Careers

Our Careers Department is here to support pupils as they begin to explore their interests, discover possible career paths, and understand the choices that will help them achieve their ambitions.

We aim to make careers education supportive, practical and inspiring. Our team works closely with pupils to:

· Help them explore and identify their interests and strengths

· Guide them in researching different career pathways

· Support them in understanding the academic and enrichment choices that will help them reach their goals

A key focus of the department is helping students work out which careers might suit them, and which subject choices will best support those aspirations. We provide comprehensive support throughout the senior school.

Our goal is simple: to help every student leave Wellington confident, informed and ready for their future, whatever that may look like.

You can read our careers policy here.

In This Section

Careers Events and Visits

Each year there are regular careers related events and visits, as well as one-off opportunities such as university science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) events. These regular events include:

Careers Talks
Taunton Independent Schools Careers Fair
National Careers Week Events
National Apprenticeships Week Events
UCAS Exhibition
Future Steps Programme

Careers Convention for Taunton Area Independent Schools

We participate in an annual convention, which the schools take turns to host. This year it saw about 50 organisations and employers meet students from all the independent schools in the Taunton area, over the course of the day. It is a very useful opportunity for students to meet and talk to potential employers and other organisations such as universities and trade associations. We take all Year 11 students to the conference by coach.

Sixth Form Networking Dinner

Over a three course meal, students have the opportunity to talk informally with invited professionals (including some parents), honing their social skills and learning more about a range of professions that interest them as they circulate between courses. The theme this year was business, commerce and entrepreneurship; students and volunteers alike found it very interesting.

National Apprenticeships Show

From Airbus, to KPMG, to Jaguar Land Rover, to GlaxoSmithKline and JP Morgan, an increasing number of employers are recruiting directly from school and growing their own talent, often resulting in a degree as well as a job (and no student debt). Higher and Degree Level Apprenticeships, available in over 40 sectors, typically run for up to 5 years, including a mix of employment and education leading to a degree, diploma or Chartered status. The National Apprenticeship Show features representatives from the government backed HLA scheme and lots of employers who offer HLAs. We have also held a presentation on apprenticeships at School.

Alternatives to University

Students are given individual support with future pathways including:

- Conservatoires & Performing Arts Schools

- Apprenticeships

- Overseas Universities

- Employment/Self Employment

- Military

- Gap Years

Support provided includes:

- References & Transcripts of grades

- Application support

- Interview preparation and practice

- Support with Psychometric testing

- Apprenticeship Preparation Day

- Portfolio preparation

- Audition and Performance support (including self-tapes)

Career Mentors

Once students have some ideas about the kind of career they are interested in, the Head of Careers will check our database of career mentors to try and find someone who can give some advice on this career path.

Our career mentors are Old Wellingtonians and current and former parents who volunteer their time to offer advice on what it is like to work in a particular field and how to get into it in the first place. Career mentoring has most often been used by Sixth Formers but is open to all and is positively encouraged from Year 11 upwards. Introductions are made via parents.

If you are interested in becoming a career mentor then please contact Clare Bailey (Head of Careers) at c.bailey@wellington-school.org.uk.

PSHEE

There is a careers element to each year’s PSHEE programme in both the Lower School and the Upper School. Pupils are introduced to different aspects of the world of work at appropriate stages in their time at School, by their tutors or a careers specialist. This includes basic career surfacing along with an awareness of the world of work, early in their time at Wellington, and builds through psychometric profiling, consideration of options and delivery of more specific advice at a later stage.

Resources

As well as all the huge variety of online resources, we also hold a wide range of careers related books in the school library and in the careers office. These range from giving an overview of a range of careers through to making job applications, preparing for psychometric tests and developing interview skills.

There are resources online on the Careers Page on Firefly and also on Unifrog, which as well as providing resources allows students to log careers and university related activity.

There are a number of publications available in the careers office in Dukes Study Centre. Students are encouraged to drop by the careers office or to make an appointment with Mrs Bailey on c.bailey@wellington-school.org.uk.

