With seismic shifts in education and career options, Berkhamsted School is preparing its students to flourish in this new world order
The UK has seen a seismic shift in post-16 pathways in recent years. Last year saw the demand for degree apprenticeships at a record high, with 40% of all undergraduate applicants expressing interest in this route. Meanwhile, gender is becoming less important, with a rapid growth in females pursuing traditionally male-dominated areas such as STEM careers. AI will also influence students’ future careers – most current school pupils are expected to have between 10 and15 different jobs by the time they are 40.
During such a dynamic time, Berkhamsted School, a group of six independent schools in Hertfordshire, helps students hone their skills and find their passions, so that they can adapt and flourish across a range of roles. “I like to introduce students to the concept of finding their Ikigai,” says Head of Senior Careers, Sadia Azad, “It’s a Japanese concept that encourages students to discover what they’re good at, what they love doing, what they can be paid for, and what the world needs”.
To achieve this, every senior student completes a Morrisby Profile, an impartial psychometric profiling process that helps people discover their strengths. During Year 11 students receive impartial careers advice in a one-to-one meeting with an external careers advisor before choosing their A levels.
Through public speaking sessions, debating opportunities, and community work, Berkhamstedians regularly develop their leadership and employability skills. Students devoted 270 hours to community service last year – from hosting sports days at local primary schools to making plant pots for care homes. Sadia Azad says this is a huge and important part of careers provision. “It’s not just about one-to-one meetings with advisors. Getting out into the wider community and developing character is a big part of preparing for the future.”
Since women comprise 29% of the UK STEM workforce, the school runs events to ensure factors like gender don’t stand in the way of goals. This year’s ‘Women in STEM Networking’ and ‘Women in Tech’ panels enabled Year 9 girls to meet inspiring women in STEM such as alumna and structural engineering student Zoe Nicholls.
“In Sixth, careers lunches and alumni employability dinners allow students to meet employers from different industries,” says Sadia Azad. As well as events to help students gain insights into careers that interest them, the school hosts dedicated days for medicine and law pathways to let students considering these competitive options get more detail.
Where university is a student’s chosen goal, personal tutors work with the careers team to analyse students’ achievements and personalities, advising on courses that match their interests. Sadia Azad says it’s important to recognise that students often do best when they have found the course they really enjoy.
“I introduce students to the concept of finding their Ikigai – what they’re good at, love doing, can be paid for, and what the world needs”
For Oxbridge hopefuls, there’s advice from Cambridge Teaching Associate and consultant Mo Tanweer, and from Berkhamsted’s in-house Head of Oxbridge Stephen Bellfield. Meanwhile, Head of International University Applications Olivia Guillet supports students who are interested in heading abroad. “I have an English MA from The College of Charleston and The Citadel in South Carolina,” she says. “So I advise students about their options for overseas studies.” With this assistance, students send university applications across Europe, the US and further afield.
There is also encouragement to look beyond university, where appropriate, to consider options such as degree apprenticeships. “We recognise that applications to degree apprenticeships can be daunting and different to traditional university applications,” says Sadia Azad. “We provide personalised support through every step of the application – from how to tackle an online test to what to expect at an assessment centre.”
One recent alumnus who secured a highly competitive degree apprenticeship with JP Morgan said that opportunities for character development during his time at Berkhamsted also gave him the edge. In particular, participating in the Student Consultancy (the school’s leadership programme) helped enormously. “These opportunities developed me into an independent, passionate person, which JP Morgan was looking for.”
Of course, preparing students to succeed in the future doesn’t just mean in the next few years. Forbes has suggested that over half of businesses are already using AI, a figure that is only set to grow. As a response, Berkhamsted Sixth designed its Supercurricular AI course. Students participate in ethical debates and explore current AI software. Even those interested in traditional careers have joined the course for insight. As one aspiring medic noted: “I’m interested in how AI will influence the decisions I may have to make as a doctor – like when to turn off life support machines”.
Balancing employability skills, mentorship from employers, and characteristics of leadership and ambition, and offering the latest in careers guidance and one-to-one careers support, is, say the Berkhamsted team, the best way to ensure students leave school both informed and equipped with the tools for success, wherever our dynamic future jobs landscape takes them.
Berkhamsted School berkhamsted.com
Further reading: How schools prepare young people for tomorrow’s workspaces
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