Confidence for Life. Respect for All.
Our Careers and Futures Programme
At Durham School, we want every Sixth Form pupil to leave us feeling confident about their next steps — wherever their path may lead.
Our Careers and Futures Programme gives students the knowledge, experiences, and skills they need to make informed choices about life after school, whether that’s university, an apprenticeship, or employment.
Throughout Years 12 and 13, pupils take part in a series of dedicated careers lessons as part of the Life and Work Education (LWE) programme. These are supported by inspiring talks from visiting speakers, workshops, and real-world opportunities such as Careers Talks from our Old Dunelmian network, work experience placements, and university visits.
By the time they leave Durham, our pupils will have explored the full range of post-18 options and understand how their personal strengths, interests, and ambitions can shape their future. They’ll also develop essential employability skills and an awareness of the fast-changing world of work — helping them to make choices that are both aspirational and achievable.
Pupils demonstrate an extremely high level of achievement in their academic studies and through their co-curricular commitments. This reflects the successful realisation of the school’s ambitious aims to cultivate in pupils a desire to succeed in all that they attempt.
- ISI Inspection Report (2023)
Delivery Content
1 – Guidance Preparation
Pupils are encouraged to consider their career aspirations and prepare for a one-to-one guidance meeting.
2 – Post-18 Pathways
Pupils explore the full range of post-18 pathways and evaluate and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each option.
3 – Goal Setting
Staff Guidance LWE sessions
Pupils explore what is important to them and set their own career goals and develop an action plan
4 – Networking
Pupils research the importance of networking and building professional relationships and how this can support their career management.
5 – Wellbeing; Balancing Life and Work
Pupils research employment rights and discuss the importance of worklife balance
Autumn Term
Autumn Term
One-to-One Meetings with Pupils and Parents (via Teams for parents if needed)
Key Note Speaker Event and networking
Potential speaker: Chris Elliott, OD President.
Easter Term Networking Event
University Visit
Work Experience
Careers Fair
Pupils take part in a university taster day to include a campus tour, subject lesson and higher/degree apprenticeship talk
Pupils can undertake at least three days of voluntary work experience designed to help them explore career opportunities, expand their network and gain an understanding of workplace culture.
Pupils attend the annual Careers Convention to meet with a wide range of employers from different industries, as well as universities and local apprenticeship providers.
Old Dunelmian (OD) Network Talks Programme of OD talks/events
Subject Based Lessons
Career Opportunities
Delivery Content
1 – Personal Branding
All subjects deliver career-related activities to highlight how their subject links to future pathways and skills development
Staff Guidance LWE Lessons
Pupils reflect on the Year 12 Careers Day and review their own personal brand through their CV and social media presence and explore how their own online presence can hinder or help their career.
2 – Preparing for Interviews
Pupils research the different recruitment and selection methods used by employers and practice their own interview technique
3 – Assessment Days
Pupils take part in a Mock Assessment and then reflect on their own performance to identify areas for development.
4 – Managing Transition
Pupils explore and discuss the challenges they may face with their post18 transition to university or into the workplace and begin to identify strategies to manage the transition
5 – Employment Relationships
Pupils research the different employment relationships, particularly self-employment and entrepreneurship, and highlight the advantages and disadvantages
6 – Hybrid and Flexible Working
Pupils explore how working arrangements have changed and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of hybrid and flexible working.
Student Finance Workshop Pupil finance workshop
Employer Talks
Subject Based Lessons
Assemblies
Co-curricular Activities
Pupils are directed to access to a wide range of online employer engagement opportunities
All subjects deliver career-related activities to highlight how their subject links to future pathways and skills development.
Careers related assembly delivered to all year groups during National Careers Week.
Apprenticeship awareness activities are available to all students during National Apprenticeship Week.
Apprenticeship talks delivered during National Apprenticeship Week.
All pupils are encouraged to take part in a rich and varied programme of cocurricular activities Sports are built into their weekly timetable Year 12
Assemblies
Co-curricular Activities
Careers related assembly delivered to all year groups during National Careers Week.
All pupils are encouraged to take part in a rich and varied programme of co-curricular activities. Sports are built into their weekly timetable.
Academic Support
The Sixth Form Study Centre
With large desks and full WiFi access, the SFC provides a spacious area away from the hustle and bustle of the School which is conducive to the requirements of Sixth Form study. It also contains key materials for students in the Sixth Form, such as university prospectuses and open day information, gap year opportunities and possible work experience placements.
The offices of the Head and Assistant Head of Sixth Form are located in this area.
Students can drop in at any time of the day to discuss any issues they have. When students in Year 12 have private study periods, they are required to go to the SFC for supervised study in the mornings, periods 1 to 4. This helps develop their study skills and ensures students remain on top of their academic commitments. At other times of the day all Sixth Form students are encouraged to use the SFC, and many do just that!
