our pupils sit a psychometric test which measures, amongst other things, their verbal reasoning, numerical skills and memory. It also explores interests and personality type. Results feed into a one-to-one guidance interview with Level 6 trained careers advisors. Following this interview, all pupils are provided with an action plan.

Through practical activities, based on a superhero scenario, our pupils better understand their abilities by exercising key skills and recognising the importance of transferable skills. 

Learning outcomes for pupils include:

• Understanding that employers require skills that go beyond qualifications and experience.
• An awareness of the importance of transferable skills from post and present experiences. 
• Reflecting on how you can demonstrate employability skills. 
• Developing an action plan to develop skills further.

Our Year 12 students enjoy hearing from weekly guest speakers, who contribute to our Inspire programme. These speakers, from across the industry spectrum, offer invaluable insights into careers, while letting our students hear about apprenticeships, graduate programmes and school leaver programmes, as well as traditional careers. The aim of our programme is not only to provide practical tips about career pathways but to introduce career options that our students may not previously have thought about.

At the end of Year 12, our students have a guidance interview with a Level 6 trained careers advisor. Results inform applications for their next steps, be it their UCAS application or alternative post 18+ pathways.

There are also be subject-specific opportunities, and students are encouraged to sign up to a range of visits and programmes that include workplace visits and exercises and our School's own innovative pathways programmes.

All in Year 12 are offered the chance to have an academic or business mentor. These mentors support students in CV writing, preparing for job interviews and formulating revision programmes.

All our Year 13 students attend our Westminster City School careers fair.

Our students are also guided through the UCAS process and provided with the opportunity for careers workshops. These workshops enable them to create a LinkedIn profile, to develop their interview techniques and to refine their CV.