Careers Guidance
At Ashlyns, we are committed to providing an outstanding careers programme that inspires every student from Year 7-13 to develop an ambitious vision for their future.
Our programme is structured around the eight Gatsby Benchmarks, meets the Department for Education’s 2026 statutory guidance, and fulfills the requirements of the Provider Access Legislation (the Baker Clause).
During the course of the academic year, we organise a comprehensive calendar of events to build essential skills, knowledge and experience so students can make informed decisions about career choices. This includes:
- a biennial Careers EXPO
- careers talks from a wide range of industry professionals
- careers extended learning and enrichment days
- skills-based employability workshops including CV writing and mock interviews
- events to celebrate National Careers Week and National Apprenticeship Week
- work shadowing (Year 8 + 9) and work experience (Year 10 + 12) opportunities
- curriculum-led workplace trips to showcase sector-specific pathways
- encounters with local college providers
- information on technical qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities
- university-focused events and
- personal careers guidance delivered by an independent adviser in KS4 + 5.
Through these diverse opportunities, our students can navigate the evolving professional landscape with confidence, ensuring they are well-equipped to pursue their chosen pathways and achieve their full potential.
Supporting your Child
It’s never too early to start conversations at home about future aspirations and career paths. To support your child in preparing for the world of work, we offer a comprehensive careers programme designed to provide key insights and develop employability skills throughout their time at school.
Our careers programme will help your child to begin to explore their interests, help inform Option choices in Year 9 and plan effectively for future 16+ and 18+ pathways.
We communicate our careers programme at regular intervals during the academic year and we invite all parents and carers to stay informed about these sector specific opportunities by reviewing the weekly e-Bulletin which is sent out every Friday.
Independent Careers Guidance and Advice
All students in Year 11 receive a scheduled careers appointment with our independent careers advisor Mrs Scurlock. These are organised during the academic year and you will be advised by email of the date and time of your child’s appointment.
After the meeting an Action Plan is added to the students Unifrog account which you then will be able to review with your child.
Should you have any queries concerning the appointments, please contact Ms Gilbert: sgilbert@ashlyns.herts.sch.uk.
Labour Market Information
The world of work is changing rapidly. Technological advancements mean that the jobs of tomorrow may look very different from the jobs of today. Labour Market Information (LMI) helps students identify trends in the workplace, develop essential skills and explore possible pathways.
We embed LMI into our careers programme to give students a clear picture of their potential. We do this by using the Unifrog digital careers platform which gives students access to a variety of sources and data allowing students to research salaries, entry requirements and local sector strengths. Through employer encounters such as the Ashlyns EXPO and sector-specific talks students have the opportunity to interact directly with industry professionals.
Careers Resources
A range of information about prospective careers opportunities can be found on the Ashlyns Career Hub which can be found here. This resource can be used by students wishing to research potential career pathways, options at GCSE or post-16, advice on job vacancies in the local area, help with CVs or with university options. Below you can find links to useful websites, with information on careers, continuing education, employment and more.
Interactive CAREEROMETER:
CLICK HERE FOR HERTS OPPORTUNITIES PORTAL:
CAREERS INFORMATION AND TOOLS FOR 11-19 YEAR OLDS ALL IN ONE PLACE
Short inspirational videos of people in work
www.icould.com
Higher Education Preparation
Informed Choices – Entry requirements for Russell Group universities
www.russellgroup.ac.uk/policy
/publications/informed-choices
Apprenticeships
In February of each year we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week with our students and provide a tailored programme of events such as assemblies, workshops and talks to provide an insight into an Apprenticeship career path both at 16+ and degree level.
More information on becoming an Apprentice can be found here.
Sixth Form Apprentice Study Pack
Unifrog
Unifrog is an award-winning careers platform available to all students from Year 7-13. It serves as a central hub for students to plan their futures, record achievements, develop employability skills, and research job sectors using integrated Labour Market Information (LMI).
The platform consolidates every undergraduate university course, apprenticeship, and college course in the UK, while also providing tools to help students draft applications, CVs, and personal statements. Beyond applications, Unifrog supports students in making informed decisions about their academic and career paths, including choosing their options. For more information, visit https://www.unifrog.org/.
FT Colleges
We invite local businesses and parents to partner with us in broadening our students’ career horizons. If you would like to share your professional insights and expertise with our school community, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact Rebecca Lambert: rlambert@ashlyns.herts.sch.uk.
Careers Team
Luke Roberts: Assistant Headteacher and Strategic Lead for Careers
Rebecca Lambert: Careers Leader
Joanna Scurlock: Independent Careers Adviser
Kassie Gaches: Head of Sixth Form
Paul Walker: Head of PSHE
Linked Governor: Lorna Rolfe