CAREERS NEWSLETTER July 2025 / Issue 15
Championing Careers We have a bumper packed edition of careers news for you! It’s been a jam-packed few months since our biennial careers fair in March with lots of positive and successful outcomes. We recently won the National Careers Challenge. More details about this amazing win for our Y10 team can be found on page 5. In April, we said goodbye to our amazing student career leaders Rose, James & Joe. More about what they achieved and introducing our new team on page 2.
Index Page 1 - Welcome Page 2 - Careers Team News Page 3 - 9 - What’s been happening Y7-Y13 Page 10 - Careers Fair Page 11 - 13 - Upcoming opportunities this summer
Thank you to our student career ambassadors for their help with events this year and for contributing to this newsletter. Extra Curricular – please take a look at the opportunities students can sign up to over the coming months to help improve their knowledge and soft skills for future applications. Thank you to everyone who has supported our careers programme this year. Wishing everyone a very enjoyable summer break. Mrs Lovelace - Careers & Enterprise Leader
Don’t forget to follow us X - @cgsinspiration Instagram - @cgs_careers
CAREERS TEAM NEWS STUDENT CAREER LEADERS AND AMBASSADORS Our student careers team have truly embraced their roles supporting the department and helping to grow the awareness of careers across the school community. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our outgoing student career leaders, Rose, James & Joe for all their hard work & support and to wish them all the very best in their next steps after CGS. We look forward to welcoming them back to inspire students at CGS at future events.
CAREER ADVISER APPOINTMENTS Please remember that we have a dedicated independent careers adviser in most Thursdays. Appointments to discuss options and choices with Mr Ritchie can be made by contacting the careers office or speaking to your Head of Year.
Our newly appointed student career leaders Elise, Jack & Tom are already continuing to build and develop the careers programme and support the student ambassadors in Years 8-11. They have started the process of recruiting new ambassadors for Year 8 in September.
CAREERS TEAM We are delighted to announce that Mrs Hill has joined the Careers & Development team. She is a great addition to the team helping with all the careers appointments, events and alumni visits.
Please email careersoffice@cheshamgrammar.org Notes and follow up actions from appointments are always uploaded to students’ Unifrog accounts. Students seeking help with CV writing, interview prep, work experience guidance, please pop by the careers office opposite S8 any time.
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE SKILLS HUB Our local hub provides invaluable careerrelated information, including guides to different job sectors, work experience opportunities, case studies on the world of work, how to make yourself more employable, and much more! They have now teamed up with Springpod to bring a new on-demand platform packed full of free virtual work experience opportunities. https://virtual.careersandenterprise.co.uk/caree rs-hub/buckinghamshire-skills-hub-andoxfordshire-careers-hub
CAN YOU HELP? We are always looking for variety of speakers for talks, so please do get in touch if you can spare 3040mins one lunch time. We’d love to hear from you.
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN CAREERS Y7 NATIONAL CAREERS CHALLENGE Y7 took part in the National Careers Challenge in January. In groups of six, they were given the task to develop a sustainable town of the future. Congratulations to “City of Nespore” team who went to the finals earlier this month. Amalie, Garv, Niall, Gus, Cosmo & Theo should be extremely proud of their superb presentation. The skills and development of the team over the last month will provide them with invaluable key skills for the future.
WORK SHADOWING DAY BY HOLLY Y8 On the February inset day, we each do one day of work shadowing, ideally with a parent or close family friend. I personally went into London with my Dad who works in investment banking and although I can say I do not want to follow him in that path, it did teach me a lot about working in an office and gave me a good insight into office life (and long days). It was also very interesting interviewing different people within the office. Work shadowing is a very fun day which helps you to be more prepared and enhances your knowledge of different careers.
STEM MORNING BY LAUREN Y8 In June, Y8 had the opportunity to gain an insight into a variety of careers in STEM. We had workshops with three companies working in different areas of STEM. During the presentation from OCU, we learned about the need for more women in STEM, as well as the different roles and departments needed to accomplish large scale projects, from the people needed to operate cranes, to those tasked with communications. The workshop with EKFB showed us how companies tackle issues that may arise during their work, and the qualifications and experience needed to progress in the field of construction. We also had the chance to participate in a teamwork-based activity of following instructions to eventually build a bridge. This showed us the importance of perseverance and collaboration needed when interacting with colleagues. Lastly, we had a presentation from Martin Baker, a company TITLE who make ejection seats! We learned about all the procedures needed from the construction of the seat itself to the multitude of rigorous safety tests and precautions taken. Another interesting aspect of the talk was about degree apprenticeships. We learned about what this further education choice entailed, about the many positives, as well as the negatives, coming from a former apprentice himself. I personally found the STEM morning incredibly interesting, as it has encouraged me and many others to think about my future and a possible career in STEM. I learned that there are many more aspects and jobs in relation to working in STEM than I had previously thought. Overall, I found the talks & activities extremely helpful.
