Careers

St Marylebone has an extensive, comprehensive and fully centralised Careers Programme that covers and engages all year groups and meets all 8 of the Gatsby Benchmark requirements.  Our Careers Exploration pages, linked to subjects studied at our school, are a really valuable resource for students and parents.

The Careers Programme is led by one of the Senior Leadership Team, with two Independent Careers Advisers, and the school-wide support of the School’s PSHE program. The Careers Team collaborates with Local Authorities, careers networks, industries, companies and employers directly.  Our statutory Provider Access Policy Statement outlines how external parties can make contact to enquire about working with us.  

Importantly, our Careers Programme is also championed by all departments, so that Careers is linked to the curriculum and embedded in teaching in all subjects:   

  • in lessons where curriculum content links to job roles or industry trends
  • during trips where links can be drawn to careers and industry specifics 
  • in each department’s own dedicated part of the Careers Exploration pages. 

Our Careers Programme does not ask students to decide now their entire career!  Instead, our approach is designed to build students’ awareness of the wide range of opportunities open to them in their future education and employment. A strong focus is placed on developing an understanding of each student’s interests, skills and characteristics and the importance of developing these in school and beyond.

KS3

Year 7

  • Students start to develop their awareness of the opportunities in the world of work and become familiar with the vocabulary of careers and future pathways
  • The Family Tree of Work: students create their family tree of work focusing on the different jobs family or friends do. 
  • Group Work Sessions: students are given an outline of the key points and changes in their school career. They do activities which help them identify their skills and qualities and understand that they can develop these during their school career.

Year 8

  • Students do weekly Politics, Philosophy and Economics sessions and, as part of this, they have Careers lessons, building on their exploration of skills and qualities and how these could be applied in workplaces. 
  • Students are introduced to Careers Software, a fun, interactive, online tool with careers-related questions to help them delineate their skills, interests and preferred work- styles and relate these to possible subject choices and future professions or employment 
  • Students are given an overview of the changes that are happening in education, qualifications and the workplace, linked to the 4th Industrial Revolution, robotics, artificial intelligence and the internet of things.  
  • Students create a personal statement and curriculum vitae. Using role play, they apply for a work experience position in their chosen field and have their first taste of using the ‘STAR’ technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to enable them to tell their skills stories to impress future potential employers.
  • Students participate in off-timetable employability days. These raise awareness of transferable skills and qualities required to succeed in the workplace and common in different career roles.

Year 9

  • Students explore their interests and subject strengths in the lead up to KS4 Options for GCSE. Emphasis is laid on the value of undertaking extra-curricular activities at school and outside to build transferable skills and develop as people.
  • Students are introduced to the Post-16 Qualification Pathway map to become familiar with the different requirements of academic learning (A-levels), vocational learning (NVQ, UAL, BTEC and more) and work-related learning (apprenticeships and T-Levels). 
  • Students meet with one of our Independent Careers Advisers. We focus on Options (choices of GCSE or NVQ L2 qualifications), making choices and the process of making good decisions.
  • The Careers & Inspiration Fair brings all students and parents/carers to meet with over 50 companies, organisations and educational providers on-site. This provides a great opportunity to learn about working, learning and training in a huge range of sectors,  workplaces and education routes. 
  • Students are introduced to the wealth of insight in our Careers Exploration webpages, in which every department shows how their subject leads to future education and employment. This includes testimonies from former students and professionals. 
  • Students are introduced to the live Opportunities List, a weekly listing of ideas and opportunities for enrichment, CV-building and careers exploration: insight events, workshops, summer schools, parent information. This also appears in the weekly School Bulletin.

Year 10

  • Students consider their skills, qualities and interests as they explore and prepare for work experience. Further emphasis is laid on the value of undertaking extra-curricular activities at school and outside to build transferable skills and develop as young people and future employees and employers.
  • Work Experience: students research, find and secure their work placements for the end of the summer term.  When work experience has not been possible (eg during the covid pandemic), the school has hosted a virtual employability skills program.
  • Employability Skills: students focus on writing a CV and cover letters, how to conduct a job search, interview skills (virtual and face to face), networking, workplace dress code and professional behaviour.  Companies are invited to participate and help with these as often as possible.
  • Opportunities List:  a weekly listing of ideas and opportunities for enrichment, CV-building and careers exploration: insight events, workshops, summer schools, parent information. This also appears in the weekly School Bulletin.
  • Careers & Inspiration Fair: brings all students and parents/carers to meet with over 50 companies, organisations and educational providers on-site. This provides a great opportunity to learn about working, learning and training in a huge range of sectors,  workplaces and education routes.  Students are encouraged to visit other careers events independently.
  • Careers Software: students are encouraged to use this independently.

