Futures
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At Francis Holland, through a planned programme of Careers Education, Information and Guidance, the Futures Department aims to help every girl to develop the skills and abilities to realise her full potential and play an effective and rewarding role in wider society.
Important component parts of the Careers programme are helping students to:
- Develop knowledge of themselves, which includes an understanding of their individual strengths and limitations, their skills, personal qualities, attitudes and values.
- Develop knowledge and understanding of the opportunities that are open to them, both in school and the wider world, including trends in employment and higher education and training as well as handling careers information effectively.
- Make considered choices related to courses of study at school and beyond; making clear the implications of choice on career aspirations and relating students’ individual development to this process.
- Giving impartial careers advice to every girl in Year 9 and above.
- Providing links with the world of work through work experience, careers evenings, visits and guest speakers.
- Enabling each girl to recognise her own strengths, weaknesses and interests and encouraging the individual to fulfil her potential.
- Highlighting the importance of the acquisition of transferable skills as well as academic subjects and to realise the adaptability that an open minded approach to lifelong learning can bring.
The above Futures Handbook provides more information about how pupils are supported in careers education and the Futures Summary for 2024 breaks down the specific opportunities pupils were afforded in the 2023-24 academic year.
In Years 7 – 9, pupils are introduced to the world of work via the Wellbeing programme and a range of outside speakers to introduce them to different career possibilities.
Year 9
Pupils are given advice on their GCSE options with an options morning with parents run by Head of Lower School. Girls are welcome to speak to Mrs Wilkes, Head of Futures, about GCSE choices if they are unsure. They will also start to hear from outside speakers about different career opportunities.
Year 10
During Year 10, pupils will continue to be exposed to external speakers who will talk to them about their career paths. They will start to become familiar with Unifrog, the software programme used by the school to help them to research post 18 options.
Year 11
Choosing A Level subjects can be daunting, especially with regard to the new subjects which are not part of the GCSE range. To help pupils with their decision we offer plenty of information on the subjects available and lots of opportunities to discuss their choices throughout the Autumn and Spring term. Each pupil has the opportunity for a one to one discussion with the Head of Futures, to support both her A Level and possible future career choices. Furthermore, at various points during the year multiple members of staff, as well as current Sixth Form students, talk to the girls and answer their questions. In September they are given a booklet with detailed information on all the subjects taught at FHS. At the beginning of the Spring term, all the subject teachers offer talks about their subject at A Level. The final choice has to be made in the Spring term and every effort is made to ensure each girl can study her combination of subjects.
Pupils gain invaluable insights into the world of work, build their CV and skills and develop their confidence. Evidence of work experience and engagement in employment is highly valued by employers. With the jobs market becoming increasingly competitive, this is an essential way of learning about the world of work and the demands of particular careers.
Sixth Form
In the Sixth Form, students are given one-to-one support with applying for Higher Education or alternative courses and career paths, with a Higher Education & Apprenticeship Information evening held in March. Additionally, some Life Skills sessions (such as workshops on university interview practice) are an important part of the preparation for university. In addition to group sessions, one-to-one practice interviews are organised as required, both at school and externally. For example, we offer a training workshop for medical applicants with Imperial College doctors and provide Oxbridge interview practice for all applicants. Other sessions are devoted to providing information about financing university, gap year opportunities, making a decision on Firm and Insurance acceptances for UCAS and advice for Results Day (mid August). We are proud of our students for their recent university offers, click below for more information:
Every pupil in Year 12 is strongly encouraged to undertake work experience as an integral part of our Careers Programme, and the vast majority of our students take this opportunity. At the end of the Summer term, students also attend an ‘Off To University’ session, which helps assist the pupils in deciding what to pack, what they must prepare before they leave, how to apply for accommodation, what to expect when they arrive, and advice on other important elements of University life.
What else does the Careers Department offer?
Work Experience
We strongly recommend girls do some sort of work experience and although this is not obligatory we find that those students who follow our advice find this experience extremely rewarding. Most students find suitable placements with the help of their parents, family and neighbours, for instance. Some industries are more difficult to find placements in than others and it is a very good idea to start looking as early as September for the following Summer. Opportunities are occasionally offered to the school via existing contacts: last year, Zoopla created a bespoke work experience programme for ten Lower Sixth pupils for a week. We have also been able to find work experience in a hospital environment. Students are shown other opportunities on an ad hoc basis through Sixth Form Notices, which are sent home on a weekly basis to students and their parents. Occasionally alumni are also able to offer work experience.
Year 12 students are shown how to apply for work experience during a Life Skills session, including construction of a basic CV.
The best time for work experience is during the summer holidays between Years 12 and 13. Ideally, girls should sample two different working environments, each for a week. If they already have some idea which career path they wish to follow in future then it might be a good idea to seek placements in related professional fields. However, at that point many girls are still quite undecided in regards to a future career and so any experience will be useful as it will open their eyes to the demands, challenges and also rewards of the working world.
Building up a portfolio of work experience will not only be invaluable for their personal development but will also help them later with their university and job applications.
Careers Evenings
In the Spring Term, The US University Information Evening is open to girls in Year 10 and above and the Higher Education Evening is held in March for Lower Sixth students and their parents. Every Upper Sixth student also attends an ‘Off To University’ session, which gives advice on what to prepare for University and what to expect upon arrival.
We have also paired with Francis Holland School, Regent’s Park to host an annual joint Careers Fair. The location alternates between the two schools each year, but girls from both are invited to each event. At last year’s Careers Fair, we hosted over 30 exhibitors and heard presentations from the British Council, junior doctors, and a KC barrister.
Working Lunches are informal events where speakers are invited to the school to talk to interested girls about their chosen career.
This year, we have welcomed speakers ranging from corporate law to sustainable fashion and from financial analysts to high level civil servants. We have also welcomed international admissions directors from Trinity College Dublin, IE university and Notre Dame University in the US, McGill university in Canada as well as representatives from the universities of Virginia, Toronto and Columbia.
