CAREERS
We are proud to be able to offer our pupils the help and support they need to make informed choices about their futures. Through
one-to-one meetings with Senior Leadership, talks given by professionals, educational trips or via the curriculum we deliver, we provide our learners with many opportunities to investigate their future pathways.
We work with post 16 providers, apprenticeship providers, higher education providers, external agencies and businesses to ensure the advice we give is current, correct and appropriate to the individual pupils.
All pupils are supported via the PSHE programme as well as through meetings with a member of Senior Leadership at key points in their education. They are also welcome to “drop in” if they have a question about their next steps at any time during their school career.
We believe in investing in our pupils’ futures by offering them valuable and continuing opportunities to learn and by allowing them to fully explore the options that are open to them.
We hope that you find this section of our website informative. Please click here for our Training Provider Policy.
Careers Lead : Ms Janine D'Souza
Contact number : 020 8764 1825 ext 232
Contact email : jdsouza@woodmansterne.london
The Gatsby Benchmarks
The Gatsby Benchmarks
Every young person needs high-quality career guidance to make informed decisions about their future. Good career guidance is a necessity for delivering high quality education in schools and is a vehicle for sustaining personal and academic development.
The Gatsby Benchmarks identify 8 key areas for schools to focus on to ensure that students leave education with the right guidance and a comprehensive understanding of how their aspirations are realised in the wider world.
These are the 8 benchmarks: 
1. A stable careers programme
2. Learning from career and labour market information
3. Addressing the needs of each pupil
4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
5. Encounters with employers and employees
6. Experiences of workplaces
7. Encounters with further and higher education
8. Personal guidance
In this section of the website you can find out how we use the benchmarks to support Careers Education at Woodmansterne Secondary School.
Careers Programme at Woodmansterne
This section will give you some insight as to how we aim to meet the Gatsby Benchmarks at Woodmansterne. Through strategic planning at key points in the academic year we aim to maximise every curriculum and extra-curricular opportunity in our delivery of careers education.
Whilst each year presents new opportunities, and as a school we constantly evaluate our provision and seek out new opportunities, the below table represents the skeletal structure of our careers programme.
Careers Programme
Using the Gatsby Benchmarks, as a school we are able to facilitate meaningful and strategic careers educations across Key Stage 3, 4 and 5.
The following table illustrates how we met the Gatsby benchmarks in 2022-2023 as part of our Careers programme. We continue to expand this programme as opportunities arise. An example of this can be seen in Year 10 Summer Term where students have PSHE time dedicated towards future planning to ensure they are considering post-16 options, whilst exposure to higher education providers and employers opens their eyes to a range of avenues.
| Year Group | Activity | Meeting Gatsby Benchmark |
| 7 |
All Year 7 students have the opportunity to do office duty for a day and become student ambassadors where they help visitors to the school.
