Careers
Our Alumnae and Careers Officer is Mrs Ailsa West.
Careers education at Farnborough Hill starts to prepare each girl for the world of work from their arrival in Year 7. We recognise that school is a stepping stone on the path to the wider world and therefore careers advice plays an important role at Farnborough Hill. Our pupils can have confidence that important decisions they will make about their future are made with support and their choices will be well informed. The girls are given individual attention and consultation at all of the important transition stages.
Years 7 - 11
Year 7
We work with Baker Hughes, previously known as GE Oil and Gas, based here in Farnborough. All pupils experience a visit to a real workplace when they go out for a site visit. They tour the factory, design areas and offices as well as learning about the product being manufactured. There are a series of events during the year run under the auspices of the 'Girls Get Set' scheme whose aim is to make girls more aware of career opportunities for them within STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects.
Year 8
The girls have PSHEE (Personal, Social, Heath & Economic Education) time and support prior to making their decisions about Year 9 option choices. They spend time considering different and varied work roles and consider a few in detail. The girls are encouraged to arrange and take part in a 'Take Your Daughter to Work' experience during their Easter holidays. Most girls achieve this and there is PSHEE time allocated, giving them the opportunity to reflect on this and to share their experiences with each other. It is a wonderful insight for many into the real world of work.
Year 9
Time is allocated in PSHEE in the Spring to further consider GCSE option choices. These options are introduced to the girls by their Head of Year and to their parents by the Head, Deputy Head and Heads of Departments during an Options Evening. The girls are given opportunities to have individual conversations with staff to ensure they select options which allow them to pursue anything they are likely to decide on in the future. They spend time and do various activities which enable them to explore a few job roles in detail. Year 9 pupils are invited and encouraged to attend the biennial Careers Fair.
Year 10
We subscribe as a school to Inspiring Futures and all girls become members. They undergo a lengthy profiling process towards the end of the year and the girls remain members and can access their website and courses until their 23rd birthday. Year 10 pupils are invited and encouraged to attend the biennial Careers Fair.
Year 11
All girls and parents receive their unique Futurewise profiles from Inspiring Futures and time is allocated to look through and understand this lengthy document. All girls also have a 20-minute careers interview with an adviser from Inspiring Futures. This meeting and the discussions are documented in a written report for both the girls and their parents. A PHSEE day is largely dedicated to careers and life after Year 11. Year 11 pupils are invited and encouraged to attend the biennial Careers Fair.
The Careers Room
A designated careers room is available to the girls where they can arrange to see Mrs Cappleman. It also contains useful careers resources which the girls can access.
Think Tank
The Think Tank programme which is run at lunchtimes includes a selection of talks by professionals on interesting roles such a pilot and a midwife. These are well-publicised and open to all girls.
Sixth Form
Planning for university entrance, apprenticeships and future careers is supported by a guidance programme throughout the Sixth Form. All students have as many individual interviews as necessary with the Head of Careers and with their tutors. There is also designated curriculum time in the Sixth Form where students are fully prepared in their decision-making process. Our service makes use of links with Higher Education and is documented on Unifrog.
In the Lower Sixth, any new entrants to the School do Futurewise profiling. All students are introduced to Unifrog which is the go to place for everything concerning university entrance, apprenticeships and careers and they have an interview with Mrs Cappleman during the first term. Follow-up interviews are offered regularly as are ad-hoc sessions. Students are encouraged to take on work experiences as appropriate in the holidays. A Higher Education Programme is delivered over the year through tutors and the Head of Sixth Form and we hold a Higher Education evening at school with visiting experts. By the end of the Lower Sixth, all girls work on their UCAS Personal Statement and should have completed at least the first draft; many are virtually complete.
In the Upper Sixth, tutors and the Head of Sixth Form deal with UCAS applications. Students are closely monitored with constant follow up and regular checks. In November all students take part in an Interview Technique Evening with visiting and experienced interviewers. Tutors and the Head of Sixth Form are available throughout the year to discuss progress and support is also available if required following the A level results.
Sixth Form students are encouraged to attend the biennial Careers Fair and any relevant Think Tank talks.
We aim to encompass the eight Gatsby benchmarks for good careers guidance within our programme.