For young people it is not always obvious where life will lead.  This is often even more the case when a student is very talented as there are so many potential paths open to them.

As far as future careers are concerned, we find that some of our students have clear goals when they arrive, but for others this is a much harder decision to make.  To help students (and their parents) to make an informed and sensible decision all students at Concord are given specialist careers guidance.

This careers guidance will normally involve a student taking a two hour online, psycho-metric and aptitude style test either during their GCSE course or on entry into 6.1.  The results of this test are used to give the student and their family a wide number of suggestions of possible university course and career choices.  All students in Form 5 and 6.1. receive an independent, one-to-one careers interview with Concord’s Student Futures Officer (SFO), to discuss the careers profiling report. The main aim will be for the student, guided by the SFO and their Tutor, to formulate a clear Plan A and Plan B for life post-Concord.  In this way, it is hoped that the student is able to make a balanced and informed decision regarding their chosen career choice.  A special report is issued at the end of 6.1. dedicated to the student’s aspirations and current rate of progress in respect to these goals.

Work experience can be an important element of making a choice of university course and career.  Guidance on appropriate placements is given by University Coordinators and the SFO. In recent years, Concord students have taken up work placements relating to medicine, architecture, veterinary medicine, dentistry, engineering and law that have been facilitated by the college. Detailed information on relevant university courses can be found in Concord’s Careers Library and can be discussed with the Student Futures Officer, the Library staff and the with the student’s Tutor, Head of House and subject teachers.

Concord also hosts a series of activities and talks relating to careers planning. In 2019 we hosted the first National Skills Enterprise day for Form 5 and 6.1. students. Regular lectures are organised to support university applications in specific subject areas. Alumni are also invited back to support current students in developing their career goals.