Careers Advice

CareerslogoCareers Programme

Year 7

Students in year 7 are encouraged to identifying what skills are needed in the world of work. They are encouraged to explore and think about the variety of jobs and careers available that might suit their skills interest and abilities throughout the year in the classroom, enrichment activities and clubs.

In addition to this QMUL staff will introduce the principles of Growth Mindset as a learning strategy, providing the pupils with reflection skills and self-awareness that will assist them with maintaining a positive start to secondary school.

Year 8

Students in year 8 are encouraged to think about their skills, qualities and interest. At Drapers we provide access to a range of activities that inspire young people, including employer talks, careers fairs, motivational speakers, QMUL centre of the cell tour, university visits, and mentoring. 

QMUL deliver at parent’s events a talk on how to best choose GCSE options, providing suggestions and support that aims to introduce key progression routes including BTEC, A Levels, and apprenticeships and the importance of these choices in relation to future goals.

Year 9

Students in Year 9, are encourage to start thinking about their future and those important career decisions they will soon have to make. At Drapers we encourage students to understand their strengths/weakness and explore what they like doing best to enable them to choose courses and subjects to take in year10&11. Through classroom activities, outreach workshops, employer and provider engagement, enrichment and clubs they are able to discuss and research their career ideas.

QMUL delivers ‘My skills, my strength’ workshops which focuses on different jobs and skills needed in the rapidly expanding events sector, which they may not be familiar with in this year group.

Year 10

Students in Year 10 will be preparing to find out more about careers that interest them and post 16 progression. QMUL delivers workshops on Post 16 options and Management & Entrepreneurship and year 10 have the opportunity to visit careers events such as skills London.  All Year 10’s will have access to 1.2.1 careers guidance appointment with an independent Careers Adviser to help with early career planning. Year 10’s are supported and encouraged to find voluntary opportunities and work experience opportunities during school holidays.

Year 11

Students you will be finding out more about your options after leaving school and making some decisions about your next step.

Sixth Form

Every week the students have an undergraduate preparation lesson (UP). These lessons are designed to develop the ‘life skills’ required for future employment. These sessions are designed to build confidence and help prepare the students for a university application.

In addition students have access to events throughout the year including HE & Careers Fair, University Taster Days, guest speakers and UCAS exhibitions at London. Students will develop their knowledge about what they might like to do after sixth form and make informed choices about the full range of options open to them such as higher level apprenticeships, Degree courses and Employment.

The Drapers' Academy Careers Programme Overview

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Careers Advice

Year 7 - 9 Careers Advice

  • UCAS Progress - Search for courses now!
  • The Student Room - The largest student community in the world - over 1.8m members.
  • All About School Leavers - Discover what career path might be right for you!
  • Moving on Magazine (careers and qualifications) - Moving On magazine is a print and online publication that provides a wide range of information regarding choices in and following school.
  • Start - Start is a free, online careers platform, designed to connect 11-18 year olds with their future career potential.
  • Studential - What happens after you take your GCSEs? Do you stay on at school, get a job or go to your local college? This is a vital decision and there are lots of different options. 
  • Success at School - Success at School is the place for young people to explore careers, get the lowdown on top employers, and search for the latest jobs, courses and advice.
  • National Careers Service & Apprenticeships - Providing information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work.
  • Careers Box - Careers films on the web.
  • Brightknowledge Careers - Find out how to make the most of working life once you start.
  • Rate My Apprenticeship - Top Apprenticeships, School Leaver Programmes & Work Experience Jobs
  • Future Morph - Future Morph has been created to show that studying science, technology, engineering or maths beyond the age of 16 isn’t just a one track road to becoming a scientist or engineer – the skills and knowledge you gain are valuable in almost any career and will make you very employable.
  • 20 Top Jobs of the Future - No one can predict all the jobs young people will be able to choose from in the second half of the 21st century but here are just a few of the jobs that are likely to be in demand over the next 15 years.

Year 10 - 11 Career Advice

Help Choosing a Career Path

  • UCAS Progress - Search for courses now!
  • Target Careers - TARGETcareers helps young people to make smart decisions about their future.
  • All About School Leavers - Discover what career path might be right for you!
  • Moving on Magazine (careers and qualifications) - Moving On magazine is a print and online publication that provides a wide range of information regarding choices in and following school.
  • Start - Start is a free, online careers platform, designed to connect 11-18 year olds with their future career potential.
  • Studential - What happens after you take your GCSEs? Do you stay on at school, get a job or go to your local college? This is a vital decision and there are lots of different options.
  • Prospects - Guiding millions of students to make the right choice.
  • Success at School - Success at School is the place for young people to explore careers, get the lowdown on top employers, and search for the latest jobs, courses and advice.
  • Total Professions - 100 Most Popular Employers for School Leavers
  • Adviza - Adviza has a range of information, services and products that can help you move forward in education, work or training.
  • The Morrisby Organisation - Helping people make better choices by providing objective and relevant information about themselves and the opportunities available
  • Find Your Future - Designed for teenagers, Future Finder connects today’s A Level choices with tomorrow’s careers.
  • The Medic Portal - In official partnership with the Royal Society of Medicine, used by over one million aspiring medics and advisors.
  • National Citizen Service - If you are 15 to 17 and looking to get the most out of your summer, join NCS for a great experience! Meet new people, make life-long friends and gain new skills for your CV.
  • 20 Top Jobs of the Future - No one can predict all the jobs young people will be able to choose from in the second half of the 21st century but here are just a few of the jobs that are likely to be in demand over the next 15 years.

