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Careers

Setting the course for life beyond the Ampleforth Valley

The Careers Department provides education, information, advice and guidance to students through a planned programme from Year 7 to Year 13. This is woven into the academic, co-curricular, and pastoral programme and equips them with some tools to manage their life and learning, enabling them to make informed decisions about subject choices for GCSE, A level, BTEC, higher education, degree apprenticeships and careers.

Head of Careers, Stevaan Hall can be contacted on 01439 766838 or Stevaan.Hall@ampleforth.org.uk

Careers Information

We have a well-resourced Careers Room in the Library with university prospectuses and information about courses, careers, degree apprenticeships and gap year information. Regular careers updates with relevant and current information about activities at school and opportunities nationally and internationally are emailed to parents and students. We also subscribe to Unifrog, an online complete destinations platform for students and their parents.

Careers Advice & Guidance

Advice and guidance is given to help pupils to understand themselves and their needs, develop new perspectives and make progress towards their goals. At Ampleforth, careers information is delivered by a range of practitioners including the Heads of Year, tutors, teachers, parents, and Old Amplefordians. Pupils in all year groups can also book a Careers Coaching appointment with the Head of Careers who is a qualified careers adviser and offers impartial one-to-one guidance sessions.

Work related learning

Increasingly employers look for evidence of work experience in the recruitment process. Universities also like to see that students have had experience of work outside the classroom, particularly for courses in Engineering and Medicine. Whilst the school does not take responsibility for organising such programmes, students are actively encouraged to get involved in voluntary activities both at school and in the school holidays as well as shadowing and work experience in the school holidays.

Help is given with CV and cover letter writing on request and students take part in events and activities within and outside of the curriculum which teach them about employability skills, careers, enterprise, going for interviews and networking. In some subjects, curriculum linked workplace visits, projects and challenges also take place.

SAT Tuition

A SAT tuition course for students who intend to apply to university in the US is offered by a local provider. This is a 16 week programme of tuition which commences in the Autumn term with the intention that students will take the SAT exams in May or June. Ampleforth is a registered SAT centre so the exams are taken at school. Students in Years 11, 12 and 13 are welcome to take part in the programme with parental permission.

Oxbridge

Talks are given to academic scholars in Years 9, 10 and 11 on a range of intellectually challenging subjects. In the Sixth From, specialist support is available from various members of staff as well as tutors for those wishing to apply to Oxbridge.

Armed Services

Delegates from the Armed Services attend the Higher Education Fair so that those wishing to find out more about the careers they offer can speak to them personally. Individual interviews with careers advisers representing the Armed Services are also offered to students.

Higher Education Conference 

Careers Programme

For pupils in Years 7 to 11, we run a programme of careers learning through tutorials to help with personal development, career management and career exploration. This is supported by the following events, activities and careers assessments.

Years 7 & 8

  • Careers talks
  • Careers activities within tutorials

Year 9

  • Careers activities within tutorials
  • Character Strengths – interactive quizzes and workshops
  • Subject Careers talks.
  • Preparation for GCSE choices

Year 10

  • Careers activities within tutorials
  • Exploring Unifrog – our online Careers Platform
  • Subject Careers talks, including within Languages and STEM
  • Wayfinding day – employability workshops
  • One-to-one Careers discussions

Year 11

  • Careers activities within tutorials
  • Morrisby profiling – to help students explore Sixth Form and Career choices
  • Exploring Unifrog – our online Careers Platform
  • Sixth Form options morning
  • Higher Education and Careers Conference
  • Careers talks in Houses given by visiting speakers
  • One-to-one Careers discussions

Year 12

  • Careers activities in tutorials
  • Higher Education and Careers Conference
  • University Open Days
  • UCAS morning
  • Career decision-making – including using Unifrog and Sixth Form Journal
  • Year 12 Visiting Speakers
  • Exploring Apprenticeships
  • Exploring Networking, including connecting with Old Amplefordians
  • Exploring Work Experience. Students are encouraged to organise work experience during the school holidays through friends, family and contacts
  • One-to-one Careers discussions

Year 13

  • Careers activities within tutorials
  • Completion of Personal Statements
  • UCAS, Apprenticeship and International University application
  • Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science, Law and other entrance exam support
  • One-to-one Careers discussions

Destinations

Oxbridge, Durham & Russell Group Universities

Students who are identified as having the potential to gain places at top universities benefit from a range of additional guidance and advice. Opportunities to strengthen individual applications include: mentoring, taking the EPQ (Extended Project Qualification), attending Headmaster’s Lectures and talks by visiting speakers, and joining relevant academic societies and clubs such as The Poetry Society, Young Enterprise, the Senior Maths Club and The Aquinas Society. Departments offer targeted support such as extra classes, interview practice, preparation for admissions tests, and the taking of extra modules where appropriate.

