Planning for life beyond Chigwell
At Chigwell, we ensure that all students have access to impartial careers advice to help them make informed, independent choices about their future after leaving school; whether that be Higher Education, a degree apprenticeship or other work-based training, or employment.
Our careers programme follows the eight Gatsby Benchmarks.
Careers Stages
Year 7 - Exploring the world of work
In Year 7, pupils begin their journey into understanding the world of work and future careers. They will explore the key skills employers value - such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving and complete a personal skills audit to identify their strengths and areas for growth.
Pupils are introduced to the Unifrog platform, a powerful tool that supports career exploration and goal setting. Alongside this, they will discover how our co-curricular programme helps develop essential soft skills, building confidence and adaptability for success in education and beyond.
Year 8 - Developing confident communicators
In Year 8, pupils take their communication skills to the next level through dynamic and interactive experiences. They will deliver a personal presentation that highlights their passions, achievements, skills, and future aspirations—building confidence and self-awareness along the way.
To prepare, pupils participate in practical workshops focused on the essentials of effective presenting, including pace, eye contact, and posture. They also explore the importance of networking and learn strategies to develop this vital skill, empowering them to connect, collaborate, and succeed in both academic and professional environments.
Year 9 – Exploring futures with Unifrog and GCSE options
Our Year 9 students are taking an exciting first step into their future pathways. Activities during Tutor Time help them make confident and informed decisions about their GCSE options.
Throughout a focused programme, students are discovering their strengths, exploring new possibilities, and learning how their interests can shape their futures. To support families, we also offer a dedicated GCSE Options Parents’ Information Evening, ensuring everyone feels prepared for this next big stage.
Year 10 – Futures programme and job shadowing
Our Year 10 students embark on a transformational journey through our Futures Programme - a carefully designed experience that helps them understand their strengths, explore real-world opportunities, and prepare for their post16 pathways.
Through a blend of classroom learning, practical skill-building, and hands on workplace exposure, students develop the confidence and knowledge they need to take their next steps.
Futures Day – A Spotlight on Real World Skills
Every June, all Year 10 students take part in Futures Day - a dynamic, immersive experience built to help them understand what makes a successful and fulfilling career. Students participate in career and industry talks, presentation & oracy workshops and team building activities.
Year 11 – Preparing for A Level and Post 16 pathways
Year 11 is an important and inspiring stage as students begin shaping the next chapter of their academic journey. To ensure every pupil feels supported and confident in their decisions, we offer a personalised and comprehensive process for selecting A Level options and exploring 16+ pathways.
Personal Guidance & A Level Choices
Every Year 11 student meets individually with a member of the Senior Leadership Team to discuss and confirm their A Level subject choices. These conversations help students reflect on their strengths, interests, and future ambitions, ensuring their chosen pathway is both exciting and achievable.
Throughout the year, students are also offered one-to-one careers guidance meetings with our qualified Careers Advisor. These sessions take place at key decision-making points and provide tailored advice on sixth form routes, apprenticeships, career ideas, and long-term aspirations.
Year 12 – Preparing for Post 18 destinations
Our Year 12 students receive comprehensive, personalised support as they begin shaping their post18 futures. Whether they are considering university, apprenticeships, competitive courses, or international pathways, we ensure every student has the guidance and confidence to make informed choices.
Activities and events include:
UCAS Day
Unifrog for Research & Shortlisting
Enrichment: Preparation for Entrance Exams & Wider Reading
International University Guidance
Networking & Opportunities
One to One Careers Guidance
Year 13 – Pathways after A Levels
In Year 13, the focus turns to helping students confidently take their next steps after A Levels. Building on the foundations laid in Year 12, we provide extensive, personalised support for university, apprenticeship, and employment applications - ensuring every student feels ready for the transition ahead.
Our commitment to individual support continues throughout Year 13. Students can access one-to-one Careers Guidance meetings as they finalise their post18 plans, explore alternatives, or refine their course choices.
Students receive detailed guidance on their UCAS applications, including personal statement drafting and refinement and a one-to-one review with Tutors. We ensure every application sent is polished, thoughtful, and representative of each student’s best self.
Before study leave, students attend a detailed session on how to prepare for Results Day.
Pathway Evenings
To support pupils and parents at key decision-making points, we host inspiring Pathways Evenings:
16+
To support both students and families, we host a dedicated 16+ Pathways Evening. This event offers:
- Insight into A Level subjects offered at Chigwell
- Guidance on how to choose the right subject combination
- Information about alternative options available after GCSEs
- Opportunities to speak with teachers, subject specialists, and careers staff
This evening ensures that parents and students feel fully informed and empowered as they look ahead to the future.
18+
This event sees a range of talks from a variety of speakers:
- An introduction to UCAS
- An overview of the graduate jobs market and post18 options
- Guidance on applying to competitive universities
- Information on degree apprenticeships
- Insight into non-UK universities
- Specialist preparation for Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Science
This event gives parents and students a clear, holistic understanding of the opportunities ahead.
Networking & Opportunities
Students are encouraged to attend our Networking Breakfasts, where they meet professionals from a wide range of industries, build connections, and widen their understanding of potential career paths.
They also benefit greatly from our annual Careers Convention, which attracts a large number of Higher Education institutions - making it an invaluable event for research and conversation.
Apprenticeship Support
For students interested in the apprenticeship route, we offer dedicated guidance and preparation. Working closely with The Careers People, we run the Apprenticeship Academy - a six-week programme delivered twice a year. This structured programme ensures students are fully prepared to make successful applications.
Talks and competitions
Alongside these year-specific careers activities, there are regular talks and competitions which are open to students across the School. These include the Williams Project (a fortnightly speaker society designed to give Chigwell pupils and staff the chance to learn from experts, outside the classroom and in an informal environment), the Howard and Mitchell Essay Competition, and the ‘Meet the Future’ talks given by Old Chigwellians.
In addition, a further outstanding initiative is the popular 'Stardust' which aims not just to help prepare our Sixth Formers for exams or what happens when they are 18, but also to encourage them to look further ahead and consider what ‘stardust’ they need to sprinkle on top of their academic results. In the first term of the Lower Sixth, the School has a programme of informal careers mentoring talks. We invite successful people, many former students or with a link to Chigwell, and some of them still in their twenties and thirties, to come back and be frank about the lessons they have learnt since leaving school and what life advice they have for our current students, always with time for questions in an open and informal atmosphere. Talks are for 45 minutes after school on some Thursdays, organised by the Head of Sixth Form and local businessman Phillip Leigh.
Head of Careers
Our dedicated Head of Careers is based in the Sixth Form Centre and is available for students to talk to at any time. All students are introduced to the Unifrog online packaged to help them research their 18+ plans from Year 12 onwards.
Oxbridge and Medicine Applicants
We run a specialised programme for pupils interested in studying medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine. This programme is open to all pupils from any year group with an interest in studying these areas. They are invited along for talks and mock interviews, as well as practicing skills like the Multi Mini Interview (MMI), which is now being widely used by medical schools in their selection processes.
For those pupils who are potential Oxbridge applicants, the Assistant Head of Sixth Form, Charlotte Nairac, hosts support groups and arranges appointments with subject specialist teachers.
Destinations
Our careers guidance can be measured by the pathways our students take after leaving our Sixth Form. Please see more in the table below.