ChampioningCareers
Wehaveabumperpackededitionofcareersnewsforyou!It’s beenajam-packedfewmonthssinceourbiennialcareersfair inMarchwithlotsofpositiveandsuccessfuloutcomes.
WerecentlywontheNationalCareersChallenge. Moredetails aboutthisamazingwinforourY10teamcanbefoundonpage 5.
InApril,wesaidgoodbyetoouramazingstudentcareer leadersRose,James&Joe Moreaboutwhattheyachieved andintroducingournewteamonpage2
Thankyoutoourstudentcareerambassadorsfortheirhelp witheventsthisyearandforcontributingtothisnewsletter
Page1-Welcome Page2-CareersTeamNews Page3-9-What’sbeen happeningY7-Y13 Page10-CareersFair Page11-13-Upcoming opportunitiesthissummer
ExtraCurricular–pleasetakealookattheopportunities studentscansignuptooverthecomingmonthstohelp improvetheirknowledgeandsoftskillsforfutureapplications
Thankyoutoeveryonewhohassupportedourcareers programmethisyear. Wishingeveryoneaveryenjoyable summerbreak.
MrsLovelace-Careers&EnterpriseLeader
CAREERS TEAM NEWS
CAREER ADVISER APPOINTMENTS
Pleaserememberthatwehavea dedicatedindependentcareersadviserin mostThursdays. Appointmentstodiscuss optionsandchoiceswithMrRitchiecanbe madebycontactingthecareersofficeor speakingtoyourHeadofYear
Pleaseemail careersoffice@cheshamgrammar.org
Notesandfollowupactionsfrom appointmentsarealwaysuploadedto students’Unifrogaccounts.
StudentsseekinghelpwithCVwriting, interviewprep,workexperienceguidance, pleasepopbythecareersofficeopposite S8anytime.
STUDENT CAREER LEADERS AND AMBASSADORS
Ourstudentcareersteamhavetrulyembraced theirrolessupportingthedepartmentand helpingtogrowtheawarenessofcareers acrosstheschoolcommunity. Iwouldliketo takethisopportunitytothankouroutgoing studentcareerleaders,Rose,James&Joefor alltheirhardwork&supportandtowishthem alltheverybestintheirnextstepsafterCGS Welookforwardtowelcomingthembackto inspirestudentsatCGSatfutureevents.
Ournewlyappointedstudentcareerleaders Elise,Jack&Tomarealreadycontinuingtobuild anddevelopthecareersprogrammeand supportthestudentambassadorsinYears8-11. Theyhavestartedtheprocessofrecruitingnew ambassadorsforYear8inSeptember. WearedelightedtoannouncethatMrsHillhas joinedtheCareers&Developmentteam.Sheis agreatadditiontotheteamhelpingwithallthe careersappointments,eventsandalumnivisits
CAREERS TEAM
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE SKILLS HUB
Ourlocalhubprovidesinvaluablecareerrelatedinformation,includingguidestodifferent jobsectors,workexperienceopportunities,case studiesontheworldofwork,howtomake yourselfmoreemployable,andmuchmore!
TheyhavenowteamedupwithSpringpodto bringanewon-demandplatformpackedfullof freevirtualworkexperienceopportunities.
https://virtual.careersandenterprise.co.uk/caree rs-hub/buckinghamshire-skills-hub-andoxfordshire-careers-hub
CANYOUHELP?
Wearealwayslookingforvarietyofspeakersfor talks,sopleasedogetintouchifyoucanspare3040minsonelunchtime.We’dlovetohearfromyou.
Y7 NATIONAL CAREERS CHALLENGE
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN CAREERS
Y7tookpartintheNationalCareersChallengein January.Ingroupsofsix,theyweregiventhe tasktodevelopasustainabletownofthefuture.
