Pupils at St John’s receive a comprehensive programme of guidance throughout their time at the School towards their choice of university and career. In the Fourth and Lower Fifth Forms, careers education is part of the personal, social and health education programme delivered by careers advisers and tutors during the activities programme. This introduces pupils to themes such as self-awareness and decisions and choices, before moving on to careers research using the Cascaid Kudos interactive website. Guidance begins as early as possible in their school career for those considering Oxbridge entrance or specialist university courses.
In the Upper Fifth, all pupils complete the Morrisby Careers Aptitude Tests, administered by the Independent Schools Careers Organisation (ISCO) and followed by an interview with ISCO staff. Parents are able to meet our ISCO representative to discuss the Morrisby results at the Upper Fifth parents’ evening. Pupils are able to follow this process through to their university application by using the interactive programmes and their own web space on the ISCO Futurewise website.
During their time in the Sixth Form, all pupils are given careers and university advice and continue their research through the Futurewise website. They complete the Coursefinder questionnaire, receiving a comprehensive report giving information on higher education courses relevant to their aptitudes and interests. In January and June of each year there are careers conventions at St John’s aiming to give information about a range of careers. During the rest of the Lower Sixth year there is an extensive programme of guidance for completing the university application form - the UCAS form. Also available to all our pupils are the resources of the Careers library. These include a wide range of computer-based materials and reference books on courses and careers, as well as full access to internet resources from the universities and UCAS itself. Pupils in the Upper Fifth and Lower Sixth are encouraged to organise work related learning placements and to attend at least two University Open Days in late June or early September. We aim to complete as much of the UCAS form as possible before the end of the summer term, ensuring early application in the autumn. In addition, a visiting speaker talks to pupils and parents on gap year safety in January of the Upper Sixth year.