SWPS CAREERS & HIGHER EDUCATION
O V E R V I E W
Our Careers Department is here to advise and support students and their parents in making choices that are right for them throughout their school career. This includes giving students clear guidance on the options available to them and the wider implications around those choices. Guidance provided will help students make informed GCSE and A level decisions, giving them the very best chance of fulfilling their potential. Throughout their time at SWPS, students develop their skills in many ways – not only in their academic studies but in holding positions of responsibility, leading teams, making presentations and participating in a wide variety of co-curricular activities. These develop many of the transferable skills essential for the world of work. Our Careers Department enables students to identify their strengths, weaknesses and interests relating to the world of work. By learning about different careers and opportunities, they will be able to identify the best options for them individually through one to one support and guidance.
'There is a comprehensive careers programme, including annual careers and higher education fairs, to provide pupils with accurate and impartial careers advice.'
ISI Inspection Report
At SWPS, we follow a spiral curriculum approach to careers education, ensuring that students continuously build on their skills and experiences each year. From the start of Key Stage 3, our focus is on developing essential soft skills such as communication, teamwork, resilience, and problem-solving, all of which are crucial for success in any career. Each year, students revisit and strengthen these skills while gaining increased exposure to the world of work through hands-on projects and real-world experiences.
At Key Stage 3, students begin exploring careers through interactive projects. For example, in Year 8, the NHS Careers Competition introduces them to the diverse range of roles within the healthcare sector. In Year 9, the £10 Challenge develops their creativity and marketing skills in a business-style competition. At Key Stage 4, careers education becomes more personalised, with students engaging in careers talks and 1:1 guidance sessions to discuss A-level options and career pathways. At Key Stage 5, the focus moves towards “Life Beyond SWPS”, preparing students for their next steps, whether that’s university, apprenticeships, or employment.
Alongside this, students across all key stages benefit from careers workshops led by industry experts. These sessions provide valuable first-hand insights into different professions, helping students understand the variety of career pathways available and the skills needed to succeed in each field.
YEAR 8
NHS Careers Competition
Year 8 students participate in the NHS Careers Competition. The competition is introduced to the students by the Head of Careers. This aims to develop employability and enterprise skills as well as educating them about careers available within the NHS. This is intended to help students think about what they might want to do in the future. The competition is designed to encourage students to research different roles in the NHS, thinking about the roles and responsibilities of different jobs. Once the groups have chosen a career that interests them, they will then create an advertising campaign. The winning group from each class will go forward to enter the National Competition.
Each student in Year 8 has a personalised Morrisby login which is life long and can be updated as they progress through the school. Morrisby is an internationally recognised well established platform which uses many factors that make up an individual to help students choose degree subjects and careers. In Year 8 this starts with a questionnaire which uses students interests to help gauge career possibilities which may help choosing GCSE options.
YEAR 9
SWPS £10 Challenge
All Year 9 students participate in this competition during the PSHCE lessons. The aim of the challenge is to help students develop their understanding of the different factors involved in setting up and running a business. They gain an insight into being an entrepreneur, understand how different departments in business work together and learn how to communicate and share ideas in a business team. The challenge is designed to encourage students to be innovative and work well together as a team, as well as getting students to think about some of the fundamental elements of running a business. They are appointed specific roles to suit their skills and learn about the importance of those roles in business.
GCSE Options
The options programme starts with the Parents’/Guardians’ information evening in the autumn term. Careers implications of GCSE options are explained and consultations with the Head of Careers are offered and arranged where necessary. Each student has a one-to-one interview with a senior teacher to discuss their GCSE options and ensure that they align with their interests, university aspirations and career ambitions.
YEAR 9
Careers Seminars
All students in Year 9 and above are invited to attend interactive careers seminars covering a wide range of industries. They can sign up for these on SOCS and can attend the sessions they are most interested in. The seminars allow them to have an interactive experience of what jobs might involve; the opportunity to deepen their knowledge about the careers they are interested in; and ask questions to support their future choices.
YEAR 10
Careers lessons
Formal careers lessons continue are prepared by the Head of Careers, as part of the PSHCE curriculum. The aim of the course is for students to understand the rapid developments in the world of work and to develop their research, ICT, team-working, communication and presentation skills. The following specific areas are covered:
· Options post-16, including an explanation of the implications of A level choices and how to choose
· Further consideration of the changing world of work
· Starting to write CVs and covering letters
Morrisby Psychometric Tests
All students participate in the Morrisby psychometric testing and reporting, delivered by an external careers advisory company. The Morrisby tests can offer advice to students regarding A level options and university degree courses, as well as relevant career suggestions based on their test results. The assessment measures their verbal, numerical, abstract, spatial and mechanical aptitudes. This is then combined with the results from additional questionnaires which assess their career interests, their talents, motivations, work preferences and personality type. They analyse all of this information and then present the results back to students in the form of an interactive website and a report. Students can see their recommendations, find courses and investigate the various careers in more detail. This can also be downloaded in a report.
