This week, Shiplake College took part in National Careers Week, a nationwide initiative designed to highlight careers education and help young people explore the many pathways available to them after school. Across the College, pupils engaged in a range of activities aimed at raising aspirations, broadening horizons and encouraging meaningful conversations about the future.
On Tuesday, teachers from every department dedicated time in their lessons to exploring the career possibilities linked to their subjects. For younger pupils, this provided an informal and accessible introduction to the world of work, while older pupils benefited from hearing about university pathways, vocational options, and real‑life career journeys.
Many teachers drew on tools such as the Unifrog Careers Library to walk pupils through the professions associated with their subject areas. Others shared their own routes into teaching, offering insights into the qualifications, experiences and decisions that shaped their careers. The aim of the day was to support the government guideline of linking curriculum learning to careers—something that was achieved with enthusiasm across all year groups.
Mrs Rapple Moore, Head of Futures, said: “National Careers Week is a great opportunity to bring careers to the forefront of both our pupils’ and our teachers’ minds. Tuesday’s ‘Focus on Careers’ day encouraged teachers to highlight the many opportunities their subjects can lead to and to share their own career journeys.”
Thursday saw the spotlight fall on Year 12 for the College’s annual Futures Day—an immersive programme designed to help pupils understand the many post‑Shiplake options available to them.
The day began in the Lecture Theatre with a talk from Cassie Sissons, Shiplake parent and Chief Operating Officer at Amberjack Global a leader in early careers helping organisations attract and develop talent. The talk covered employers’ expectations of graduates, before pupils moved into a series of carousel sessions covering a diverse range of industries, pathways and study options. These included insights into business, law, medicine, finance, apprenticeships, Oxbridge applications, US universities and more.
Late morning, pupils took part in a Q&A session with Rohit Jakhu from EY, who shared his experience as an apprentice and offered guidance on degree‑apprenticeships—an increasingly popular alternative to traditional university study.
After lunch, the cohort welcomed Year 13 students for an open discussion about preparing for life after Shiplake. From university and apprenticeship applications to preparing for final year exams, pupils gained valuable first‑hand perspectives from those who were in their shoes just a short time ago.
The day concluded with a lively Speed Networking event in the Sports Hall, where small groups of pupils met a wide range of professionals for short, focused conversations. Over the course of the afternoon, pupils heard about careers spanning podiatry, farming, business, medicine, engineering, finance and more. The rapid‑fire format created an energetic atmosphere and encouraged pupils to ask questions, explore interests and make meaningful connections.
Reflecting on the success of the day, Mrs Rapple Moore said:
“There was a real buzz of energy as pupils discussed different careers between sessions. They learned about everything from podiatry to farming via business, law, medicine and finance, and received advice from older students on how to make the most of their studies. Year 12 were clearly inspired and motivated by the sessions and really enjoyed connecting with real‑world professionals.”
On Thursday evening, Year 12 parents were invited to a talk delivered by Mrs Rapple Moore on the UK university application process, with additional guidance on apprenticeships and US university options. This session will also be made available as a recording for families unable to attend in person.
Thank you to all staff, visiting professionals and workshop leaders who helped make National Careers Week such a valuable and engaging experience for our pupils. We hope these activities spark new ideas, open doors to future opportunities and give pupils the confidence to take their next steps beyond Shiplake.
