Last week, many of our sixth form pupils took an important step towards their futures by beginning their careers profiling with SPW Careers, an international careers company with whom Shiplake College has proudly worked for several years.
For our new Year 12 pupils, the process began with an in-depth profiling test, followed by a 45-minute, one-to-one interview with an external careers guidance professional. This provides pupils with a valuable opportunity to discuss their results, explore potential pathways, and reflect on their future ambitions with an expert outside of the College community.
SPW Careers is widely recognised for its work with leading schools such as Harrow, Marlborough, Radley, Millfield, and Malvern, both in the UK and internationally. Through their expertise, pupils at Shiplake benefit from high-quality, impartial advice and guidance to support them in making informed choices about careers and higher education.
The careers profiling programme is designed to be ongoing. Pupils return for a shorter follow-up interview at the start of Year 13 and continue to have access to SPW’s helpline and email support throughout their sixth form journey and beyond. Pupils who joined Shiplake before sixth form will already have taken part in the programme at the end of Year 10, with their follow-up interview taking place in Year 12.
This work complements Shiplake College’s comprehensive careers programme, led by our Head of Careers, Mrs Rapple Moore. All sixth form pupils attend weekly careers sessions covering every aspect of life after Shiplake, from university applications to apprenticeships and employment. Together, these initiatives ensure that pupils leave Shiplake prepared, confident, and inspired for the next stage of their education and careers.