Year 11

  • Students learn about the increased range of qualification pathways open to them, as they must stay in education or training-based work until the age of 18: academic (A-levels and the International Baccalaureate), vocational (NVQ, UAL, BTEC and more) and work-related learning (apprenticeships and T-Levels).  Students also learn about the range of post-16 education providers: 6th Form colleges and schools, Further Education Colleges, University Technical Colleges and Specialist Colleges.
  • 1:1 interviews: our Independent Careers Advisers give each student a 1-to-1 session to help and prepare them for their post-16 decisions.  This information, advice or guidance is given independently (of school, parents etc) and impartially by our informed specialist.  The focus is on the choices of Level 3 qualifications on offer in conjunction with predicted grades and relate their suitability to the student’s learning style.  Some students require more than one session with the Careers Adviser. 
  • SLT meetings: each student meets with a member of the Senior Leadership Team to discuss their post-16 plans. 
  • Y11 Careers Questionnaire: students complete this with their Independent Careers Adviser and agree an action plan to support them through their decision-making and next steps.
  • Employability skills: sessions focus on interview techniques, assessment centres and presentation, employment rights.  Companies, organisations, FE Colleges and universities are invited to participate and help with these as often as possible.
  • Opportunities List: this is a weekly listing of ideas and opportunities for enrichment, CV-building and careers exploration: insight events, workshops, summer schools, parent information. This also appears in the weekly School Bulletin.
  • Careers & Inspiration Fair: brings all students and parents/carers to meet with over 50 companies, organisations and educational providers on-site. This provides a great opportunity to learn about working, learning and training in a huge range of sectors,  workplaces and education routes.  Students are encouraged to visit other careers events independently.
  • Careers Software: students are encouraged to use this independently, especially to participate in enrichment opportunities during holidays, like additional work experience, volunteering, courses.
  • Post-16 Application Support: students receive help with making realistic and backup applications that suit their interests and skills through enrichment lessons. 

6th Form

The 6th Form has its own dedicated Careers Adviser and Careers Pod at Blandford Street.  Students receive comprehensive careers education, information, guidance and advice with a strong focus on individual strengths, ambitions, interests and skills.  We do not expect 6th Formers to determine their entire future at this stage! We do expect them to engage in an informed, pro-active exploration of their options and how to open doors to great possibilities. 

Year 12

  • Students participate in the KS5 Passport: a weekly programme covering future pathways, study skills, resources, work experience, employability, enrichment, personal development and well-being.
  • Students create and develop their use of Unifrog This platform enables and develops their research, ideas and suggestions about all options beyond 6th Form. 
  • 1:1 Interviews: all students have a meeting with our Independent Careers Adviser.  Students  are welcome to arrange further meetings and / or email any questions that arise during 6th Form. Developing a useful relationship with the Careers Adviser is really encouraged. Employability skills: these group sessions include CV writing, personal statements, presentation, interview skills, rights, responsibilities and behaviour.
  • Opportunities List: this is a weekly listing of ideas and opportunities for enrichment, CV-building and careers exploration: insight events, workshops, summer schools, parent information. This also appears in the weekly School Bulletin.
  • Careers & Inspiration Fair: brings all students and parents/carers to meet with over 50 companies, organisations and educational providers on-site. This provides a great opportunity to learn about working, learning and training in a huge range of sectors,  workplaces and education routes.  Students are encouraged to visit other careers events independently.
  • Gap Years: invited speakers to talk about ideas and opportunities to build a worthwhile and constructive gap year experience.
  • Work experience: students are encouraged and supported to find and secure their own placements. 
  • University visits: students are invited on visits to universities.  Students can attend university open days.
  • Special interest groups: students with identified interests or strengths are guided through application preparation such as medicine, dentistry, Oxbridge, Art, Dance and Drama schools, creative pathways, School Leaver Programmes and Degree Apprenticeships.

Year 13

  • We continue the work done in Year 12 and focus on post-18 plans which may include university,  Degree Apprenticeship, Drama, Dance or Art School, School Leaver Programmes, Gap Years. 
  • Drop-in advice sessions: students are welcome and encouraged to drop in to ask questions, seek advice or get help with applications.
  • Interview skills: students are prepared for university or school leaver programme interviews with specialists.
  • University applications: students are guided and assisted through the UCAS selection and application processes.
  • Degree apprenticeship applications: students are guided and assisted through the selection and application processes.
  • Art, Drama and Dance Applications: students are guided and assisted through the selection and application processes.
  • Opportunities List: this is a weekly listing of ideas and opportunities for enrichment, CV-building and careers exploration: insight events, workshops, summer schools, parent information. This also appears in the weekly School Bulletin.
  • Careers & Inspiration Fair: brings all students and parents/carers to meet with over 50 companies, organisations and educational providers on-site. This provides a great opportunity to learn about working, learning and training in a huge range of sectors,  workplaces and education routes.  Students are encouraged to visit other careers events independently.

Beyond St Marylebone

All St Marylebone students remain part of our community.  We maintain an alumni list and we keep in touch about opportunities to be involved.  We really value former students coming back to speak about their post-18 and career experiences, to support with careers events and to enjoy the School’s concerts, performances, fairs and other community events.