Academic Monitoring and One-to-One Tutorials
Academic monitoring is key to success at A Level. Students need to be aware of their current standard in each subject and what they need to do to improve. To support the students in this at Durham School, subject staff will provide regular assessed work with detailed feedback in accordance with exam board criteria. Individual discussions are also offered, where teachers and students can discuss recent work and areas for improvement. Finally, whole-group tutorials are largely replaced with regular one-toone interviews, which allow tutors and students to discuss progress
across all subjects. In this way, tutors become a key support structure as they have an overview of the students’ performance in all subjects and can provide specific targets which recognise the needs of individual students.
UCAS and University Choices
Following the Year 12 exams, students are introduced to the UCAS application procedure with a two-day induction programme delivered by the Sixth Form team during the final week of term. During these days, students have the opportunity to research their university choices, work on personal statements, visit local university open days, hear talks from university representatives and admissions officers and start completing their UCAS forms. While this can be a very daunting experience for the students, support is provided every step of the way by Sixth Form staff whose expertise in the area guides them through the process.
Elite Course Applicants
(Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry and Vet Med)
All students who wish to apply for Oxford, Cambridge or medical courses (including dentistry and veterinary science) are required to submit an early application to UCAS, and this is also strongly advised for students wishing to apply for very competitive courses at the top universities.
Mr Hope (Coordinator of Elite Applications) provides specific support to students wishing to apply for these courses, including personal statement help, advice on choosing the right college, help with completing additional submissions and finding work experience, and organising all-important mock interviews. There is also the opportunity to speak to Oxbridge admissions officers at various events in Years 11-13, and to visit both Oxford and Cambridge for their Open Days in June/July of Year 12 and in September of Year 13.
Academic Enrichment
Durham University Library (Bill Bryson)
Early in Year 12, pupils are inducted at the Durham University Library nearby, on South Road. A member of the Library staff comes to School and speaks with the whole year group about using library systems, referencing and plagiarism and shows ways to research materials online and with books. Subsequently, we take all Year 12 pupils to the library for an induction session, where they are given a tour of the facilities and learn how they can use this fabulous resource for their coursework, to enrich their studies or just for fun! At the end of the induction, pupils receive a card that entitles them to access the library for future use.
Creighton Society
The Creighton Society is the Sixth Form History Society. It is run by students who invite visiting speakers, including academics, to address the group, in addition to hosting students’ talks and debates on historical topics.
Heretics Society
The Heretics Society gives students the opportunity both to present and debate heretical subjects. In each session, one student will present a defence of a controversial viewpoint before opening the subject up to debate and, ultimately, defending the argument, often against fierce opposition. The Heretics Society is supervised by Mr S P Wright, Director of Scholars, but is run by the students.
Tristram Society
Aimed specifically at potential scientists, but open to all students with an interest in this discipline, the Tristram Society offers targeted sessions focused on the world of science. Lectures from leading academics, seminars and visits allow students the opportunity to explore various scientific fields from a real-life, practical and hands-on perspective which will develop their understanding of the subject far beyond the confines of the A Level syllabus. The Tristram Society is supervised by a member of staff, but is run by the students.
Durham Student Union Debating Society
Father Simon informs Sixth Form pupils of the topics of debate and regularly takes groups of pupils to attend these events; Father Simon has even taken part in them
Co-curricular
Many other leadership opportunities exist in the Houses, in sport, in music, in drama, with the Durham Eye, School and House Councils, Boarding and Food Committees, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, World Challenge and adventure training.
Lectures and Talks
During their time in our Sixth Form, students will hear lectures and talks delivered by a whole host of speakers. Staff invite specialists to talk about their chosen field to classes. Trips to conferences and subject-specific events are a regular occurrence, and we have ODs, current staff and guest speakers come to speak to our Sixth Formers on their lives and careers, important topics or academic research. These opportunities also foster the sense of community extending beyond our School, as ODs and speakers help students develop networks of contacts on whose advice they can draw as they seek to forge their own path.
Leadership Opportunities
All Sixth Form students accept that they are leaders and role models for the younger students in the School. Their achievements, behaviour and attitudes to staff, each other and their academic work are powerful, aspirational incentives for the younger students as they grow up in our community. Sixth Form students also chair and run various School Councils, organise and coordinate charity work in the community, help the Chorister School with various activities (such as their Sports Day), act as ambassadors for the School at external events and (very importantly) guide new and prospective students and parents on tours of the School site and the Houses.