Choosing Post 16 Options (A Level/BTEC)

  • Russell Group Subject Choices at School and College - The Russell Group’s guide Informed Choices provides students with information, advice and guidance about their post-16 subject choices.
  • The Student Room - The largest student community in the world - over 1.8m members.
  • UK University Search - University Search are dedicated to helping students make the right choices about their future.
  • WhatUni? - The biggest and busiest course search comparison site.
  • Unistats - Unistats is the official site that allows you to search for and compare data and information on university and college courses from across the UK.
  • The Complete Uni Guide - The Complete University Guide has been publishing university and related league tables online since 2007.

Uni Tasters/Summer School

  • Medlink Intensive - The reason more people attend Medlink events than any other is our absolute focus on your successful application to medical school.
  • Uni Taster Days - University taster courses for prospective undergraduate students.
  • University of London - University taster courses for prospective undergraduate students.
  • UCAS - Taster courses provided by some universities and colleges to let you experience academic and social life on campus, before applying for a place.
  • The Pathways Programme - Oxford University - The Pathways Programme is an initiative coordinated by the Colleges of the University of Oxford.

Alternatives to Higher Education

  • The Student Room - The largest student community in the world - over 1.8m members.
  • All About School Leavers - Discover what career path might be right for you!
  • Not Going to Uni - The one stop site for apprenticeships, gap years, distance learning and jobs.
  • Job and Talent - Platform ensuring candidates never miss their next job opportunity by sending notifications every time a job matches their professional profile.
  • Target Careers - TARGETcareers helps young people to make smart decisions about their future.
  • Find an Apprenticeship
  • Get My First Job - Make your first steps into the world of work the right ones. GetMyFirstJob offers you a whole new way to find Apprenticeships and opportunities to get ahead.

List of the Largest UK Employers:

Studying Abroad

  • The Sutton Trust/ Fullbright Commission - The Sutton Trust US Programme helps British state school students apply to American universities through support, advice and a one-week summer school in the USA.
  • Top Universities - All you need to know to study abroad - everything from advice on choosing a study destination, to guidance on applying for scholarships, and useful information for international students.
  • Goabroad.com - Featured programmes and unique opportunities abroad.
  • The Complete Uni Guide - Advice on studying abroad.

UCAS - Studying a year or all of a degree abroad can have great benefits. Here are some options if you are considering studying abroad.

University Advice

University Links

  • UK University Search - UK University Search dedicated to helping students make the right choices about their future.
  • WhatUni? - The biggest and busiest course search comparison site.
  • Russell Group Subject Choices at School and College - The Russell Group’s guide Informed Choices provides students with information, advice and guidance about their post-16 subject choices.
  • Unistats - Unistats is the official site that allows you to search for and compare data and information on university and college courses from across the UK.
  • The Complete Uni Guide - The Complete University Guide has been publishing university and related league tables online since 2007.
  • The Medic Portal - In official partnership with the Royal Society of Medicine, used by over one million aspiring medics and advisors.
  • Opendays.com - The university and college open day directory.

What do graduates do?

  • What Do Graduates Do? -  An in-depth look at Higher Education Statistics Agency’s Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey, which provides the most comprehensive picture of what people finishing university degrees do after graduation.
  • Milkround - Milkround is your graduate career resource with hundreds of internships, placements, graduate jobs and schemes.
  • Graduate Opportunities - Graduate Opportunities (GO) provides your connection to all things grad-related!
  • Intern Avenue - (Bright Avenue) Free to join innovative network of the brightest students, connecting them with the best career opportunities. 

Uni Tasters/Summer School

  • Medlink Intensive - The reason more people attend Medlink events than any other is our absolute focus on your successful application to medical school.
  • Uni Taster Days - University taster courses for prospective undergraduate students.
  • UCAS - Taster courses provided by some universities and colleges to let you experience academic and social life on campus, before applying for a place.
  • Young Journalists' Academy - Flagship summer school where students get the chance to train with leading UK journalists and learn the tricks of the trade.
  • The Pathways Programme - Oxford University - The Pathways Programme is an initiative coordinated by the Colleges of the University of Oxford.

Studying Abroad

  • The Sutton Trust/ Fullbright Commission - The Sutton Trust US Programme helps British state school students apply to American universities through support, advice and a one-week summer school in the USA.
  • Top Universities - All you need to know to study abroad - everything from advice on choosing a study destination, to guidance on applying for scholarships, and useful information for international students.
  • Goabroad.com - Featured programmes and unique opportunities abroad.
  • The Complete Uni Guide - Advice on studying abroad.

UCAS - Studying a year or all of a degree abroad can have great benefits. Here are some options if you are considering studying abroad.

SEN Options

  • ASDAN - ASDAN programmes and qualifications are widely recognised by educators for providing an engaging curriculum that empowers students through personalised learning and choice.
  • Natspec - Natspec is the membership association for organisations which offer specialist provision for students with learning difficulties and disabilities.
  • Young Enterprise - Young Enterprise is the UK’s leading enterprise and financial education charity reaching over 250,000 young people every year.
  • Careers Advice for Parents - If your child has special needs it is really important to get high-quality advice on all possible career options.
  • Disability Rights UK - Education factsheets and guides.
  • Into Apprenticeships - The guide for disabled people. Into Apprenticeships deals with common questions such as how to find an apprenticeship, whether the training will be accessible and what support is available in the workplace.
  • Into Higher Education - For anyone with learning, health or disability issues. Into Higher Education aims to answer common questions such as whether colleges or universities will be accessible, how to choose a course and what support will be available.
  • SEND Transition Event - 6th March at Barking and Dagenham College