Overseas Study

A growing number of students are showing interest in applying to universities in the US, Canada, Europe or elsewhere. The school has excellent contacts and SAT tuition for entry into US universities is delivered by an external provider, Study US Limited.

University Destinations

Oxbridge & Russell Group Universities

Courses

University of Bath

International Management and Spanish

University of Birmingham

Economics and Political Science

University of Bristol

History

Religion and Theology with Study Abroad

University of Brighton

Biological Sciences

Brunel University

Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences with Professional Practice

University of Cambridge

Music

Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion

University of Cardiff

Economics

Philosophy

University College London

Engineering (Electronic and Electrical)

History

University of Durham

Biological Sciences

Psychology

Theology and Religion

University of Edinburgh

Biological Sciences

Business Management

Nursing

Philosophy and Economics

Philosophy and Theology

University of Essex

Business Management

Finance and Management

University of Exeter

Business

Economics and Econometrics

History

International Relations with Study Abroad

Philosophy

University of Glasgow

Business Economics (SocSci)

Mechanical Engineering

Harper Adams University

Product Support Engineering

Rural Enterprise and Land Management

Imperial College London

Materials with Management

Mathematics

Medicine

Kings College London

History

Political Economy

War Studies and History

University of Lancaster

Peace Studies and International Relations

University of Leeds

Geography

Leeds Metropolitan University

Real Estate and Property Management

University of Manchester

Engineering

History of Art

Mathematics and Philosophy

Music and Drama

Religions and Theology

University of Newcastle

Accounting and Finance

Ancient History and Archaeology

Biology

Business Management

Computer Science

Countryside Management

History

Philosophy

Psychology

Rural Studies

Northumbria University

Foundation Year in Business

Nottingham Trent University

Business Management and Marketing

University of Oxford

Experimental Psychology

History and Politics

Oxford Brookes University

Business Management

History

International Hospitality Management

Philosophy/Sociology

Planning and Property Development

Real Estate Management

Royal Holloway University of London

Biochemistry

St George's University of London

Medicine

University of Sheffield

Architecture

Engineering

Sheffield Hallam University

Building Surveying

University of Southampton

Business Management

St Andrews University

History

Mathematics

University of Arts, London

Fashion Communication: Fashion Journalism

University of Warwick

English Literature

History of Art with Italian

University of Winchester

Digital Media Development

University of York

English

History of Art

JCB Prize

The JCB business prize is presented to the Ampleforth student who has excelled in school life and is going to read a business related degree course at University.

The Prize

A paid placement at JCB for a period of three months at a time to suit the winner during his or her Gap Year. If taken in the summer the period must be July to September inclusive (with a three week, unpaid, holiday in line with JCB's holiday period).

Sponsorship at University for the period of the Business Degree (circa £1,500 per annum), plus partial repayment of education fees after graduation, in line with the current undergraduate scheme, subject to certain conditions which will require the individual to:

  • Take summer placements at JCB on an annual basis
  • Be given automatic assessment centre opportunity and successfully compete for a coveted place on the JCB Undergraduate Year in Industry at JCB
  • Be offered a role as a permanent employee and return to JCB within six months of completing your degree.
Criteria

The winner must have achieved an offer to read a Business related degree at an appropriate University.

The winner must follow the conditions that apply to successful applicants for JCB sponsorship i.e:

  • Communication
  • Practical Application
  • Team Player
  • Positions of Responsibility
  • Planning
  • Achievements

Should there be no one suitable for the prize it will be put into abeyance until the following year.

A Compass for Life

Full Boarding & Day School for students aged 11 to 18