Looking Ahead to Sixth Form

Looking Ahead to the Sixth Form. The Careers Department works very closely with subject staff and Sixth Form Tutors in providing careers education, information and guidance. In general terms, during the Lower Sixth the emphasis is on preparation for higher education, whilst in the Upper Sixth the focus shifts to the university application process.

Morrisby

In the Lower Sixth the students update their Morrisby profile to explore their degree options. The results are reviewed in a one-to-one interview with a member of the Careers Team, which allows the student to consider the available options and form an action plan.

The timetabled Weekly Careers Programme is wide-ranging, covering the following topics in the course of the two years of Sixth Form:

Higher Education information and advice, including how to choose your course, Open Days; the UCAS application process, including using the UCAS website and preparing the personal statement, interviews (including mock interviews), using the internet for research into courses and universities.

Career Planning – speakers from a variety of backgrounds visit to talk about their career paths. Students are given advice on CV and cover letter preparation; networking and the importance of work experience; graduate trainee schemes; and applying for internships, including paid gap year programmes offered by UK companies, such as Deloitte.

Range of Outside Speakers – in addition to speakers on career opportunities, admissions tutors from UK universities visit the school; other speakers cover topics of general interest and importance, voluntary work, and healthcare.

Student Survival Package – including emergency first aid, student loans, accommodation, personal safety, resilience development and first days at university.

Ex-LEH pupils talk to students about their experiences at university and during gap years.

Parents and Lower Sixth students are invited to attend the Sixth Form UCAS Evening in February. The evening aims to disseminate information on applying to university and includes a presentation by a university consultant. The Head Mistress and members of the Careers Team are present to answer questions.

The Higher Education Fair – March 2023

The Higher Education Fair is an annual event where around 30 popular universities visit LEH to talk informally to the Lower Sixth from LEH, Hampton School and other local schools. In 2022 the universities represented included Bath, Cardiff, Durham, Exeter, Imperial College London, UCL, Warwick and many other institutions.

Work Experience/Internship Opportunities

A number of companies invite LEH Sixth Form students to apply to summer internship programmes. In the past year students have gone to BP, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and IBM, and have found the experience invaluable. Entry to these prestigious programmes can be competitive; however, the Careers Team is able to support pupils during the application process.

Careers Extra-curricular Talks

These are delivered by external experts. Topics have included: Applying to study Medicine delivered by Brighton and Sussex Medical School; The Scottish Universities application process; Women in Engineering; Careers in the Finance industry and an evening talk from ex-pupils speaking about their careers after having studied Art History and Philosophy at University.

Ex-Pupil Mentoring

The Careers Department offers a Mentoring Scheme whereby, whenever possible, students interested in a particular career are matched with ex-pupils working in that field. Sixth Form students should contact the Careers Department for further information on this scheme.

The Careers Room is open to all students, and also to those students who decide to make a Post A level application to university.

The Careers Programme for the Upper Sixth aims to help students make the best choice of course for higher education or training, or advise on the most appropriate alternative course of action, and to liaise with form tutors throughout the application process.

All LEH students receive advice on the UCAS application and writing their personal statement and then, later in the year, advice about university offers and how to proceed once they have their A level results.

The Careers Programme also aims to prepare students for independent living, either at university, during a gap year, or in employment.

UCAS Day – September 2022 will be set aside to allow all Upper Sixth pupils to finalise their UCAS applications. Sixth Form Tutors, Careers Staff, the Oxbridge Co-ordinator and the Extra Tests Co-ordinator will all be available to assist.

If students decide to apply to university after A level results are received, this is known as a Post A level application and the school will offer support and advice.