The Futures programme

Once modestly called Careers, the Futures Department at Blackheath High School is a prime example of how careers provision has developed and evolved over the past decade. Using the updated fit-for-the-future Gatsby Benchmarks as a framework, the Futures Programme aims not only to improve careers knowledge but also to develop careers-based practical skills needed for the future.   

All Senior School Students from Year 7 up to Sixth Form participate in the Futures Programme, benefiting from high quality careers events, opportunities and guidance. These are designed to broaden knowledge, develop curiosity, and inspire students to follow any career path they wish whilst challenging their preconceptions of the world of work. We work closely with parents, external stakeholders and providers to ensure our careers provision is unbeatable. 

Similarly continuous skill building within the PowerSkills Toolkit and access to Futures events - such as the Future Forward introduction to careers - are woven through the Junior School curriculum. 

Read more about the key components of our Futures programme below.

Futures Programme map

Exploring careers in the curriculum

Careers in Enrichment: Year 7 - 13 

From Year 7 upwards, every Blackheath student receives a series of specific careers lessons that are delivered within enrichment lessons. Taken from the Unifrog spiral careers curriculum, students explore their unique skills set, diverse types of careers and pathways through practical activities such as interview skills practice and CV writing. Students record what they have done on their Unifrog accounts on their IPads/laptops, building a portfolio of experience that they can draw on during the next part of their career journey. More broadly, it is a way of students learning more about themselves, their interests and preferred ways of working, the benefits of which extend beyond the careers curriculum and into their overall learning journey.  

 

Work experience: Year 11 and Year 12 

An essential part of a student’s career journey is their work experience placement, not just to experience the rigours of a working day, but to have meaningful encounters whilst forming professional relationships. Students are visited by a member of staff during their placement and reflect on their learning in their Work Experience (WEX) Journals. It is an exciting opportunity for students and experience has shown that many students’ interpersonal skills and confidence really do flourish during their WEX placement. 

Year 11 and 12 students source their own placements; Year 11 undertake their WEX during the last 2 full weeks of the summer term. Year 12 undertake their placements in the holidays at a time convenient to them. This has led to some wonderful opportunities including working with: MacLaren Formula 1, biological research, graphic design, architecture, engineering, medicine, the Army, accountancy, law, dentistry, neuroscience, finance, charities sector, education, journalism, advertising, media, retail and sustainable jewellery design (amongst others!). 

 

Sixth Form: Wollstonecraft Speaker Series 

At the heart of developing and engaging students with careers is our flagship Wollstonecraft Speaker Series. Running fortnightly, students are given the opportunity to listen to and learn from visiting speakers. Our ever-expanding network of speakers represents a wide range of careers and experiences, including politics, palaeontology, physiotherapy, law, medicine, pharmaceuticals, biochemistry, entrepreneurship, local governance, opera, journalism, media, TV & film production, theatre directing, sustainability, fashion, forensic psychology, charities, degree apprenticeships, cyber-security, publishing and engineering. Students have the opportunity to ask questions and network with our speakers. Recently, 5 students secured work experience with a green energy investment firm as a direct result of engaging with the speaker. While the series is primarily aimed at Sixth Formers, students of all ages in the Senior School – particularly Key Stage 4 students – are welcome to attend. 

 

Sixth Form: Wollstonecraft Skills Sessions 

In 2024, Sixth Form students embarked upon a series of monthly sessions which focus on active listening skills. Dubbed the ‘Wollstonecraft Skills Sessions’ the programme is designed to equip students with the skills they need to become better listeners, debaters and negotiators through a series of carefully designed activities. Next academic year, this programme will form part of the PowerSkills Toolkit, currently in development by the Head of Futures and due to be launched in September 2025. Following an analysis of the GDST Girls Futures Report (2022) and an extensive audit, our Head of Futures is developing a practical toolkit of unique lessons, designed to explore and develop the practical skills needed by young people in their professional and personal lives. Such skills include active listening, problem-solving, presenting, public speaking, networking and negotiating. These skills are ones which have been identified by employers and organisations as being most in demand by 2030. Blackheath High School aims to inculcate its students with the skills and confidence needed to be equipped not just for the world of work but for their lives in general. 

