Award-winning provision
We are extremely proud to have been awarded the highest level gold award in recognition of our outstanding careers provision at Queen's.
The school has achieved the national Quality in Careers Standard awarded under licence by Ixion (Part of the Shaw Trust Group). The Quality in Careers Standard is awarded to schools and education providers who can demonstrate the importance they place on careers and how they support students to make decisions about their life after school.
The high quality of personalised provision provided by Queen’s, led by our dedicated Head of Careers, Mrs Julietta Dawson, resulted in the school being awarded a Gold certificate for “Outstanding Careers” provision over and above the quality award.
Delivering such a bespoke service to our students means I have seen first-hand at each stage of their school journey what a difference this makes to their aspirations and achievements.
Head of Careers, Julietta Dawson
Inspiring future pathways
Our aim is to enable pupils to develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes which will broaden their horizons and ensure they reach their full potential by making well-informed, realistic decisions throughout their school, adult and working lives.
We endeavour to ensure that pupils in all year groups gain access to personalised, relevant, impartial information at critical transition points. All pupils in Year 7-13 will receive access to accurate, up-to-date careers guidance, presented in an impartial manner to allow them to make informed choices about a broad range of career options and help to encourage them to fulfil their potential.
As pupils progress through school and the focus turns more to the individual, every pupil will have regular career planning interviews and guidance with our full time Careers Leader based in our dedicated Careers Library, which has a wealth of resources.
All pupils also have individual accounts with our school-wide online Careers Platform Unifrog.
Careers provision
The careers programme is delivered to Years 7 to 13 through a planned and structured mixture of PSHE lessons, tutor time, assemblies, and specific events such as our biennial Careers Conference and Work Experience weeks for Year 11.
The programme is coordinated by our Careers Leader with the support of PSHE staff, external providers, alumni and parents, and other professionals, including academic staff of universities, and further and higher education establishments.
The programme aims to challenge stereotyping and promote equality of opportunity and inclusion and is centred on:
Self-development and knowledge through careers, employability & enterprise education
- Identifying personal qualities and skills, developing interests, values, beliefs and attitudes and relating personal strengths and interests to future career choices.
- Understanding the influences on them.
Career exploration through the world of work
- Identifying and investigating appropriate pathways and opportunities that fit aspirations, aptitudes and attributes.
- Understanding how to access information and get the most from it.
Developing Career management and employability skills
- Taking responsibility for managing academic and career development.
- Checking progress, identifying goals, setting targets, and making plans to enhance own learning and achievements.
- Planning ways of coping with unforeseen changes or circumstances that may affect future careers.
- Presentations and workshops on the skills required in applications and interviews.
Almost all pupils proceed to higher education, obtaining places on competitive courses at top universities, but whatever a pupil’s choice for their future career might be, they will receive personal and dedicated help and advice every step of the way
Click here for more specific information on University Entrance Support for Sixth Formers
Listen to our podcast - The importance and value of careers guidance in school