BBC Careers (Careers in the music Industry)
TFL Stars (community project linked to safety and Citizenship)
NHS Careers (Talk by Physiotherapist)
Junior Maths Challenge
Raising the game- Career talks
St. Giles’ Trust (Gangs and Violence) 1-2-1 Guidance Interviews |
6, 5
5, 2, 3
1, 2,
4,5
2, 4, 5y
3, 4, 5
3,5
1, 3, 8 |
| 8 |
BBC Careers (Careers in the music Industry)
Macbeth visit (Theatre)
TFL Stars (community project linked to safety and Citizenship)
Junior Maths Challenge
Southbank Inspire- inspire project (onsite workshop)
Year 8 Options- Subject presentations by departments for GCSE uptake
Every Future Foundation
St. Giles’ Trust (Gangs and Violence)
1-2-1 Guidance Interviews |
5, 2, 3
1, 2, 4, 5
1, 5
2, 4, 5
1, 2, 4, 5, 7
1, 3
1, 3 , 5
3, 5 1, 3, 8 |
| 9 |
Artist Visit (ADT students)
Drama workshop
BBC Careers (Careers in the music Industry)
Intermediate Maths Challenge
Houses of Parliament trip
Workshop on Careers in Law (Skills needed and entry requirements)
Mocktails workshop (Food champions)
PR Company talk
Metropolitan Police Careers
Visit to Mission Kitchen (observe workplace in action: food champions)
Raising the game- Career talks
Southbank Inspire- inspire project
St. Giles’ Trust (Gangs and Violence)
Year 9 GCSE Options evening
Brook RSE
1-2-1 Guidance Interviews |
3, 4, 5
4, 5
5, 2, 3
2, 4, 5
2, 5, 4
2, 4, 5
2, 4, 6
2, 4, 5
2, 4, 5
2, 4, 5
2, 3
6
3, 5
1,3
5
1, 3, 8 |
| 10 |
Artist Visit (ADT students)
ESU Debate competition
Social Enterprise Academy
RSC- Top of the bench Competition
Jack Petchey award
Intermediate maths challenge
Bank of England Finance talk (Business students)
Work Experience (one week)
Lambeth debate competition (selected students)
Future frontiers mentoring programme with 4 external visits to an employer
Team mates- Selhurst stadium tour (part of Y10 mentoring programme)
MFL Trip to Paris- Cultural awareness and linguistics.
Interior Design Immersion
Music Tech workshop (link to GCSE coursework and careers in the music industry)
Brook RSE
1-2-1 Guidance Interviews
One week work experience at an external placement |
1, 3, 4, 5
4
2, 5
3, 4
2, 4, 5
2, 4, 5
1, 6
5
3, 5, 8
1, 3, 5
4, 5
2, 3, 5
2, 3, 5
3, 5
1, 3, 8 |
| 11 |
Artist Visit (ADT students)
Apprenticeship/BTEC Talk (selected students)
RSC- Top of the bench Competition
Plan B Assembly (Lambeth) Supporting students with Post16 Options
Education in action (selected students)
Future frontiers mentoring programme
Geography field trip
GCSE Science Live
Theatre trip- South bank national theatre
Brooke RSE 1-2-1 Guidance Interviews |
1, 3, 7
2, 4, 7
3, 7
4, 5
3, 8, 5
4, 5
3, 4 ,7
4,5
3 1, 3, 8 |
| 12 |
Woody Seminars- course of career related seminars delivered throughout the year.
Tutor 121s 3 x a year
Summer Term UCAS support programme in PRESS lessons
IntoUniversity workshop on Personal Statements
University Fair – Tottenham Hotspur Football Stadium
Blueprint for All – 25 students participate in 9 careers workshops and an onsite workplace visit
Cultural Fashion Show – Year 12 students lead on
BHM Presentation
Senior maths challenge
UKMT Challenge
Metropolitan Police Recruitment talk.
Education for choice (Kings College)
Public Speaking workshop
Caledonian Club (Business/Catering) trip
Study Skills workshop - Cornell Note--taking
Biology Science Lab- Talks from leading science specialists.
Visit to Mission Kitchen (observe workplace in action and raise aspiration)
|
1, 2, 4, 5
1, 3, 8
1, 3, 8
1, 3
1, 2, 5, 7
1,2, 4
1,3, 4
1, 3, 4
2, 4, 5
2, 4, 5
2, 5
2, 3, 4
1, 5
3, 5
3,4,7
1,5 |
| 13 |
Work experience-one week external placement
Summer Term UCAS support programme in PRESS lessons
Tutor 121s 3 x a year
PSHE World of Work – Weekly PRESS lessons in Spring
UCAS Extra support intervention for students who have not secured university courses by January |
1, 6
1, 3, 8
1, 3, 8
1, 2, 4 3, 8 |
| Whole School |
Activities arranged during National Careers week
STEM Week Language week
Unifrog-one step online platform
1-2-1 Guidance interviews to support with options and career
MAL sessions- Leadership skills, Habits of a successful person, Career talk, Current affairs and media.