Bespoke careers events

Bespoke events:  Year 7 - 13 

Each year group has access to at least one unique event every academic year which is tailored to their career needs. For example, Year 9 participate in a ‘Look to the Future’ day, where they can speed-interview visiting speakers about their careers whilst developing their interpersonal skills and confidence. This year, our Year 9 Options Evening also featured a BHS alumna who recently won a place on a prestigious Warner Bros. Apprenticeship scheme. Year 10 work with careers company InvestIN, exploring employability skills and the future landscape of work; while Year 11 and 12 also work with InvestIN on CV writing, LinkedIn and how to present oneself.  

The Futures Department takes advantage of as many opportunities as possible. Sixth Form students regularly participate in the 'Women of the Future' event at Lords Cricket Ground, learning from inspiring women and networking with students from a wide range of schools. Founded by Pinky Lilani CBE DL, the Women of the Future Ambassadors Programme in association with TSB Bank is a unique initiative that connects their Women of the Future and Asian Women of Achievement Award (Ambassadors) with Sixth Form students. The objective of the Programme is to provide students with mentors and role models, strengthening the pipeline of talent among Britain’s younger women. 

In early 2024, five students went to the US Embassy to hear a panel of Embassy speakers detailing their roles and what a typical day looks like, then participate in small-group discussions led by a member of the US Embassy staff where they were given contemporary problems to try and navigate. 

External impartial careers guidance

GDST CareerStart webinars  

One of the benefits of being part of the GDST family is the ability to share resources and best practice. The GDST Heads of Careers work together to provide all GDST students and parents with a range of exciting career webinars, where attendees also can ask questions of the speakers. All webinars are recorded and are made available to parents and students who were unable to attend. Blackheath High School has been delighted to recently host a CareerStart webinar on Careers in Gaming and Careers in Neuroscience. GDST CareerStart webinars are open to all students and parents; some will be more pertinent to specific year groups e.g. ‘Applying to Oxbridge’. 

 

InvestIN 

We work closely with InvestIN, a careers experience company who run a range of exciting and diverse experiences for students from Year 7 – 13. InvestIN also provide free parental webinars as well as student webinars, where all can learn more about specific careers and how parents can support their daughter through her career journey. Recent webinars have included ‘Success Beyond School’; the upcoming February programme for parent and students focuses on specific careers, including salary expectations! InvestIN also deliver engaging in-school workshops; recent sessions have included Employability Skills to Year 9 and Careers in Sustainability to our Year 11 students.  

 

Unifrog 

Unifrog is an online platform which all students and parents have access to. Unifrog is beneficial in many ways. It helps students to:  

  • record their achievements
  • find education and training opportunities
  • write their CVs 
  • compare universities, degree options, apprenticeships, and college courses 
  • connect with opportunities through partnerships with universities and employers 

More importantly, Unifrog provides impartial and independent guidance on post-school options. It facilitates students to make informed decisions about their next steps after school through an impartial and carefully-curated series of resources.  

 

My Future Choice 

A key aspect of excellent careers provision is providing impartial and up to date guidance to students. The My Future Choice careers company provide a range of tools which are designed to help students explore their career options, compare opportunities, and make informed decisions. Blackheath High School works closely with the My Future Choice team to ensure that students in Year 10 and 11 receive a rigorous and personalised careers programme via the Year 10 careers aptitude assessment and questionnaire, which is followed by a 1-1 careers interview in Year 11. Students receive a detailed report which they can download to share with parents. 

