Preparing our students mentally, physically and practically for life after St Joseph’s forms a core part of our syllabus and teaching. We encourage our students to consider their career prospects when choosing GCSE and A Level subjects. Ongoing guidance on the choice of Higher Education courses is given by a team of professionals including the Head of Careers.
We run an external speaker programme led by business experts and university admissions tutors. A Biennial Careers Convention is also held at the school, allowing pupils to talk to a number of prospective employers from relevant industries.
Year 12
Our students in Year 12 receive weekly careers lessons and they take part in BridgeU, a programme which matches academic, professional and social preferences to recommend best-fit Universities and courses. They attend the annual UCAS Conference in Surrey, spend a day at the University of Reading and Royal Holloway, University of London, and take part in a seminar on how to write a compelling Personal Statement, led by the University of Southampton.
Year 13
Our students in Year 13 receive weekly careers lessons, as well as individualised and tailored support on writing their UCAS application, including their Personal Statement. We focus on encouraging and advising them on how to maximise their chances of getting into their choice of University.
The Future
St Joseph’s also runs an extensive programme on employability skills, covering topics like graduate recruitment, higher apprenticeships, and work experience, amongst others. Furthermore, students undertake a mock interview with a range of experienced external interviewers as practice for University or employment interviews. We actively support students to seek relevant work experience placements to enhance their university applications.
