Higher Education & Careers
Blundell’s provides a tailored Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance Programme for every year group.
Blundell's follows the Gatsby Careers Benchmarks: a world-class standard in careers guidance for schools and colleges, and is guided by the Career Development Institute learning aims for each key stage. (click the images below to expand)
The ‘Open Doors’ Programme for the younger years introduces the world of work and employment, different ways to gain qualifications and employability skills, alongside increasing self-awareness of personal motivation and strengths.
For the older year groups, guidance at every key stage, feedback from Morrisby psychometric assessments and work experience, supports informed decision making about subject choices. The ‘Futures’ programme for all Sixth Formers, enables small, guided, groups to research options and pathways post-18. We run tailored mentoring programmes for Medics, Vets, Dentists and Oxbridge, and students pursuing specialist pathways receive additional support in preparing for assessments and throughout the application process, for example: for International University applications, Conservatoires and Drama Schools, Architecture, Art and Design, Allied Health Professions, Law, Apprenticeships and School Leaver Programmes.
All students are supported by our in-house team of experienced careers staff to progress their chosen route, whether this be university, apprenticeships or employment and 1-1 meetings are available for all pupils and their parents, on request. This expertise includes our International University Coordinator, Dr Hannah Perrin-Haynes; Careers Co-ordinator Ms Clare Parkinson and our Head of Higher Education and Careers, Mrs Pippa Bucknell, who has a background of 20 years working in industry in HR and recruitment, is Level 6 qualified in Careers Guidance and Development and a Registered Professional of the Career Development Institute. Students may also access the services of our independent career’s guidance professionals, from FutureSmart Careers.
Meet The Team
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Pippa BucknellHead of Higher Education & Careers |
Clare ParkinsonCareers Co-Ordinator |
Meeting the Gatsby Benchmarks
Blundell's follows the Gatsby Careers Benchmarks: the world-class standard for good careers and enterprise provision in schools.
| 1. A stable Careers Program |
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| Our well-established careers programme is tailored to meet the needs of pupils and includes a sequenced programme of lessons, workshops and events, supported by a wide range of employers, higher education, training providers and alumni. |
| 2. Learning from career and labour market information |
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| All pupils, parents and carers, teachers and staff who support pupils have access to good-quality, up-to-date information about future pathways, study options and labour market opportunities, through the use of Unifrog and regular sharing of resources from the Careers Department. |
| 3. Addressing the needs of each pupil |
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| Careers advice and support is tailored to specifically meet pupil and year group needs. |
| 4. Linking curriculum learning to careers |
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| All teachers highlight the progression routes for their subject, through in-class discussion, taught content, visits and displays, highlighting how knowledge and skills developed are relevant for a wide range of career pathways. |
| 5. Encounters with employers and employees |
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| Multiple encounters with employers are arranged for every student to take part in, every year – including in lesson time, via trips, events, talks and our Blundell’s Careers Fair. |
| 6. Experiences of workplaces |
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| All students are supported to secure at least one work experience placement by the end of Year 11. Our Sixth Formers receive further support and guidance in sourcing work placements, to aid their exploration of career opportunities and expand their networks. |
| 7. Encounters with Further and Higher Education |
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| Through one-to-one careers guidance, the wider careers programme and visits from universities (UK & abroad), colleges, employers and independent training providers - every pupil learns about the full range of pathways open to them after they leave school. |
| 8. Personal guidance |
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| Every student has opportunities for guidance meetings with a trained, impartial careers adviser to help guide their decision-making about their next steps. The department is supported by a Level 6 qualified Careers Adviser. The department also supports pupils with applications, CV writing, networking and interview skills. |
Careers Programme and Policy
As a school, we are committed to providing a high-quality Careers Education Information and Guidance programme which:
- Encourages young people to research, explore, experience and discuss their aspirations, abilities and skills
- Is impartial and confidential, and is accessible to all young people
- Promotes equality of opportunity and challenges stereotypes
- Reflects the changing world of learning, training and employment
- Is well-resourced and appropriately staffed
Please see our Careers Policy (under the Senior School dropdown).
Engagement with our Careers Programme
We are keen to connect with organisations, employers, universities, training providers and our alumni, to help us keep students informed about the opportunities open to them. Through our Careers Programme there are regular opportunities to take part in events such as our Employer Encounters, Careers Carousel, Employability Day, Enrichment, Careers Fair, UCAS Week, Apprenticeship Day and Degree Apprenticeship Event.
If you would like to take part in an event, to help us keep students informed about potential future pathways, please contact the Head of Careers & Higher Education, Mrs Pippa Bucknell, via info@blundells.org.
Useful Links
| National careers service |
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A great website for exploring careers with key information about essential skills and pathways to progression, and a skills assessment that creates tailored career suggestions. |
| Prospects |
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Supports exploration of careers and job sectors, with a quiz to match interests with careers advice and tips for securing work experience and internships. It also has great advice for job applications, CV’s, cover letters and interviews and useful information for choosing a university course by seeing where your degree could lead to. |
| BBC Bitesize |
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A huge range of engaging resources from ‘Jobs that use your favourite school subject’, to a ‘Careers A to Z’, and podcasts and videos as chosen by young people to inform and inspire. |
| Informed choices |
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Supports students to choose subjects for post-16 study that keep doors and options open to them for accessing university courses in the UK. It also reveals which subjects students may need to study if they have a particular degree in mind. |
| Oxford University careers service |
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A useful website open to all students to use, for developing career ideas, understanding the job and employment market, advice and guidance on writing applications and in preparing for competitive selection processes. |
| Skills Builder |
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Recognised by employers and educators worldwide, this is a highly useful tool for students to assess their skillset against a benchmark for essential skills and identify ways they can develop these to boost employability. |
Where Next?
