After Sixth Form

 

A full programme of careers guidance is provided for you. While most students apply to study Higher Education degree courses, we also offer support and guidance for those seeking alternatives including apprenticeships and full-time paid work after leaving school. You will have the opportunity to join a Google Classroom dedicated to career opportunities that you are encouraged to join and review regularly. We work alongside Services for Young People who provide advice and guidance for students as they consider their post-18 options.

For students considering Higher Education, your university application needs to be completed by November of Year 13 and sent to UCAS. We begin the process with our ‘Post-18 Pathways’ evening for you and your parents held at the start of the summer term in Year 12, during which we present an overview of Higher Education and Apprenticeship opportunities. We also dedicate time during the following weeks to provide further support for you. Preparatory work should be undertaken during the Summer holiday so that you are in a position to make necessary adjustments to and conclude your Post-18 application by our November deadline. Every Sixth Form student receives a Higher Education support booklet and detailed guidance on how to use ‘UCAS apply’ on-line.

You will have the opportunity to visit a maximum of three universities on open days during term time and we require a written request prior to each visit. Some universities and courses will call you for interview on a formal or informal basis. We ask your parents/carers to inform us in advance of this necessary absence.

For students considering an Oxbridge application (which also includes Medicine, Veterinary science or Dentistry at any UK institution), we provide a separate support programme to help you prepare for your application that begins at the start of the summer term in Year 12. We also offer guidance on preparation for university interviews, including mock interviews conducted by external partners.

 

Apprenticeships

 

The Which Complete Guide to Higher and Degree Apprenticeships

Apprenticeship Application Guide

Amazing Apprenticeships

 

University

 

The University Application Process

 

Destinations

 

Students have successfully secured higher level apprenticeships and exciting work opportunities. Below you can see the apprenticeships being undertaken by leavers.

Ross has secured an apprenticeship with M&G, Savings &Investments, London. It is a Level 4 Business Analyst qualification, with the company BPP undertaking the actual apprenticeship side of it. He will undertake an18 month course in which he can be enrolled into M&G as a permanent employee if all goes well regarding his studies and work. His time is split 80% work/20% study, so one day a week is strictly study with no work. Ross undertakes a hybrid working system, so it’s a very flexible system, regarding working from home and in the office. Ross underwent a 6 stage application process to secure his position!

Rosie has secured a 3 year Level 4 Apprenticeship in Management Consulting with IBM, following a 5 hour telephone interview.

Eva is working for Cancer Research UK on an 18 months Level 3 Apprenticeship in Business Administration, hoping to convert it to a Level 4 or above in Events Management once she has completed the Level 3. Eva filled in lots of application forms, then had to answer audio-based questions followed by a 45 minute in-person interview in order to secure the role.

Jonah had an offer of Chartered Management apprenticeship with AON, a Higher apprenticeship but they will fund any education he chooses for 12-18 months. He also had a final interview with Amazon for a degree apprenticeship in Client Relationship.

Two students who completed Year 13 at Richard Hale have joined the staff whilst they take a gap year before starting university in 2023. George is supporting students with their studies in the Maths and Economics departments. Cian is working within the Student Support Centre as a Teaching Assistant. He provides support for students in a range of lessons and before school, at break and lunch.

Caelum is undertaking a Degree Apprenticeship at Stevenage Science Park with Catapult Cell and Gene Therapy. He is an Operations and Quality Technician Apprentice

Saad’s offer is a 48-month-long programme where he works in Data Curation and Integration to gain a degree in Data Science from Anglia Ruskin University whilst working at Roche.

 

His feedback on the application process is here:

I have several experiences with applying for degree apprenticeships. They are all different which is probably one of the difficult things about applying as it means you often find yourself repeating the same thing (I know for certain I had more than enough competency-based interviews), or having to do something you are completely unfamiliar with. For Roche, I filled in an online application which after being reviewed meant I was invited for a video interview. This is where I watch some videos with questions and have to record my answer. After that, I was invited to an assessment centre. This was the first time I had done something face to face with everything else being online so far. The assessment centre consisted of a Logical Test, then giving a presentation I had prepared earlier, doing some short interviews and finally a group task.”

Katie is a Laboratory Scientist Apprentice (MCT) on a five year course with Pfizer, who is paying for the entire University course, in addition to paying a salary of £16,500 per year. There are also foreign travel options. Katie secured this one apprenticeship, out of 4,000 applicants.

Joe is a CAD (computer aided design) Electrical Technician Apprentice, working for Phoenix, which has been operating for 90 years in London. Its latest project is Battersea Power Station; stages 2a and 3, following earlier work with Netflix, Facebook and Amazon. Joe is using computer programs such as Revit and Auto CAD, which are the main forms of CAD programming used in the Mechanical and Electrical industry.

Henry is working for London’s Currie & Brown (international property development/consultancy) as a Project Management Apprentice undertaking a Quantity Surveying Degree through a college associated with Reading University. It is a four year programme, with the option of a fifth year to undertake further professional qualifications. This is a salaried position, with Henry’s course costs covered by Currie & Brown.

Oliver has secured his dream job at BMW Group as a Level 6 Engineering Apprentice. This position is based in Birmingham for the next four years.

Joe is a Construction Apprentice, employed by The Hill Group. This is a 5 year apprenticeship with a day a week to complete his Degree, under Westminster University.