Assemblies related to careers throughout the year
Careers embedded into the curriculum (Careers are linked to
NSPCC Number day
World Book week
Science week
Computer Science Activity week (Girls only)- to increase engagement in females taking up Computer science.
Humanities Trip (Houses of Parliament, British museum and SOAS University)- Curriculum and Post16 learning. Maths in action
UCAS Discover event: Engaging with Universities and employers. |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
1, 2 , 3
1, 3
1, 3, 8
1, 2, 3,4
1,2
4, 5
4, 5
4, 5
4, 5
1, 2, 3, 4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
Labour Market Information
Learning from Careers and Labour Market Information (Gatsby Benchmark 2)
Understanding Labour Market Information (LMI) is becoming more and more important as the world changes, so that all students can be aware of where different job roles are needed around the country and what types of jobs may need more people in the future.? Below is information on what labour market information actually means.
LMI means finding out the following things about different job roles or career pathways:
- What do people actually do in this job / industry?
- How many people work in this job / industry?
- How much do people get paid in this job / industry?
- What qualifications do I need to do this job? What skills or qualities do I need to do this job?
- What are the typical working hours for this job?
- What percentage of men / women work in this job / industry?
- Where can this job / industry take me in the future?
- Where are these jobs located around the country?
- How many of these jobs will there be in the future?
At Woodmansterne we aim to use LMI to inform the way we guide you in your support interviews, as well as to develop opportunities to reflect within our curriculum.
Students may find the following links useful when considering how their goals for the future compare with the realities of the labour market:
| The LMI for All portal provides high quality, reliable labour market information (LMI) to inform careers decisions. | https://www.lmiforall.org.uk/ |
| Icould provides real stories about industry professionals to inspire you in your career | https://icould.com/ |
|
This page is your go to place for the latest Labour Market Information for all areas of London |
https://careerslondon.org/LMI-London |
Labour Market Information in London
We live in one of the largest and most commercially successful cities in the world, but the latest labour market data can give us a clearer picture of the trends and opportunities in our great city: https://data.london.gov.uk/briefings/labour-market-update-for-london-january-2021/
How can LMI help me find a job?
Useful Links
Labour Market Information by UK
Labour Market Information London
London Market Information Bulletin
Useful Links
 |
InvestIN provide free seminars to parents and pupils, looking at transferable skills and job market opportunities |
 |
UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Service) provides accurate and recent information about career pathways in the UK https://www.ucas.com/ucas/after-gcses/find-career-ideas/explore-jobs |
 |
First Careers is an online database which allows students to search for careers by subject, sector and brand |
 |
Find Courses provides information on average salaries for jobs across the UK |
 |
This Is How shows young people the pathway towards career goals, |
 |
Find your Future provides an online showcase for a variety of industries, sectors and courses |
 |
Get tips on GCSE options, apprenticeships, |
Work Experience
Work experience for students is an important part of careers education, linking directly to Gatsby Benchmark 5 – Encounters with Employers and Employees.
At Woodmansterne we aim to offer a work experience placement to all students in Year 10 and Year 12.
Whilst students are encouraged to find their own placements where possible, we work with local partners and Wandsworth Best to ensure we secure meaningful and suitable placements for our students.
In July 2022 we had our first ever Woody Work Experience Week for Year 11s who had completed their GCSEs. Pupils were fortunate to go out on placements to a wide range of employers in retail, journalism, education, engineering, finance and construction to name a few.
Pupils engaged in a range of tasks, and employers commented highly on the professionalism and initiative shown by so many of our Woody Pioneers!
One pupil reflected, “It was really different from what I imagined I believed these kinds of work were sitting at desks slaving away. However, it's more chill and a friendly environment full of great people and full of opportunities.”
We are grateful to all the employers who took our pupils on for the week. Some of them even offered to employ them in the future!
Some advice from pupils on work experience:
“Make sure you arrive on time and if there is anything you are unsure about (task wise) ask for help.”
