Futures Programme

Our Futures Programme is designed to help our sixth form students contemplate and research what they would like to do once they leave Drapers' Academy, whether that be a degree, an apprenticeship or entering the world of work. Our programme includes excellent support from both our sponsors, the Drapers' Company and Queen Mary University of London. We also work closely with other universities around the country who regularly visit us and deliver important sessions. Our Futures Programme provides many opportunities for students in the sixth form to take part in work experience, develop key skills for life beyond A Levels and form effective networks and partnerships with universities and businesses.   

Drapers' Company

The Drapers’ Company provide our students with a wealth of opportunities, including the following:

• Futures Evening - Year 12 students visit Drapers' Hall and meet with members of the Drapers’ Company to discover more about their careers. For many students, this networking event gives rise to work experience placements later in the year and visits to workplaces of interest.
  
• Drapers' Den Competition - Each year year 13 students can compete to take part in the Drapers' Den Competition. The winning team goes on to compete against the other Livery Schools at Mansion House with the Lord Mayor. Our students work with Drapers’ Company members and advertising agencies to pitch a product or service. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to develop their entrepreneurial and public speaking skills. 
  
• Mentoring - Many of our sixth form students receive tailored mentoring from members of the Drapers' Company, designed to help them with their university applications for specific courses and with building the skills needed to be successful in their choice of career path.
   
• CV and Interview Workshops - Each year, representatives from KPMG come into school to deliver CV and interview workshops to our sixth form students to help better prepare them for the application process associated with universities, employment and apprenticeships.
   
• Subject Career Events - Students are invited to both Drapers' Hall and specific work places to learn more about careers and talk to specialists within the field.

Queen Mary University of London

As one of our sponsors, Queen Mary University of London, provides several opportunities for our students to enrol on key programmes aimed at developing skills and knowledge in preparation for life beyond A levels.

• Realising Opportunities - Many of students have an opportunity to take part in the Realising Opportunities programme, which includes sessions about accessing some of the most challenging University Courses. They also receive a contextualised offer if they apply to the Universities involved.
   
• Bridge the Gap - Any Year 12 student who is interested in dentistry or medicine has the opportunity to join the ‘Bridge the Gap’ programme which provides support to students during their A Level studies to prepare them for one of these degrees. Included in this programme is a Q&A with the Head of Admissions and students are also provided with the opportunity to observe clinics within Barts Medical School.
   
• Access to QMUL - This is an 18 month programme of activities, event and interventions to nurture students from the Academy to access Russell group Universities.

As a co-sponsor, Queen Mary University of London guarantees a place to all Drapers' Academy sixth form students who achieve the required entry grades. Students from the Academy also receive a contextualised offer from Queen Mary University of London.

'I Can You Can Too (ICYCT)' Programme

The ICYCT organisation is one that mentors and guides our students so they can develop the skills necessary for university and the work place. Students are provided with the opportunity to meet gold medal Olympians and CEO’s of Law firms as well as gaining work experience with Sky television.

Undergraduate Preparation (UP) Sessions and Form Programme

Embedded within the academic strand of our curriculum are UP sessions which students in each year group attend once a fortnight. The UP sessions that form part of our Futures Programme focus on delivering advice and guidance on anything from the UCAS process for university applications through to managing student finance and living away from home after A Levels. These sessions are delivered by the sixth form team and visiting guest speakers. Our Form Time programme also includes days of the week that are dedicated to planning for the future, with year 12 working through their options using the Unifrog programme and year 13 working on their UCAS or apprenticeship applications, with guidance from their specialist sixth form tutors.

Year 12 Futures Week

During the last half of the summer term our year 12 students spend a week off timetable to complete Futures Week activities. This is a week of activities aimed at helping our students start to narrow down their choices for future career paths and receive advice and guidance to help them start their UCAS applications. During this week students attend a careers fair held at Drapers' Academy, attend visits to universities and take part in workshops and lectures delivered by visiting speakers and university outreach programmes.