B -Building. Throughout a BGS education we are nurturing the skills and confidence to help our students grow into motivated young people. The Bridge team works in collaboration with the pastoral and academic teams to stretch skills and attributes.
R - Relationships. The Bridge aims to help our students develop relationships with employers, alumnae, outside agencies and universities. We offer access to mentorship programmes, workshops, and courses all of which aid professional development and relationships.
I -Independence. We provide tools and advice but encourage students to achieve ownership of their futures. Assessing their strengths, building their passions; exploring options and opportunities within a supportive environment
D - Determination. We help teach students to understand the importance of commitment, hardwork and experience at every level. We help them build the skills needed to move forward from setbacks.
G -Growth. Our programmes are age appropriate and plants seeds of discovery and gradually help students define possible post-school routes.
E -Employability. We are preparing students for the future workplace; honing the transferable skills which employers are looking for. Entering the working world should not be a shock, and we make sure our students will be prepared.
We adhere to the Gatsby Benchmark; so you can be assured your daughter is, both through our bespoke careers programme and her curriculum learning , accessing a world class careers provision.
Discovery, Focus, Action Discovery: Years 3- 9 From Year 3 students are introduced to careers and role models, as we start to open their eyes to the endless possibilities. A more formal Careers education starts as students enter the Senior School in Year 7 and we plant seeds of ideas, inspiring our students to look ahead, to take time to reflect, understand their own strengths and interests, so they can be in a position to make good, informed choices about their futures at each stage of their education.
Focus: Years 10-11 Encouraging students to start to explore options and direction in more depth, perhaps led by the skills they’re interested in using professionally, or perhaps in specific sectors. Whilst keeping their aspirations broad we start to instil in them that everything they do can start to build a wide portfolio of experience which may help determine next steps.
Action: Sixth Form By now we expect our students to be building a portfolio of interests and aspirations; to be fine-tuning their research as they make well informed decisions about their next steps. The Sixth Form team, subject specialist staff and The Bridge will support our students at every step of the way.
Summary of activities by Senior School Year Group
Year Group Year 7
FOCUS OVERVIEW: Introduction to a wealth of possibilities ● ● ● ● ● ●
Year 8
OVERVIEW: Encourage Active Questioning and Research ● ● ● ● ●
Year 9
Students introduced to their individual careers platform Unifrog. Careers based treasure hunt. Future Careers Quiz based on student interest. Your Dream job careers lesson. Participation in Careers activities at break and lunch with the Pop Up Bridge Days. Participation in the International Baccalaureate Day help students understand how the IB works/ Parents invited to Why IB Curriculum Conversation in the evening.
What does career’s success look like to you? Lesson. Activities and competencies for the world of work lesson. How to build the Skills needed for a successful careers lesson. Participation in Careers activities at break and lunch with the Pop Up Bridge Days. Participation in the International Baccalaureate Day -help students understand the principles of the IB Diploma in practice. Parents IB Curriculum Conversation in the evening.
OVERVIEW: Linking Skills and Careers ● ● ● ●
Encouragement of logging activities and interest in Unifrog; creating active journals. Young Enterprise Morning; dedicated workshop with external speakers. Participation in Careers activities at break and lunch with the Pop Up Bridge Days. Participation in the International Baccalaureate Day help students understand the principles of the IB Diploma in practice. Parents IB Curriculum Conversation in the evening.
Year 10
OVERVIEW: Hone the focus: Understanding your strengths and skills Personality Profiling Quiz to help students start to identify strengths. ● ● ●
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Year 11
OVERVIEW: Exploring Pathways ● ● ● ● ● ●
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Lower Sixth
Your skills, your future? Lesson. What type of career is best for me? Lesson. Future Careers Morning- students have encounters with professionals from a variety of backgrounds and activities. Aid the development of listening and questioning skills. Invitation to attend the International Universities evening. Invitations to attend Lunchbox careers lecture.