Unifrog

Careers Firefly page

National Careers Service

National Careers Week

National Apprenticeship Week

Ongoing events – What’s On Offer?

Careers - ALL YEARS

Careers Conference for Taunton area schools - YEAR 11 & UP

We are participants in the annual convention which typically sees 40 organisations and employers meet students from all the independent schools in the Taunton area, over the course of the day. It is a very useful opportunity for students to meet and talk to potential employers and other organisations such as universities and trade associations. We take all Year 11 students to the conference by coach.

National Careers Week

National Careers Week is celebrated throughout the Prep and Senior School with talks, videos, social media activity and visitors, who discuss their particular area of expertise. We also have our very own 'Careers Bear', who has taken up the role of a firefighter, helicopter pilot, racing horse trainer and graphic designer to enlighten our Prep School children on some of the exciting careers available to them in the future.

National Apprenticeships Week

During National Apprenticeships week, the School has been fortunate to hear from a number of former pupils about their success as apprentices. Focusing on areas such as marketing with Unilever and Engineering with Leonardo Helicopters, these talks have contributed towards the rising number of our pupils, who are exploring apprenticeships as an alternative to university.

Green Careers Week

Green Careers Week is an exciting event that raises aspiration, supports diversity, challenges stereotypes, and promotes real opportunities for young people to have a career that will genuinely make a difference. Discover careers, jobs, roles, and career pathways that are green careers and develop green skills.

Events take place across the School and online to showcase green careers.

UCAS Discovery Event

These practical, local events bring universities, employers and expert advisers to your area, helping you explore university applications and apprenticeships.

Lower Sixth students attend this event where they can get straight answers from over 100 institutions and employers, plus personalised guidance to match your interests with realistic pathways – all without travelling far from home.

Apprenticeship Show

PSHEE

Careers Team

Head of Careers:	Clare Bailey	c.bailey@wellington-school.org.uk
Head of Sixth Form:	Lucy MacAlister	l.macalister@wellington-school.org.uk
Oxbridge Coordinator	Rebecca Isdell-Carpenter	r.isdell-carpenter@wellington-school.org.uk
MedSoc Coordinator	Lucy MacAlister	l.macalister@wellington-school.org.uk
Old Wellingtonians contact	Juliet Handley	development@wellington-school.org.uk

UCAS

Our UCAS Coordinator and Head of Careers, Mrs Bailey, meets with and provides ongoing support to all students, who are considering university as the next step after Sixth Form.

Each student's UCAS process is overseen by their tutor with support and guidance given by the Head of Sixth Form, the Head of Careers and UCAS Co-ordinator and the Oxbridge Co-ordinator (where applicable).

Students are encouraged to be independent and proactive.

UCAS support includes:

- Personal Statements

- Choosing a course and university

- Student Finance and Budgeting

- Access to Unifrog

- EAL/IELTS Support

- A UCAS Preparation Day (including talks by universities)

- A trip to the UCAS Discovery Event

- A Transition to University Day

- Specialised Oxbridge and MDV application support

- Parent's UCAS Introduction Evening

- Parent's Early Applications (Oxbridge & MDV) Evening

- UCAS ‘Drop In’ Sessions

- Interview practice

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In This Section

Careers

Our Careers Department is here to support pupils as they begin to explore their interests, discover possible career paths, and understand the choices that will help them achieve their ambitions.

In This Section

Careers Events and Visits

Careers Convention for Taunton Area Independent Schools

Sixth Form Networking Dinner

National Apprenticeships Show

Alternatives to University

Career Mentors

PSHEE

Resources

Ongoing events – What’s On Offer?

Careers - ALL YEARS

Careers Conference for Taunton area schools - YEAR 11 & UP

National Careers Week

National Apprenticeships Week

Green Careers Week

UCAS Discovery Event

Apprenticeship Show

PSHEE

Careers Team

UCAS