Congratulationsto“CityofNespore”teamwho wenttothefinalsearlierthismonth.Amalie, Garv,Niall,Gus,Cosmo&Theoshouldbe extremelyproudoftheirsuperbpresentation
Theskillsanddevelopmentoftheteamoverthe lastmonthwillprovidethemwithinvaluablekey skillsforthefuture
OntheFebruaryinsetday,weeachdoonedayofworkshadowing,ideallywithaparentorclosefamily friend. IpersonallywentintoLondonwithmyDadwhoworksininvestmentbankingandalthoughIcan sayIdonotwanttofollowhiminthatpath,itdidteachmealotaboutworkinginanofficeandgaveme agoodinsightintoofficelife(andlongdays) Itwasalsoveryinterestinginterviewingdifferentpeople withintheoffice Workshadowingisaveryfundaywhichhelpsyoutobemorepreparedandenhances yourknowledgeofdifferentcareers
STEM MORNING BY LAUREN Y8
InJune,Y8hadtheopportunitytogainaninsightintoavariety ofcareersinSTEM Wehadworkshopswiththreecompanies workingindifferentareasofSTEM
DuringthepresentationfromOCU,welearnedabouttheneed formorewomeninSTEM,aswellasthedifferentrolesand departmentsneededtoaccomplishlargescaleprojects,from thepeopleneededtooperatecranes,tothosetaskedwith communications.
TheworkshopwithEKFBshowedushowcompaniestackle issuesthatmayariseduringtheirwork,andthequalifications andexperienceneededtoprogressinthefieldofconstruction. Wealsohadthechancetoparticipateinateamwork-based activityoffollowinginstructionstoeventuallybuildabridge. Thisshowedustheimportanceofperseveranceand collaborationneededwheninteractingwithcolleagues.
TITLE
Lastly,wehadapresentationfromMartinBaker,acompany whomakeejectionseats!Welearnedaboutalltheprocedures neededfromtheconstructionoftheseatitselftothemultitude ofrigoroussafetytestsandprecautionstaken.Another interestingaspectofthetalkwasaboutdegree apprenticeships.Welearnedaboutwhatthisfurthereducation choiceentailed,aboutthemanypositives,aswellasthe negatives,comingfromaformerapprenticehimself
IpersonallyfoundtheSTEMmorningincrediblyinteresting,asit hasencouragedmeandmanyotherstothinkaboutmyfuture andapossiblecareerinSTEM Ilearnedthattherearemany moreaspectsandjobsinrelationtoworkinginSTEMthanIhad previouslythought Overall,Ifoundthetalks&activities extremelyhelpful
WORK SHADOWING DAY BY HOLLY Y8
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN CAREERS
BUCKS SKILLS SHOW BY EMILY Y9
TheBuckinghamshireSkillsShowisarrangedforstudentstofindoutmoreaboutthedifferent careerstheymaywanttopursueinlaterlife Itisagreatopportunitytolearnaboutwhat thereisonoffer,andtohelpyoupotentiallymakedecisionsaboutwhatyouareinterestedin Therearelotsofstandstowanderaroundandinteractwith,allofwhichrepresentdifferent companiesthatyoumayhaveinterestinworkingfor,orjustinthatfield.Withgamesand prizestowin,thereislotstodoandevenmoretoexperience.Over100businessesand organisationsattend,sothereissomethingofinterestforeveryone.
ThankyoutoourY10studentcareer ambassadors,TaliandMeganforjoining theassemblygivingtheiradviceandtips aboutchoosingGCSEoptions.
GCSE OPTIONS BY JENSEN Y9
ChoosingourGCSEoptionswasanexciting experienceasitmarkedanewchapterinour education.Intheweeksleadinguptothe decision,theschoolwasveryaccommodating withapresentationontheoptionswecould chooseandhowtheprocesswouldwork.
Afterlessons,teacherswerehappytodiscuss thesyllabusandtalkabouttheopportunities thatcouldarisefromwhicheversubjectwe chose.IstruggledtodecidewhichGCSEsto pickbutfoundthatboththeassemblies,aswell asnumerousdiscussionswiththosewithsimilar interests,helpedmemakeaninformed decision. Ifoundthehelpandinformationthe schoolprovidesisextremelyusefulandIwould encourageanyonetoseekhelpwhetheryou arechoosingyourGCSEsnextyearorarejust lookingtothefuture.