 

Careers aptitude and assessment testing 

Years 10 & 11: careers aptitude and assessment testing and feedback interviews 

Every year during the Summer Term, Year 10 students undertake careers aptitude testing and complete a careers questionnaire. Combining the aptitude test and the questionnaire enables students to match their aptitudes with career areas under consideration, giving them a deeper understanding of their potential capabilities. For staff, the combination enables much more specific - and therefore valuable - careers advice. Follow-up interviews take place when students are in Year 11 which are designed to help students understand and utilise the feedback and start some focused research. Students can download their personalised reports to share with their tutors and parents. 

 

The two-part process is as follows: 

My Aptitude 

My Aptitude is a psychometrically based aptitude test developed with occupational psychologist Dr Charles Johnson. It gives students valuable insights into the careers best suited to their skills and interests. It also helps staff understand students’ academic potential and abilities so they can better advise on next steps. Additionally, psychometric tests can sometimes be used by employers, academic institutions and graduate training schemes. Practising them helps students gain confidence and avoid stress when they are presented with similar tests, learning that accuracy is more important than speed and students should not worry if they fail to complete sections. 

 

My Career Choices 

My Career Choices analyses individual student responses to 300 questions, creating a profile based on over 40 broad career areas. The questionnaire is designed to: 

  • Stimulate thought and lively discussion around careers 
  • Give students information on the top key career areas that may be of interest 
  • Provide a personalised AS/A level chart needed according to different career areas
  • Stimulate further careers research along with a structured way for students to investigate their options and ask the right questions 

At the end of the process, each student receives a detailed report with insightful feedback and suggestions for future research. 

 

Women in Leadership Series: Year 10 - 13 

Established in 2018 by the Head of Futures, our biannual Women in Leadership event is designed to explore specific careers/skills and it continues to inspire and motivate. In 2024 we hosted our latest Women in Leadership conference, and invited students from local school John Roan to join our Year 10-13 students for the event. This was specifically designed to promote and develop an understanding of sustainability and how environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) is part of every business, irrespective of size. Students learned from expert speakers, took part in workshops and shared ideas for how we might plan for a more sustainable future. Our key questions were: 

  • What is sustainability?
  • How do people, planet and profit connect? 
  • How can behaviours be changed? 
  • What are the reasons to be optimistic in the face of significant challenges? 

These conferences are an exciting, challenging, and thought-provoking day where students and speakers interrogate some of the most complex questions of our time. A series of break-out sessions led by our visiting speakers enable students to focus on specific issues, ask questions, and develop their confidence whilst improving their knowledge and understanding of sustainability and the implications for 21st century living. 

Our speakers have included: Professors in Sustainable Fashion, Pharmacists, Lawyers, Heads of Financial Services & Investments, Greenpeace and Sustainability Consultants, amongst many. 

Excitingly our 2025 event will focus on Gaming and AI. Previous Women in Leadership events have explored leadership, entrepreneurial and communication skills. 

Developing key skills for life and careers

The development of key life and career skills through our PowerSkills Toolkit will be woven throughout the curriculum for both Junior and Senior School girls and will become a core component of our Futures programme.

Following an analysis of the GDST Girls Futures Report (2022), our Futures programme will incorporate a toolkit of unique lessons, designed to explore and develop the practical skills needed by young people in their professional and personal lives. Such skills include active listening, problem-solving, presenting, public speaking, networking and negotiating - focusing on key skills identified by employers and organisations as being most in demand by 2030. Blackheath High School aims to inculcate its students with the skills and confidence needed to be equipped not just for the world of work but for their lives in general. The aim of the toolkit is to focus on the following key areas:

  • Leadership: proactive, organisation, innovation
  • Collaboration: teamwork, active listening, cooperation                         
  • Risk-taking: confidence, public speaking, networking                                    
  • Resourcefulness: problem-solving, creativity, independence
  • Intellectual curiosity: critical thinking, questioning, challenging       
  • Personal responsibility: wellbeing, financial responsibility, safety
  • Social responsibility: tolerance, sustainability, equality
  • Resilience: tenacity, determination, compassion