Careers Guidance
At Ashlyns, our Careers Programme for Years 7–13 prepares students for the future by integrating character development, academic achievement, and tailored careers guidance. We help students align their values and interests with potential career paths while developing key employability skills such as resilience, teamwork, and adaptability.
Our programme is built on the eight Gatsby Benchmarks, meets the Department for Education’s 2023 statutory guidance, and fulfills the requirements of the Baker Clause. This ensures that all students have access to impartial advice about technical qualifications and apprenticeships, with encounters from a wide range of providers, industries, and professions.
Students benefit from a range of opportunities, including inspirational talks, work experience, workshops, and career-focused days. Highlights include our triennial Careers Expo, annual Focus on Your Future Extended Learning Day, and Year 10 Mock Interview Day, where students gain practical insights and workplace skills. Work shadowing in Year 9 and work experience in Year 10 & 12 further prepare them for the professional world.
In the Sixth Form, students receive specialised support through career profiling, degree apprenticeship workshops, employer encounters, and university-focused events. Using tools like Unifrog, students can research personalised pathways to shape their future with confidence and clarity.
Supporting your Child
It’s never too early to start the conversation at home about possible careers and to discuss aspirations with your child. We encourage all our students to attend as many career events as possible during the academic year to help inform Option choices in Year 9 and also to start to prepare for further/higher education at 16+. All our events are advertised in the weekly eBulletin that is sent to parents and carers each Friday.
Independent Careers Guidance and Advice
Students in Year 10 and Year 11 have access to independent careers advice via our independent careers advisor Mrs Lewis. To make an appointment for your child please email Ms Gilbert: sgilbert@ashlyns.herts.sch.uk.
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
Students from Year 7-13 have access to the award-winning careers platform Unifrog, where they can keep a record of events attended, develop employability skills and research job sectors. Unifrog brings into one place every undergraduate university course, apprenticeship and college course in the UK and enables students to successfully apply for these opportunities by writing their personal statements, applications and CVs. More information on Unifrog can be found here.
FT Colleges
We welcome any opportunity to collaborate with local businesses and parents who can share their skills and experience with our students. If you have a career that you would like to share with our school community we’d love 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 Events Manager and Strategic Support
Chloe Lewis: Independent Careers Adviser (Telephone: 07985 237240)
Kassie Gaches: Head of Sixth Form
Chris McDonald: Head of PSHE and Head of Year