Student Careers Hub

Your Future, Your Choice: Discover Your Path to Greatness

Your career is more than just a job; it's a journey that shapes your life. It's an opportunity to make a difference, pursue your passions, and achieve your dreams.

This website is your guide to navigating the exciting world of careers. We'll help you make informed decisions about your future, from choosing a major to landing your dream job.

With practical advice, expert insights, and inspiring stories, we'll empower you to build a fulfilling and successful career.

Your Careers Journey 

Year 7 - Finding the Inspiration

In year 7, you will be introduced to the idea of careers and begin to find inspiration about what career choice might be good for you. At this stage there is no expectation that you have any idea about what career path you want to choose but we want you to be curious about what option you have. 

This will be done through assemblies, form time, Cultural Studies lessons and embedded in the curriculum. At this stage you may want to try our buzz quiz to see what types of careers might suit you (https://icould.com/buzz-quiz/).

Year 8 - Developing the Skills

In year 8, you will begin to look at what skills are needed to achieve in different careers and begin to think about what skills you possess. Again, we wouldn’t expect you to know what career you want to pursue but you may start narrowing down the ones that aren’t right for you. 

This will be done through assemblies, form time, Cultural Studies lessons and embedded in the curriculum. At this stage you may start exploring careers through the LMI (bottom of this site) and useful websites like Panjango (https://panjango.com/pages/panjango-online) which is a careers game site. 

Year 9 - Understanding the Options

In year 9, you will be making choices about which GCSE’s you wish to study and how this will impact your career choices. At this stage you might consider what area or sector you may wish to go into, as this will impact your choices. However, most students will not know yet and many more will change their minds. The most important thing is that you consider careers when making these options choices. 

This will be done through assemblies, form time, Options evening, Careers Week and embedded in the curriculum. Consider researching what options might be best for you: (https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zrjh92p#zp3hsk7) 

Year 10 - Exploring the World of Work 

In year 10, you will be given more information about different educational routes such as, A-Levels, T-Levels, Apprenticeships, National Diplomas and BTECs. You will also get the opportunity to take part in a day of online work experience, that will prepare you for the growing world of remote working. There will be an opportunity also to take part in a careers fair (in either year 10 or year 11) that will give you access to people from industry and education. You should really be starting to have some idea about the sector you want to move into, as your pathway will begin to take shape. 

This will be done through assemblies, Careers week, form time, 1:1 careers Interviews (in either year 10 or 11) and embedded in the curriculum. Consider trying different virtual careers as a way to decide which might be right for you: (https://www.springpod.com/virtual-work-experience/search). 

Year 11 - Deciding the Pathway 

In year 11 you will get lots of support in deciding which post-16 option is best for you. You will have a 1:1 careers meeting with our careers advisor (if not already carried out in year 10) and they will make a personalised careers plan for you. You will also have the option to visit other further education institutions and our own sixth form evening. All will be aimed to give you impartial advice on where is best for you and your career journey. 

This will be done through assemblies, form time, 1:1 careers interviews (in either year 10 or 11), Sixth Form Open Evening, External Provider Open Evenings, Sixth Form Interviews and Citizenship lessons. Consider looking at what options are open to you (https://indd.adobe.com/embed/431c8ff6-7239-478d-95d7-90cd0619373b?startpage=1&allowFullscreen=true) 

Year 12 - Experiencing the World of Work

In year 12 you will experience a full week of work experience in the World of Work. This will give you a great opportunity to experience what life is like in different industries, with a view to finding one that is right for you. You will also get a second 1:1 interview with our careers advisor (in either year 12 or 13) with a view to really putting a marker down on what you would like to achieve. You will also be guided on what university, apprenticeship or career you may wish to pursue. This will include a careers fair (in either year 12 or 13). . https://www.unifrog.org/ 

Year 13 - Preparing the Destination

Useful websites:
Ruislip High School’s One Stop Shop for Post-16 Option Choices: https://sites.google.com/ruisliphigh.org.uk/post-16/home
This site has been custom-made for Ruislip High students and parents, to help them explore post-16 options and make informed choices. You will need your Ruislip High School email to log in. 

Unifrog: https://www.unifrog.org/
The world’s biggest database of post-16 and post-18 opportunities, as well as a one-stop-shop where students can easily explore their interests, then find and successfully apply for their chosen pathway after school.

Careermap: https://careermap.co.uk/careermag/
Careermap offers a complete guide to apprenticeships, courses and university opportunities along with useful articles offering education and career advice. It has separate magazines for students and parents.

The Buzz Quiz: https://icould.com/buzz-quiz/
This quick quiz helps students work out which careers might suit them in the future.

London Labour Market Information: https://london-lmi.startprofile.com/page/home-page
This website shows you where future jobs and career pathways are being created across London, as well as how to qualify and apply for these.

UCAS: https://www.ucas.com
Use this site to explore all university courses available and find out what their entry requirements are, and how to apply.

Find an apprenticeship: https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeshipsearch
This is the government database for all current apprenticeship vacancies.

School Leaver Programmes: https://www.allaboutschoolleavers.co.uk/jobs/school-leaver-programmes
Use this site to see which companies are offering higher and degree level apprenticeships. 

Hillingdon Post-16 Prospectus 2022-23: https://indd.adobe.com/embed/431c8ff6-7239-478d-95d7-90cd0619373b?startpage=1&allowFullscreen=true
This online prospectus contains details of the post-16 providers in Hillingdon.

National Careers Service: https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/
This service provides careers information, advice and guidance and can help you to make decisions on learning, training and work at all stages in your career.

LMI For All

Use this tool to compare jobs in terms of their average pay, future availability and much more.