Key Stage 5 Careers

A programme guiding students through the biggest decisions of their school careers — university, apprenticeships, gap years and work — while building the practical skills of applications, interviews, money management and independent living.

Programme Leader: Ms Cerys Parker · cerysparker@ficedu.org · +44 (01394) 282388

Year 12 and Year 13 students are taught together, following a combined programme. Our careers lessons are linked to The Gatsby Benchmarks to provide a stable careers programme at FIC:

Learning from careers and labour market information
Addressing the needs of each pupil
Linking curriculum learning to careers
Encounters with employers and employees
Experiences of workplaces
Encounters with Further and Higher Education
Personal guidance

Units of Work

topic learning content
1-2-1 Tutorials Running throughout the programme, one-to-one tutorials give every student regular time to reflect on academic work and any personal concerns, discuss possible solutions, set academic targets, and review their career aspirations and the progress of UCAS and apprenticeship applications.
What Next After Sixth Form? The big question. Students outline the Higher Education options available and the benefits and limitations of each, explore the passions that can act as a starting point for identifying courses and careers, and consider the individual and wider benefits of working — including the difference work makes to world problems.
Knowing Yourself Students write a personal mission statement, complete a skills and careers assessment, and craft a career vision with SMART targets. They unpick the difference between skills, qualities and qualifications — and how each relates to different jobs — before creating a development plan and a long-term career plan for the future they want.
Pathways: University, Apprenticeships & Gap Years Is university right for you — and if so, which one? Students learn how to choose a university and research degree subjects, explore the extra steps involved in applying to Oxbridge, define what an apprenticeship is and weigh its pros and cons, and investigate the types of gap year available — including how to choose, plan and finance one.
UCAS & Personal Statements From registration to results day. Students learn each step of the UCAS process, its timeline and key deadlines, and develop confident, authentic personal statements that reflect their abilities and ambitions — with sustained, supported writing time to complete their applications. Clearing is explored as an opportunity rather than a last resort, with every student considering their plan B.
The World of Work Students discover what Labour Market Information is and how it reveals the careers needed now and in the future, learn what different workplaces are like and what will be expected of them, and understand the recruitment and selection processes used for different jobs.
Applications, CVs & Interviews The practical toolkit for getting hired. Students learn what a CV is for and its common formats, tailor their CVs to job advertisements, identify their transferable skills, and compose covering letters. They master the component parts of application forms, prepare for interviews — the do’s and don’ts, practised in a mock interview — and get ready for work experience, including workplace etiquette and expectations.
Professional Skills Careers are built on people and presence. Students explore networking online and offline and how to use their networks, develop an authentic personal brand, define leadership and the skills behind real-life examples of it, and build confidence and assertiveness — learning the difference between assertive, passive and aggressive behaviour.
Entrepreneurism & Self-Employment Could a hobby become an income? Students explore how their interests could be turned into an income source, discuss the pros and cons of being self-employed, and consider which option might be best for them.
Independent Living & Money Preparing for life beyond school. Students learn to manage money in work and make a good first impression on their first day, understand the costs of moving out and managing monthly bills, and build a realistic university budget — including planning healthy meals on one. They weigh up the benefits and risks of borrowing, work out the cost of loans, understand insurance and sources of financial advice, and learn to keep themselves safe online and out with friends.
Exam Success Practical preparation for the exams ahead. Students learn the common errors made when revising, the different ways to revise and how to plan a revision timetable — then explore the science behind fight, flight and freeze, recognising that stress is only helpful in the short term and learning how to manage stress and relaxation.
Wellbeing & Balance Students reflect on how people balance work and life across different life stages and roles, evaluate their own lifestyle and coping strategies, and learn to recognise when mental health may be deteriorating — in themselves and others. They explore self-care and the range of support available, including how to support someone experiencing anxiety or depression.
First Week of University The programme closes by looking ahead: what to expect in the first week of university, how to prepare for it, and how to recognise and overcome the risks that come with a new-found independence.

topic learning content

1-2-1 Tutorials

Running throughout the programme, one-to-one tutorials give every student regular time to reflect on academic work and any personal concerns, discuss possible solutions, set academic targets, and review their career aspirations and the progress of UCAS and apprenticeship applications.

What Next After Sixth Form?

The big question. Students outline the Higher Education options available and the benefits and limitations of each, explore the passions that can act as a starting point for identifying courses and careers, and consider the individual and wider benefits of working — including the difference work makes to world problems.

Knowing Yourself

Students write a personal mission statement, complete a skills and careers assessment, and craft a career vision with SMART targets. They unpick the difference between skills, qualities and qualifications — and how each relates to different jobs — before creating a development plan and a long-term career plan for the future they want.

Pathways: University, Apprenticeships & Gap Years

Is university right for you — and if so, which one? Students learn how to choose a university and research degree subjects, explore the extra steps involved in applying to Oxbridge, define what an apprenticeship is and weigh its pros and cons, and investigate the types of gap year available — including how to choose, plan and finance one.

UCAS & Personal Statements

From registration to results day. Students learn each step of the UCAS process, its timeline and key deadlines, and develop confident, authentic personal statements that reflect their abilities and ambitions — with sustained, supported writing time to complete their applications. Clearing is explored as an opportunity rather than a last resort, with every student considering their plan B.

The World of Work

Students discover what Labour Market Information is and how it reveals the careers needed now and in the future, learn what different workplaces are like and what will be expected of them, and understand the recruitment and selection processes used for different jobs.

Applications, CVs & Interviews

The practical toolkit for getting hired. Students learn what a CV is for and its common formats, tailor their CVs to job advertisements, identify their transferable skills, and compose covering letters. They master the component parts of application forms, prepare for interviews — the do’s and don’ts, practised in a mock interview — and get ready for work experience, including workplace etiquette and expectations.

Professional Skills

Careers are built on people and presence. Students explore networking online and offline and how to use their networks, develop an authentic personal brand, define leadership and the skills behind real-life examples of it, and build confidence and assertiveness — learning the difference between assertive, passive and aggressive behaviour.

Entrepreneurism & Self-Employment

Could a hobby become an income? Students explore how their interests could be turned into an income source, discuss the pros and cons of being self-employed, and consider which option might be best for them.

Independent Living & Money

Preparing for life beyond school. Students learn to manage money in work and make a good first impression on their first day, understand the costs of moving out and managing monthly bills, and build a realistic university budget — including planning healthy meals on one. They weigh up the benefits and risks of borrowing, work out the cost of loans, understand insurance and sources of financial advice, and learn to keep themselves safe online and out with friends.

Exam Success

Practical preparation for the exams ahead. Students learn the common errors made when revising, the different ways to revise and how to plan a revision timetable — then explore the science behind fight, flight and freeze, recognising that stress is only helpful in the short term and learning how to manage stress and relaxation.

Wellbeing & Balance

Students reflect on how people balance work and life across different life stages and roles, evaluate their own lifestyle and coping strategies, and learn to recognise when mental health may be deteriorating — in themselves and others. They explore self-care and the range of support available, including how to support someone experiencing anxiety or depression.

First Week of University

The programme closes by looking ahead: what to expect in the first week of university, how to prepare for it, and how to recognise and overcome the risks that come with a new-found independence.