The School has a well-resourced Careers Room run by a full time member of staff and an assistant. It is open throughout the school day and students are encouraged to come in and make full use of the resources available and to discuss and research their plans and ideas. The School is a member of the Independent Schools Careers Organisation, which provides help and guidance until the age of 23.

Pupils follow a well structured careers programme, starting with guidance on the implications of GCSE subject choices at the end of the First Year. Thereafter, the programme includes opportunities for aptitude and interest tests, mock interviews, and university and careers lectures and workshops designed to guide pupils with both subject and Higher Education choices. The Department also advertises opportunities for pupils to attend Higher Education Conventions, Taster Courses and Seminars and University Open Days, in addition to providing help with work experience placements and Gap Year options.

Parents are encouraged to participate in their child's career planning and have full access to the resources of the department. They receive copies of the Futurwise Profiling tests, and parents of Year 11 and Lower Sixth Form pupils are invited to seminars so that they can keep abreast of current trends.

The Careers and Guidance programme aims to enable pupils to

• Play a full part in and take responsibility for their career planning
• Apply understanding of themselves to their knowledge of the different roles in society and the opportunities available
• Learn how to make decisions, how to evaluate them and how to learn from the experience
• Acquire key skills, knowledge and attitudes which will enable them to manage change within the different roles of their life

Careers Education and Guidance Programme

First Year (Year 9) / Second Year (Year 10)

• Introduction to the Careers Education and Guidance programme
• Advice on the implications of decisions made about GCSE subjects
• Encouraged to begin to make use of the Careers Library and the resources available
• Different career routes
• The notion of work experience and placement options
• Subject choices

Third Year (Year 11)

• Futurewise Psychometric Profiling
• Individual interviews to discuss the outcome of the psychometric test and the options available for further/higher education
• Evaluation and selection of Sixth Form subjects
• Preparation for work experience during the summer holidays, including help with writing a CV

Lower Sixth Form (Year 12)

• An opportunity to participate in the Careers and Higher Education Guidance Scheme organized by ISCO (for those who have not taken part in Year 11). This includes a psychometric test, interests questionnaire and an individual interview to assist in the selection or confirmation of A Level subjects, bearing in mind career possibilities.
• Expanding Horizons
• Biennial Management Conferences
• A Higher Education Day at Bryanston for parents and students during the Summer Term
• Biennial Gap Year Fair
• Visits to HE Convention/University Open Days
• Workshops with visiting speakers on specific career opportunities/courses
• Taster Days
• Guidance on Oxbridge entrance and choice of college; visit to Oxbridge regional conference
• Assistance with applying to universities in the US, in conjunction with a consultant
• Preparation and workshops to assist with applications for university, college or work
• Access to a well resourced Careers Room and advice on the use of a wide range of careers material

Upper Sixth Form (Year 13)

• Group sessions for advice on and monitoring of applications
• Individual practice interview (recorded on video) and guidance session with a visiting specialist in the student’s chosen career/subject area
• Talks from visiting speakers on specific career opportunities
• Advice on the financial implications of Higher Education

GAP Year

Students are given regular advice and talks on opportunities in the GAP year. The Worldwide Volunteering database is available on the school network and the Careers Library also has details of a wide range of programmes offered by specialist organisations. In addition, there is a biennial GAP year convention.

Work Experience

Bryanstonians are encouraged to undertake work experience during the summer holidays following their GCSE exams. Further work experience may be valuable in the Sixth Form, particularly for those considering vocational Higher Education courses. The Careers Department is able to assist when parents cannot find suitable placements.

The Careers Department also offers post-A Level assistance.