North Independent Secondary School of the Year 2020 North Independent Secondary School of the Year 2021 North Independent Secondary School of the Year 2021

Careers and higher education

Helping to make the right choice

Our careers and higher education centre provides a wealth of resources to help students decide on the next stage of their life. The centre offers job profiles, university guides, plus information about apprenticeships, traineeships and many other career paths.

Specialist advice

Our GSAL Futures team, which includes careers advisers and UCAS and Oxbridge Coordinators, provide expert career advice in addition to specific guidance for those applying to study medicine, law, veterinary science or any of the other competitive courses. We also offer expert guidance to those hoping to apply for a pre-eminent art, drama or music school.

Careers programme

All students receive formal careers lessons from Year 9 onwards. Informal discussion is encouraged throughout and students are given extra help at key transition stages such as choosing GCSE and A-level subjects.

All pupils in Year 9 complete Morrisby Online which profiles their interests, aptitudes and personal qualities, suggesting possible matches to suitable careers, courses or alternative routes. It is an excellent starting point for discussion and research and can be modified as ideas change and students progress.

Work experience is offered to students in Years 11 and 12. They are given advice about professional qualifications via apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships, as well as how to apply for competitive university places.

Individual support

In addition to the timetabled lessons, we operate an ‘open door’ policy for students to drop into the careers centre for advice, whether that’s a quick question or a longer discussion about options. We are committed to supporting each and every student as they work through important decisions about life after school as we believe there is no substitute for readily available one to one advice and guidance. Parents are welcome to get in touch too.

Expert speakers

In Year 10 and 12, students attend the annual GSAL Futures Conference, a careers event involving talks, panel discussions and workshops where over 50 of our alumni from a wide range of professions and sectors share their experiences, future insights and advice with our students.

There are also a number of visiting speakers who talk to pupils on a wide range of careers and HE options during the year.

Our careers team are on hand at our open events if you would like further information.

Or, if you prefer to chat to someone please call our admissions team. For Senior School call 0113 228 5121 and for Primary School call 0113 228 5113.