The Ethos of our Futures Department is, ‘At WGS we know each person as an individual, and our main strategic aim is to tailor our support to the needs of that individual, taking into account their aspirations, goals and values. We are informed by the latest guidance, but our focus is on the personalisation of these guidelines to each student and their individual requirements.’ 

WGS provides a stable, embedded careers programme for all students, compliant with the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks outlined in the “Good Career Guidance” report and informed by the latest guidance from the Career Development Institute (CDI). 

 The eight Gatsby benchmarks of Good Career Guidance are: 

1. A stable careers programme
2. Learning from career and labour market information
3. Addressing the needs of each pupil
4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
5. Encounters with employers and employees
6. Experiences of workplaces
7. Encounters with further and higher education
8. Personal guidance

Careers

• all aspects of careers guidance and coaching 
• post-14, post-16 and post-18 guidance and support 
• application support (UCAS, job, internships, work experience, apprenticeships etc) 
• event planning and delivery e.g. careers convention 

Voluntary service

• support voluntary service within school and the local community 
• place sixth formers in local primary schools to support our partnerships outreach work 

US University Applicants

• college counselling – co-ordinate application and write letters of recommendation for applicants

Supported by staff from across the school, the Careers Department offers an extensive range of opportunities to pupils throughout Senior School and Sixth Form.

Activities

Third Form – Upper Fourth 

• Information on many types of careers 
• Learning about your skills and how you work best 
• PSHCE and Enterprise activities 
• 1:1 interviews prior to choosing GCSE Options 
• GCSE Options Events 
• Careers matching and profiling activities, guiding you on Career/Options choices 
• Work shadowing 
• Careers convention (Y9 and above) 

Fifth Form 

• Careers Convention 
• Finding out more about possible careers 
• Information on GCSE and A Level subjects 
• Sixth Form Options Events 
• PSHCE and Enterprise activities 
• Work Shadowing and Work Experience opportunities 
• Guidance for A Level Choices 
• Morrisby Profiling tests and resources to help with Career and Post-16 choices 
• Interview and application support 

Find out more about our Sixth Form activities

Resources:

• Welcoming Futures Room where students and staff can meet 
• Drop-in guidance sessions 
• Subscriptions to high quality online resources www.unifrog.org and www.morrisby.com 
• Annual events calendar, offering experiences of the workplace and encounters with employers 
• Embedded PSHCE scheme of work 

Our Futures Room