NEWSHERE
apprenticeships
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING
IN CAREERS
ASPIRATION DAY BY MEGAN Y10
AspirationDaywassohelpfulformeasa wayofgettingagoodideaoffuturecareers andwhat’savailabletomeafterCGS Thedayinvolvedafunworkshopwhere pupilscameandspoketousabouttheir journeysafterCGS.Itreallygavemean insightintohowmanydifferentoptionsthere f l i it idd
Earlierthisyear,Y10tookpartintheInspirationalLearningGroup’sNationalCareersChallenge–a full-dayworkshoptakeneveryyearbyYears7and10 Itinvolvesworkingingroupsof5or6to completecreativetaskssetbydifferentcompanies Thisyear’schallengewassetincollaboration withhomeimprovementstoreWickes
Thechallenge,unlikeinpreviousyears,had2tasks.Firstly,weweretaskedwithidentifyinga disusedareaoftheschoolorlocalcommunityandsuggestingawaytorevivethespaceand transformitintoacommunityarea,usingWickesproducts.Secondly,wewereaskedtodevelop anideaforanewproductorserviceWickescouldoffertoencouragecustomerstotakeonmore DIYprojectsandtomakeDIYfeelmoreaccessibleandlessdaunting
TITLE
Bothpartsofthechallengeweregreatfunandtestedourteamwork,timemanagementand creativity.Wehadtodivideupthetaskswithinourteamsbasedonourindividualstrengthsand weaknesses,communicateeffectively,andnavigaterealisticobstaclessuchasstayingwithina strictbudget.
Attheendoftheday,afewgroupswerechosentopresenttheirprojectstoateamofjudges,who decidedonthewinningteam,SerenityGarden Thisteamprogressedtothenationalfinalsin LondonandwerecrownedthewinnersfortheY10challenge. ThisnowmeansthatCGShaswon thecompetitionfourtimesin2016,2019,2022andnow2025.
HugecongratulationstoRan,Libby,Ana,Will&Maxfortheiroutstandingpresentation,hardwork andteamwork
NATIONAL CAREERS CHALLENGE BY TALI Y10
WORK EXPERIENCE
WORK EXPERIENCE Y11
Earlierthisterm,Y11studentsjoinedanassemblyto launchtheirsummerworkexperiencethatshouldtake placeaftertheirGCSEexams.Studentsheardfrom JamesA,IonaandJamesSabouthowtofindwork experience,whattheylearntfromtheexperienceand howtheyhavedevelopedtransferableskills
Wearedelightedtobehearingfromparentsand studentsabouttheirsuccessfulplacements,what theyhavelearntandhowvaluabletheyhavefound theexperience.
Workexperienceisincrediblyvaluable.It’squiteoftenthoughtthatit’sonlyusefulifyou knowexactlywhatjobyouwantinthefuture,butthat’ssimplynottrue.
Gaininganinsightintoafieldgivesyouagreatideaaboutthethingsyoudoanddon’tlike, soevenifyoucompletesomeworkexperienceandthinkthatthatjobmaynotbeforyou, youhavestilllearntsomething.
AvastmajorityofY12studentshavebeencompletingworkexperienceopportunitiesthis lasttermorhavesomethingsetupoverthesummer Pleaseremembertologanywork experienceasanactivityonUnifrogbeforeyoureturninSeptember
APPRENTICESHIPS
Eachyear,moreandmorestudentsare interestedinandapplyingforapprenticeship opportunities.
Thisyearalone,5studentshavealready securedanapprenticeshiprangingacrossa varietyofsectors.