Old Dunelmian Careers
After Durham School, Flora read Spanish Language, Literature and Film at Exeter University. Following university, Flora undertook a number of internships both in London and Spain focused on improving her written and spoken Spanish. One such internship with Hello! Magazine in Madrid led to her securing a full-time role as a writer and website coordinator for the magazine. Returning to the UK, Flora became World Services Account Manager for M&C Saatchi, London. M&C SAATCHI WORLD SERVICES is a small, specialist division of M&C Saatchi focused on tackling some of humanity's most challenging and important problems, in fragile states and developing countries. Here, Flora worked with a range of National Governments and NGOs, including USAID, The World Bank and the Gates Foundation.
Since 2018 Flora has worked in Madrid for a number of creative agencies and is now Business Director at LaLiga Studios, a creative-production powerhouse for sportsrelated content.
Mark is a singer-songwriter. Born in the North East and classically trained, he initially found success writing music for BBC Radio plays. In 2018 he was signed by Sony ATV as part of the LA-based band Raynes. The group has since released six singles and two EPs and performed at sold-out venues across the US and the UK. Now, their singular blend of pop, folk, and world music is being featured on television shows, commercials, and tastemakers’ playlists, earning them hundreds of thousands of monthly listeners and millions of streams across platforms.
Andrew Thomson is Director of Client Strategy at Monarch. He brings extensive experience from previous roles at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Andrew holds an MLitt (1997–1998) in Strategic Studies and has served as a British Diplomat, including a posting at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. At Monarch, Andrew and his colleagues are dedicated to protecting democratic elections, defending national and critical infrastructure, and enabling strategic intelligence and operations.
After Durham School, Jemma studied medicine at Newcastle University. After qualifying and working in Gateshead, she moved to New Zealand where she found her passion and specialism in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Jemma returned to Durham in 2010 and she is now the O&G Consultant at North Durham University Hospital. Jemma’s special interests include maternal medicine and management of the labour ward. She is also involved in several cutting-edge research projects across the NHS.
Flora Bell (M, 2011) Creative Industries
Andrew Thomson OBE (L,1993) Diplomat and International Relations Specialist
Mark Race (P, 2014) Musician
Jemma Farish (Pim, 2002) Doctor
Old Dunelmian Careers
Emily Reader (M, 2011)
Broadcast Journalist with ITV and Good Morning Britain
Emily is an on-screen journalist for ITV Tyne Tees and Border. Emily got into journalism while at school, undertaking work experience at a local radio station. She studied Languages while at University, which she credits with getting her career in journalism. “While on work experience with Tyne Tees, a man from Darlington had died in Spain. The editor asked if anyone spoke Spanish. I happened to be in the right place a the right time and made the necessary calls to the Spanish Police.” After a 9month crash course through the ITV News Trainee scheme, Emily landed her dream job as a production journalist. Since 2020 she has been working as an onscreen Journalist for ITV Tyne-Tees and Border. You will find her most mornings presenting the Good Morning Britain news for the region.
Kieran Dougan Founder of 40 Kola and SwiftZap
Initially, Kieran developed a range of North East–based soft drinks with a childhood friend under the brand 40 Kola. When the pandemic hit, challenges to the business inspired Old Dunelmian Kieran Dougan to apply his Chemical Engineering expertise to create a device that could help limit the spread of Covid-19. After observing that only 1% of train station passengers were using hand sanitiser, he realised most people simply didn’t have time to stop and queue. His solution was Flo-San, an innovative walk-through sanitising system that disinfects hands without stopping, even for those carrying bags or phones. The unit releases a fine mist that coats users’ hands as they pass, using significantly less sanitiser per person than conventional dispensers, making it both efficient and sustainable.
Now known as SwiftZap, the business produces walkthrough sanitiser units designed for high-traffic areas like Newcastle Airport, where it is currently on trial. Developed in collaboration with Northumbria University academics and British Engines engineers, the project has received over £280,000 in funding. The dual-direction system sprays from both sides, allowing accessibility for all ages and abilities while keeping people moving safely.
Kieran looks back fondly on his Durham School days, especially the excitement of House competitions and performing at The Sage, Gateshead. He credits Mr Bushnell, his former Housemaster, with instilling the confidence to pursue opportunities—qualities that clearly underpin his success. Each year, Kieran and fellow ODs maintain their friendship through European adventures, with past trips to Tallinn and Bruges—and perhaps next time via a SwiftZap unit on the way.
Forfurtherinformation on anymattersconcerning our Sixth Form please contact:
Head of Sixth Form – Carl Hope: c.hope@dcsf.org.uk
Assistant Head of Sixth Form – Andrew Graham: a.graham@dcsf.org.uk
Head of Futures – Stuart MacNair: s.macnair@dcsf.org.uk
Get in touch
Telephone: 0191 731 9270
email: admissions@dcsf.org.uk
www.dcsf.org.uk