“This may seem obvious but find work experience that you personally will benefit from. Don’t pick what your friends are doing or what your family recommends if you don’t want to do that.”
“Work experience has helped me to become more mindful of others.”
Year 10 Work Experience March 2023
All Year 10 students have the opportunity to go on a one week work placement at a range of employers. They are prepared for their placements through structured lessons, assemblies and workshops.
Post-16 Options
Post-16 study in schools and sixth form colleges traditionally utilises the following pathways:
- A-Levels
- T-Levels
- Technical and Vocational Qualifications (Level 1)
There are also a range of apprenticeships and supported internships available for students once they complete their GCSE studies.
The National Careers Service outlines the aims and arrangements for post-16 study in the UK:
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/career-choices-at-16
We aim to support transition to post-16 study by facilitating sample sessions, arranging one-to-one advice through qualified careers advisors and offering a challenging yet supportive sixth form environment right here at Woodmansterne.
For more information on our sixth form provision beginning September 2024, please click here
Useful Links
After Year 11: A guide to planning your future 24/25
Apprenticeships
Pupils and parents may be interested in the ever-growing world of apprenticeships. There are lots of great resources available to help make decisions. Here are some below:
NAW2024 - Schools & Colleges - Amazing Apprenticeships
Amazon to offer 1,500 new apprenticeships - Personnel Today
National Apprenticeship week (apprenticeships.gov.uk)
National Apprenticeship week 2024
A parents guide to Apprenticeships
If you are interested in pursuing an apprenticeship upon leaving school, please talk to the Careers Leader in school.
Friends of Woodmansterne
At Woodmansterne, we are very keen engage our students with the careers curriculum in a practical way.
We have found that students gain a lot from external speakers who can offer a range of different viewpoints and advice.
As a result, we are very interested in bringing in people and organisations from outside of the school/college to engage with our learners about the world of work, post-16 choices, apprenticeships, higher education or school leaver programmes.
If you are able to offer us any support - by providing work placements, for example, or sharing your experiences in a particular industry or career then please complete the form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Speakers
Two friends of Woodmansterne who support us regularly are Khalil Yousuf and Connie MacCurrach.
Khalil Yousuf practices as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales. He is Managing Director of a company that provides corporate legal services to high value and multinational clients in Europe, the USA and Middle East.
Khalil believes in giving back to the community. Accordingly, he also serves as Chairman of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Lawyers Association (UK), an association of 187 UK lawyers who provide pro bono legal services to the cost vulnerable in society. Khalil is a Trustee and Director of Charity Walk for Peace, a British charity that raises millions of pounds each year for British charities. Among other roles, he also serves as Assistant Director of Legal Affairs for MTA International, a global satellite, cable, terrestrial and on-line public service broadcaster. All of these roles are unpaid and motivated by altruism.
Khalil was educated at a comprehensive school in London. He read law at a London University, graduating with an LLB (Hons) degree and completing his post graduate qualifications soon after. He went on to complete an Executive MBA eq. qualification from Cranfied School of Management and INSEAD, Paris.
Connie MacCurrach works as Company Secretary at JPMorgan Chase, heading up the Team responsible for the provision of all company secretarial and governance services for JPMorgan’s Asset Management business in EMEA. Before joining JPMorgan, she worked as a Company Secretary for Mercer and SEI and as an investment banking analyst at UBS.
Outside of work, Connie acts as a professional mentor to the University of Liverpool Law School and as an Enterprise Adviser for LEAN.
Connie holds a Bachelor of Laws, a Master of Laws and is an Affiliate Member of the Chartered Governance Institute.
Careers for Me
It is never too early to start thinking about career choices. It is important as a student to consider how your curriculum links to the world of work, and how each career has a beginning point. Find out more about entry points to exciting careers below.
Apprenticeship vs University
BAME Careers in Law
Career in The Army
Vocational Courses