Formal introduction to The Bridge Careers Team. and post 18 choices. How to research work placements. Writing CV’s and covering letters. My careers choices questionnaire. How to get Work Experience. Transition into Sixth Form. Programme including: Sixth Form Open Evening; 1:1 meetings with Mrs Gibson to aid choice of next steps; Sixth Form Taster Lessons; informal Sixth Form subject fayre; Sixth Form Tours and Tutor times; assemblies on making choices. Invitations to Lunchbox Lectures. Invitation to International Universities evening. Invitations to Oxbridge Subject Matters webinar series.
OVERVIEW: Building a Strong Application One to One Support and guidance ● ●
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Meetings with the Head of The Bridge Careers Service. Meetings with Director of Sixth Form and Head of Careers post Summer exams: Summer Term UCAS predicted grade meetings. Tutorial sessions on personal statements Specialists interests lesson. Invitation to join MedSoc Opportunity to participate in NHS Healthcare Academy. Tutorial sessions on personal statements and CV writing.
Applying to University, jobs and apprenticeship programmes ● ● ●
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Unifrog subjects library lesson and how to use unifrog in Sixth Form. UK universities tool and exploration on unifrog lesson. Off timetable careers/UCAS day-with input from Oxbridge, student finance and University representatives. Parent UCAS evening; the process; student finance; building an application; input on Oxbridge and early applications. Delivered by University representatives. Advice on how to get the best out of an Open Day. Applying to International Universities evening. UCAS exhibition at the University of Bedfordshire Assembly; reflections from Upper Sixth on University/apprenticeship process. Bespoke advice through alumnae on apprenticeship and job options.
Building Skills ● ● ●
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Effective Communications workshop. Alumnae Mentoring Programme (12 month professional programme). Ready to Lead Programme: exploration of self leadership, external speakers and collaborative work with students from other schools. Fiscorum session on financial intelligence. Work the Room networking coaching and event with professionals. Regular Lunchbox lectures. Invitation to Bedford School Careers Fayre. BGS Oxbridge Programme run by our Oxbridge Coordinator a 14-month long bespoke programme offering support and guidance, aimed at extremely high-performing students. Comprehensive series of workshops, activities and resources regarding the Oxbridge process and how to prepare a strong application. Harpur Trust Med Society; a range of speakers and advice. Support for aspiring Medical, Dentistry and Veterinary students. On-going support and advice for work experience/internship programmes. Guidance/assembly for students investigating Gap years.
Upper Sixth
OVERVIEW: Next steps, Moving Forward One to One Support and Guidance ● ● ●
Tutor and subject specialist support with personal statements. UCAS/apprenticeship/workplace meetings with Head of Careers. Optional meetings for further support with decisionmaking.
Applying to University, jobs and apprenticeship programmes ● ● ● ● ● ●
University preparation small group sessions with Upper Sixth Senior Tutor. Clearing session for students and information for parents and students. UCAS reading and personal statement reviews Oxbridge and clinical workshops. Pre-testing for early entrance and feedback sessions Oxbridge and medical/dentistry/Vet interview practice.
Beyond BGS Life Skills: ● ● ● ● ● ●
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Life after School day-with input from Higher Educational institutions. How to prepare yourself for university Alumnae assembly. Interview workshops. Finance and managing your money session. Future Skills assembly: tapping into employment markets of the future. Fiscorum session on tax, improving your credit rating, credit cards, debt, ‘side hustles’ and how to have conversations about money. Lunchbox lectures. Bespoke calls with Alumnae and other professionals for individual guidance. BGS Alumnae support into the future, beyond Sixth Form: dedicated networking events; LinkedIn Group and on demand access to an extensive network of alumnae.
Specific support for Sixth Form Results Days ● ●
Results day support; on hand for Clearing guidance. On-going support for reapplications for ‘Y14’ for students who delay applications or have a change of direction.
Cardington Road, Bedford, MK42 0BX Telephone: 01234 361900 information@bedfordgirlsschool.co.uk www.bedfordgirlsschool.co.uk