All students take part in the Samsung challenge where students are tasked to come up with a way of solving a problem through the use of technology and can win various Samsung related prizes. This builds on students’ teamwork skills as well as encouraging innovative thinking.
YEAR 11
Careers lessons
Formal careers lessons continue, organised by the Head of Careers, as part of the PSHCE curriculum. These lessons are focused on preparing a CV and letters of application for work experience at the end of the summer term.
Work Experience
Students are responsible for organising their own work experience placements over the summer holidays between the end of their GCSEs and the start of Sixth Form. Guidance on appropriate places to conduct work experience may be given by the Head of Careers and/or form tutors where necessary. In order to ensure that this is clear and to fulfil the school’s duty of care, the Head of Careers communicates in writing to parents/carers to reiterate that work experience placements are conducted at the parents’/carers’ own risk and also to advise that parents/carers satisfy themselves that the work experience placement is suitable and safe for their child. The Head of Careers conducts an assembly in the spring term to explain to students the importance of undertaking work experience and the support that can be offered to them.
Information Evening
A Sixth Form Information Evening is held in the autumn term when subject staff are available to discuss A level options with students. The implications of the transition to Sixth Form study are explored.
Internal Interviews
Every student has a personal interview with a member of the Senior Leadership Team, at which their options post-16 is discussed, in addition to any conversations they choose to have with their Tutor, Head of Year, Head of Sixth Form and Head of Careers.
Higher Education Fair
A Higher Education Fair is held in the spring term, where universities and local school students are invited to attend. Year 11, 12 and 13 students explore their university options.
SIXTH FORM
At SWPS, our Sixth Form careers programme ensures that every student leaves confident, independent and fully prepared for life beyond school. Our provision balances academic achievement with the development of broader skills essential for success in higher education and the workplace.
Individualised Careers Guidance & Support
Higher Education Programme
Comprehensive support for university applications, including tailored guidance for students applying to Art foundation courses, conservatoires, apprenticeships and employment.
Oxbridge, Medics, Dentists & Vets (MDV) Preparation
Dedicated support for competitive applications, including admissions tests and interview preparation.
Personalised feedback reports matching students' interests and abilities to appropriate higher education pathways.
Higher Education Fair
An annual event featuring over 25 universities and masterclasses, giving students the opportunity to explore university options, meet representatives and gain insight into higher education pathways.
Leadership & Enrichment Opportunities
Prefect & Ambassador Roles
Opportunities include Head Prefect Team, Senior Prefect Positions, Subject Ambassadors, mentoring younger students, leading societies or clubs, organising charity events, delivering assemblies and participating in public speaking and debating.
SWPS Enterprise Programme
Students can take part in the SWPS Enterprise Programme, where they receive guidance on business planning and key entrepreneurial skills. They then compete in the Peter Jones National Tycoon competition, setting up and running their own business with a loan from the organisers, supported by weekly mentoring on areas such as financial accounting and budgeting.
MAD (Make a Difference) Day
Students volunteer in the local community, developing valuable experience while making a positive contribution beyond the school.
SIXTH FORM
Life Skills & Employability Education
Life Skills Programme
Focus on financial literacy, interview techniques, time management, resilience, wellbeing and social media professionalism. Specialist workshops include leadership skills and career progression.
Guest Speakers & Careers Seminars
Interactive seminars with professionals from a range of industries, alongside tailored subject-specific talks.
InvestIN Partnership
Workshops covering employability skills such as CV writing, interview techniques, public speaking, networking and job application skills.
Virtual Work Experience
Students access structured virtual placements with top employers, gaining meaningful insight into industries and receiving certificates of achievement.
3 A Levels + Programme
The 3 A Levels + Programme ensures that every Sixth Form student enhances their academic studies with an additional qualification or enrichment activity. Alongside their A Levels, students can opt to take a fourth A Level (typically Further Maths), complete the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), or gain further qualifications such as Core Maths or AS Sociology. They can also choose from a variety of elective courses, including the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, MOOCs, or the ESB Oracy qualification. For students with specific ambitions, such as elite athletes, a personalised pathway is available to support their individual goals.
Careers Seminars
All students are invited to attend interactive careers seminars covering a wide range of industries. They can sign up for these on Firefly and can attend the sessions they are most interested in. The seminars allow them to have an interactive experience of what jobs might involve; the opportunity to deepen their knowledge about the careers they are interested in; and ask questions to support their future choices.
Careers Resources
The resources of the Careers Centre are available, including a wide range of publications and the software, for students to access at break, lunchtimes and after school up to 5pm. These include University Prospectuses for 6th Form students.
Firefly Resources
The students can access a wide variety of resources on Firefly including CV and Job interview guidance tips, direct access to work experience opportunities run via external organisations and access to sign up to the various career’s seminars on offer. There are also sections for the career’s programmes offered at school with the relevant resources.
One to one Careers Interviews
Students in any year group can meet for a one-to-one careers interview which can include advice and guidance of university courses as well a possible career routes that might be taken given their academic achievements and their personal skill sets and interests.