Ourapprenticeshipalumninetworkisgrowing andweareproudtocelebratetheir achievements
YEAR
WIththemajorityofstudentsleavingCGSfor university,thisisagrowingalternativerouteto successfulcareerswhichisimportantfor studentstounderstand.
Throughassemblies,talksandworkshops, studentsareintroducedtoallpathways throughouttheirtimeatCGSsothattheycan makeinformeddecisions.
CAN
Foranystudentswishingtolearnmoreorwho requireassistanceforapplying,pleasepopby theCareersOfficeoppositeS8
WORK EXPERIENCE Y12
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN CAREERS
MOCK ASSESSMENT CENTRE BY JACK Y12
InJune,aconsultantfromtheBucksSkillsHub hostedasessionforstudentsconsideringdegree apprenticeships
Thesessioncoveredmultiplekeyaspectsof applyingfordegreeapprenticeships,including whatisrequiredinapplications,mockassessment scenarios,andinterviewtechniques.
Theapprenticeshipworkshopwasveryusefulfor understandingtheprocessofapplyingandhelping developimportantskillsthatareusefulin assessmentcentres,suchascommunication, teamwork,andleadership.
MOCK MEDICAL INTERVIEWS
Professionalsfromavarietyofmedicalfields cameintoreplicatemedicalinterviewswithour aspiringmedicine,dentistryandveterinary students Thankyoutotheparentsandalumni whokindlysupportedthiseventwhichweknow hugelybenefittedthestudentsaheadoftheir interviews
WearelookingtorepeatthisagaininNovember shouldanyparentsbewillingtospareacouple ofhoursoneafternoonwe’dbedelightedto hearfromyou.
Theworkshopwassplitintotwogroupprojects Initially,wehadatradingexercisewiththe objectiveofmaximisingthevalueoftokensweweregiven Followingthiswewerepresentedwith abusinessproposal,inwhichwehadtopick2of5potentialstrategiesandpresentourreasoning behindthedecisions.Thisgreatlyhelpedmedevelopmypublicspeakingskillsandselfconfidencewhicharebothinvaluableskillsforthefuture.
OldCheshamians
Weareveryfortunatetohavesuchanengagedandencouragingalumnisupporting ourstudentsatCGS. SinceSeptember,wehavehadmorethan50alumnisupportsixth formlectures,careertalksandeventsacrossawiderangeoffieldsrangingfromhigher education,finance,engineering,medicine,law,marketing,datascience,cybersecurity, fashionandmanymore.
WiththankstoMrs.Wareforherworkinestablishingandgrowingouralumninetwork. Herdedicationhaslaidthefoundationforavibrantandconnectedcommunity,helping paststudentsstayintouchandsharetheirjourneyswithcurrentstudents.Ifyouor anyoneyouknowattendedCGS/CheshamHigh,pleasegetintouchwith martha.ware@cheshamgrammar.org
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN CAREERS
CRIMINOLOGY DAY BY OLIVIA H Y12
On4thJuly,IattendedaCriminologyworkshopcalled“CrimeScenetoCourtroom”runbya companycalledZakon,whereweinvestigatedareal-lifemurdercase.Theworkshop’saimwasto introducearangeofdifferentcareersthatareavailableintheprocessofinvestigatingacrime
Webeganbylisteningtoa999callandlearnedhowmessagesarepassedfromthecallertothe 999dispatchertothepolice Thenweweregiventhecasefileandbeganlookingatthecrime scene Weweretaughtabouttheimportanceofdecisionmakingincasesliketheseasindecision anddoubtcanhinderaninvestigationenormously.
Wemadedecisionsaboutwhatpartsofthebuildingtosectionoff,andwhichsuspectswewould talktofirst,orderingthembyimportance.Wesawarecreationofthecrimesceneandidentified anyanomaliesthatcouldbeusedascluesorevidenceandwewatchedandheardinterviewsof oursuspectswhichwewereabletorecreate,learningaboutthedifferentkindsofinterview techniquesthatthepoliceuse.Wewerethenshownforensicevidenceoffingerprintsandshoe treadprintsandweretaskedwithidentifyingthesuspectsbasedonthese.
