Careers Education

At Pipers we believe that offering advice insight and inspiration about the world of work alongside academic study and extracurricular activity is vital to ensuring our students are prepared for their future when they leave school, so we endeavour to provide them with appropriate information, skills awareness and guidance to make the right choices to match their aspiration. 

Dedicated programmes of careers-related activity support key transition stages, such as, choosing Options, providing guidance and advice about a range of pathways after GCSEs and Sixth Form and further to university, apprenticeships, direct routes to the workplace and gap years.

Wider careers education is timetabled as part of the tutor programme for all students in Years 7-11, with some introductory work for Year 6 as part of our celebration of National Careers Week in March. Sixth Form students have careers guidance integrated into their structured enrichment programme, which includes UCAS and Apprenticeship guidance, and alumnae workshops around work-based preparation including writing CVs, understanding the UK labour market and interview practice.

While we enjoy some flexibility allowing us to ensure we are tailoring information appropriately to support the aspirations of our student cohort, we aim to follow the Gatsby framework of Good Career Guidance (a comprehensive toolkit identified by government to deliver best practice careers guidance to UK students), this is reflected in a commitment to support aspiration and an awareness of a broad range of pathways (both academic and more practical learning).  Where possible we strive to link learning to careers so that students are aware of professional directions where what they are learning could lead them in the future and we celebrate the achievements of our former students by regularly inviting alumnae back into school to inspire our current student body.

Ultimately, our intention is for Pipers students to have the right information to make the right choices as individuals; and to not only succeed while they are with us but to go on to achieve future success in education, training or employment. 

We have a dedicated Careers Adviser on site three days per week (located in the Careers Centre alongside Humanities) supporting students on a one to one basis during Years 10 and 11 and into Sixth Form, but students and parents at any stage are invited to make an appointment. Students are also encouraged to consider and plan their own futures using information resources located in the library and tools the school has invested in tot support their explorations - including Morrisby and Indigo Careers, along with additional free online resources.

Currently, we do not hold an annual Careers Fair, but instead offer our students a series of informal evening talks based around an industry or subject area aimed at offering first hand insight, inspiration and guidance. The next event will be in the Autumn Term 2023 and when tickets are released. Places can be booked via the Pipers Corner Box Office here

We issue a bi-termly Careers newsletter, Future Forward, packed with inspiration and industry information, inspiring awareness of workplace skills, different professional pathways, and offering inspiration linking subjects to future jobs and roles. See the latest edition below, and access past editions here.

We have also started a Careers podcast, Pipers9to5, with current students interviewing former students about jobs and industries they are interested in going into to gain valuable insight and advice. You can access all episodes here: