Careers Education and Work Experience: Supporting Future Pathways

Our Careers Education programme continues to play a vital role in helping students make informed decisions about their futures. All year groups will continue to have dedicated careers lessons during Terms 2 and 4, supported by Unifrog, our careers platform. Students regularly use Unifrog in lessons and are encouraged to explore it independently to research career options, future study routes and opportunities. We are also pleased to offer linked Unifrog accounts for parents and carers, enabling them to stay informed about their child’s progress, upcoming events, and career planning tools, as well as access webinars, resources and guidance designed specifically for families.

Students benefit from a wide range of careers-focused opportunities, including talks, assemblies and employer-led events that highlight the many pathways available after school. Recently, our Year 8 students took part in the Heathrow STEM Careers Challenge, delivered in partnership with Learning to Work and Heathrow Airport volunteers. Students explored careers in engineering and technology, programmed micro:bits to control vehicles, and developed key employability skills such as teamwork, problem solving, leadership and communication. Upcoming events include a Creative Careers visit to Pinewood Studios, a Fashion Design talk, Apprenticeship Information assemblies, mock interviews, a Careers Climate Change Challenge and workshops with external employers.

Work experience is evolving in line with new government guidance, with the long-term aim for all students to complete 10 days of work experience or work-related activities by the end of Key Stage 4. These experiences will be built across Years 7 to 11 through employer-led activities, industry challenges, insight days, projects and virtual experiences, alongside traditional placements. Year 12 students will continue to undertake in-person work experience during the final week of the summer term, while Year 10 and 11 students are encouraged to seek placements during school holidays. Students also have access to high-quality virtual work experience platforms to help build skills, strengthen CVs and enhance future applications.

Careers Information, Advice and Guidance remains a key priority. Our Careers Adviser from Learning to Work continues to support students through one-to-one guidance meetings, with Year 11 meetings running through to March, dedicated sessions for Year 10 in the spring and summer terms, and ongoing support for Sixth Form students. Following each meeting, students receive a personalised Action Plan which is stored in their Unifrog Locker to support their next steps.

We also continue to support Post-16 progression, encouraging Year 11 students to apply to multiple destinations, including sixth form, college and apprenticeships, to keep their options open. Recent enrichment opportunities have included a college visit to Slough & Langley College and a parent/carer coffee morning with Windsor Forest Colleges Group, which provided valuable information about courses, qualifications and apprenticeship pathways. We encourage parents and carers to play an active role in their child’s career journey by discussing interests, exploring opportunities on Unifrog, and contacting the school if they are able to support with careers talks, mock interviews or work experience opportunities.