Intheafternoon,westagedacourtroomwithoursuspect,witnesses,jury,barristers,andjudges, wherewewereabletoseethedifferentrolesinacourtroom Theentireworkshopwasextremely enjoyabletotakepartin,andtheleader,Simon,wasveryengagingandinteresteduswithmany storiesofhispolicingcareer Wewereexposedtothemanycareersthatareavailableinthepolice sector,suchas999dispatcher,paramedic,detectivesergeant,policeconstable,forensic investigators,theroleofaCI(confidentialinformant),pathologist,andmanymore.
Atuniversity,IamhopingtostudyCriminologyandthisworkshophasconfidentlysolidifiedthisfor me.Afterseeingtherangeofcareeropportunitiesavailable,aswellashoweachpersonhasthe abilitytohelpothers,Iamdefinitelyconsideringacareerinthepolice,particularlyasaDetective Sergeant.ThisworkshopwassoengagingandverywellorganisedandIwouldhighlyrecommend toanyoneasking.
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN CAREERS
OXBRIDGE & HEALTHCARE SUPPORT
RecognisingtheadditionalapplicationstepsforaspiringHealthcarecandidatesandthoselooking toapplytotheUniversityofOxfordandCambridge,Y12studentshavehadtheopportunityto attendawiderangeofeventstohelpthemwiththeirpreparations.
InDecember,wetookagroupofstudentstolookaroundSomervilleandSt.Anne'sCollegeinOxford totalktofirstyearstudentstoexposecommonlyheldmythsaboutstudyingatOxbridge.
InApril,wewentonourannualUCASconventionwhereMedicalstudentshadtheopportunityto speaktouniversitiestheyareconsideringapplyingtoandfindoutmoreinformationaboutcourse content,deliveryandadmissionsrequirements.
InJune,wehadtalksfrombothCGSalumniwhoarestudyingMedicineandalumniwhoare studyingattheUniversitiesofOxfordandCambridgetoexploretheapplicationprocessanda chancetoaskquestionsabouttheirexperiences
OurbuddingMedicsalsohadone-to-onesessionswithaCGSalumnus-achanceforsome individualisedsupportandinsight.
InJuly,wehostedaRoadshowfromtheUniversityofCambridgeandheardfromtheSchools LiaisonOfficerforHomertonCollegeaswellasahugelyinformativetalkfromacurrentYear13 studentonapplyingtoVeterinaryMedicine,whoprovidedanarrayofpitfallsandpointers.
Asthetermdrawstoaclose,theteachershavebeenofferingsubject-specificsupportforthose withearlyentryapplicationsandwehaverunworkshopsonpersonalstatementstoprovidean understandingofwhatmakesasuccessfulapplicationforearlyentry
WearelookingforwardtoabusyAutumntermsupportingallstudentswiththeirpost-18 applicationsandensuringthateveryonehasthesupportandinsighttheyneedtomaketheirnext chapterahappy,aspirationalandsuccessfulone
CAREERS FAIR
CAREERS FAIR & CELEBRATING NATIONAL CAREERS WEEK
Ourlarg thebien
over70 y p y universitiesandcolleges Wehadahostof talksonapplyingtouniversity,degree apprenticeshipsandstudentfinance We feltitwasahugesuccessandwouldliketo thankalltheparents,alumniandlocal businesseswhosupportedtheeventby offeringtheirservicestohelpinspirethe nextgeneration.
WealsocelebratedNationalCareersWeekwithourstudent careerleadersandambassadorshostingthehouse assembliesallweek.
Contact:
Ifyouwouldliketobeinvolvedinanycareersrelatedevents,pleasedogetintouch. Pleasealso contactcareersforanycareerrelatedsupportandadvice. Ourstudentcareerambassadorsare alsohappytohelpstudentswithanyqueriesrelatingtocareerevents
(katelovelace@cheshamgrammarorg