Pupils are initially encouraged to develop an interest in their futures in Form 3 through PSE lessons. Careers education becomes more specific and targeted in the Fourth Year when pupils are invited to attend an evening careers event held at the College along with Form 5 and the Sixth Form, which event serves to whet the appetite for further investigation and discussion. Shortly after this event Form 4 students begin to plan a week’s work experience which takes place at the end of the summer term.
All students are enrolled in the Futurewise programme run by ISCO (Independent Schools’Careers Service) at the beginning of their Fifth year. Following three hours of psychometric testing, each student is issued with a folder containing a detailed personal profile. Each pupil has an individual interview with a careers specialist from ISCO, in which they log onto their site within the Futurewise website, which site provides a vast amount of careers information and support.
Opportunities to attend our careers events and to have individual interviews with external careers specialists continue throughout Form 5 and into the Sixth Form
Once in the Sixth Form advice is targeted towards the next step after Shebbear which usually involves a UCAS application. A specialist from ISCO runs a day’s workshop for the Lower Sixth which focusses on the construction of the personal statement; an evening event is held to offer information to the parents. UCAS application support continues to be offered throughout the Upper Sixth year by each student’s tutor.
Once a student leaves Shebbear College, external support provided by Futurewise continues until their 23rd year.