Finlay has secured a position as a Marketing Executive on the Emerge programme for a large marketing firm called Essence. The programme is a two-year fixed contract during which time he will be rotated through all the different departments of the business to see which facet suits him best. Finlay will gain two years’ work experience and receive a competitive salary, plus bonus.

Max has embarked on an exciting year-long contract as a Superyacht Deckhand and is currently based in La Ciotat (South of France).

One former student has joined the staff to work during his gap year as a Maths and Economics instructor.

92% of students in Year 13 who applied to university gained a place at their first-choice institution. Nine students gained places at their insurance choice and nineteen through Clearing. Students secured places at a wide range of institutions on a whole host of courses, from more traditional subjects to motorsport technology, equine science and aeronautical engineering.
Eight students secured places at Oxbridge, four at Oxford to study history, chemistry, classics and physics and four at Cambridge to study philosophy, law, natural sciences and human, social and political sciences.

42% of the students will be attending Russell Group universities. Most importantly students have secured places at institutions that they feel will provide them with the qualifications and experience they desire.

 

University Destinations 2025

Provider name Course placed
University of Warwick Mathematics and Physics
University of Cambridge Computer Science
University of Bath Mathematics
University of Bath Computer Science
Queen Mary University of London History and International Relations with a Year Abroad
University of Warwick Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics (MORSE)
Imperial College London Medicine
University of Nottingham Philosophy, Politics and Economics
University of East Anglia UEA Medicine
Lancaster University Economics and Finance (Industry)
University of Surrey Business Management with Marketing
Liverpool John Moores University Business with Finance and Economics
Newcastle University Pharmacy
University of Leeds Digital Media
University of Leeds Economics and Finance
University of Birmingham English Literature
University of Sheffield International Relations and Politics
Loughborough University Biological Sciences (with placement year)
University of East Anglia UEA Business Analytics and Management
Newcastle University Business Management
University of Bath Sport (Sports Performance)
York St John University Politics
University of Liverpool International Management
University of Sheffield Politics and Modern Languages & Cultures
University of Sheffield Mechanical Engineering
University of Bristol Mathematics with Statistics for Finance
York St John University Computer Science
St Mary’s University, Twickenham Marketing and Sports Communication
Anglia Ruskin University Biomedical Science (with Placement year)
University of Birmingham Accounting and Finance
University of Chichester Musical Theatre Performance (Italia Conti)
Newcastle University Marketing
University of Sheffield International Relations and Politics
Newcastle University Mechanical Engineering
University of Leeds Geology
University of Leeds International Relations
University of Reading Economics with Placement Year
University of Reading Business and Management
University of Hertfordshire Mechanical Engineering
University of Bath Economics and Mathematics with professional placement or study abroad
University of Nottingham English and Philosophy
Lancaster University Finance (Industry)
UCFB Football Business and Marketing
Nottingham Trent University Business Management and Economics
Arts University Bournemouth Design for Costume and Performance
Sheffield Hallam University Aerospace Engineering
Hartpury University Sport and Exercise Sciences
Nottingham Trent University Business
University of Liverpool Environment and Planning
University of Sheffield General Engineering with a Foundation Year
Nottingham Trent University Psychology
University of East Anglia UEA Law
University of Liverpool Business Economics with a Year in Industry
University of York Electronic and Computer Engineering
University of Hertfordshire Business Management
University of Plymouth Biomedical Science with Foundation Year
University of Exeter Politics with Study Abroad
Newcastle University Finance
Cardiff University Computer Science
Loughborough University International Business (with placement year)
University of Leicester Aerospace Engineering
Birmingham City University Sports Therapy
University of York Business and Management with a Year in Industry
University of Hertfordshire Sport Business Management
Nottingham Trent University Civil Engineering
University of Sheffield Business Management and Economics
University of Liverpool Business Economics with a Year in Industry
University of Westminster, London Business Management (Marketing)
University of Portsmouth Engineering and Technology with Foundation Year
Nottingham Trent University Business Management and Marketing
Hartpury University Sport and Exercise Sciences
University of Hertfordshire Sport and Exercise Science
University of Sheffield Business Management and Economics
University of Surrey Criminology
Loughborough University Marketing (with placement year)
University of Leeds Computer Science
Kingston University Business Management and Digital Innovation
University of Nottingham Aerospace Engineering including an Industrial Year
University of Leeds Civil Engineering (Industrial)
University of Portsmouth Pharmacology
Swansea University Mechanical Engineering
Newcastle University History
University of York Architecture
University of Portsmouth Environmental Science and Management (Dual Degree)
London South Bank University Biomedical Science
University of East Anglia UEA Environmental Sciences with a Year Abroad
Loughborough College Sports Management
University of East Anglia UEA Chemistry with a Foundation Year
University of Westminster, London International Event Management
University of Kent Business Analytics and Management
University of Lincoln International Relations and Politics
Newcastle University Politics and Sociology
Health Sciences University (formerly AECC University College) Osteopathy
Nottingham Trent University Business Management and Economics
University of Sussex Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence
Nottingham Trent University Microbiology
Birmingham City University Sound Engineering and Production
Manchester Metropolitan University Human Geography
University of York Architecture
University of Liverpool Music and Technology
University of Portsmouth Science with Foundation Year
University of East Anglia UEA Biochemistry
University of Southampton Electrical Engineering with Foundation Year