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN CAREERS
BUCKS SKILLS SHOW BY EMILY Y9 The Buckinghamshire Skills Show is arranged for students to find out more about the different careers they may want to pursue in later life. It is a great opportunity to learn about what there is on offer, and to help you potentially make decisions about what you are interested in. There are lots of stands to wander around and interact with, all of which represent different companies that you may have interest in working for, or just in that field. With games and prizes to win, there is lots to do and even more to experience. Over 100 businesses and organisations attend, so there is something of interest for everyone.
GCSE OPTIONS BY JENSEN Y9 Choosing our GCSE options was an exciting experience as it marked a new chapter in our education. In the weeks leading up to the decision, the school was very accommodating with a presentation on the options we could choose and how the process would work.
Thank you to our Y10 student career ambassadors, Tali and Megan for joining the assembly giving their advice and tips about choosing GCSE options.
COLLEGE TALKS
After lessons, teachers were happy to discuss the syllabus and talk about the opportunities that could arise from whichever subject we chose. I struggled to decide which GCSEs to pick but found that both the assemblies, as well as numerous discussions with those with similar interests, helped me make an informed decision. I found the help and information the school provides is extremely useful and I would encourage anyone to seek help whether you are choosing your GCSEs next year or are just looking to the future.
NEWS HERE
As part of our commitment to our provider access policy, students in Years 10 and 11 were visited apprenticeships by BCA (Berkshire College of Agriculture) and Years 8 and 9 had a presentation from Bucks College Group. Both colleges talked about alternative options available to students after GCSEs.
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN CAREERS ASPIRATION DAY BY MEGAN Y10 Aspiration Day was so helpful for me as a way of getting a good idea of future careers and what’s available to me after CGS. The day involved a fun workshop where pupils came and spoke to us about their journeys after CGS. It really gave me an insight into how many different options there were, for example: university, paid degree apprenticeship and more. They also gave us tips for exams, applying to university, jobs and things we can do in school that would help us to decide our options for A levels.
NATIONAL CAREERS CHALLENGE BY TALI Y10 Earlier this year, Y10 took part in the Inspirational Learning Group’s National Careers Challenge – a full-day workshop taken every year by Years 7 and 10. It involves working in groups of 5 or 6 to complete creative tasks set by different companies. This year’s challenge was set in collaboration with home improvement store Wickes. The challenge, unlike in previous years, had 2 tasks. Firstly, we were tasked with identifying a disused area of the school or local community and suggesting a way to revive the space and transform it into a community area, using Wickes products. Secondly, we were asked to develop TITLE an idea for a new product or service Wickes could offer to encourage customers to take on more DIY projects and to make DIY feel more accessible and less daunting. Both parts of the challenge were great fun and tested our teamwork, time management and creativity. We had to divide up the tasks within our teams based on our individual strengths and weaknesses, communicate effectively, and navigate realistic obstacles such as staying within a strict budget. At the end of the day, a few groups were chosen to present their projects to a team of judges, who decided on the winning team, Serenity Garden. This team progressed to the national finals in London and were crowned the winners for the Y10 challenge. This now means that CGS has won the competition four times in 2016, 2019, 2022 and now 2025. Huge congratulations to Ran, Libby, Ana, Will & Max for their outstanding presentation, hard work and teamwork.
WORK EXPERIENCE WORK EXPERIENCE Y11 Earlier this term, Y11 students joined an assembly to launch their summer work experience that should take place after their GCSE exams. Students heard from James A, Iona and James S about how to find work experience, what they learnt from the experience and how they have developed transferable skills.
WORK EXPERIENCE Y12
We are delighted to be hearing from parents and students about their successful placements, what they have learnt and how valuable they have found the experience.
Work experience is incredibly valuable. It’s quite often thought that it’s only useful if you know exactly what job you want in the future, but that’s simply not true. Gaining an insight into a field gives you a great idea about the things you do and don’t like, so even if you complete some work experience and think that that job may not be for you, you have still learnt something. A vast majority of Y12 students have been completing work experience opportunities this last term or have something set up over the summer. Please remember to log any work experience as an activity on Unifrog before you return in September.
APPRENTICESHIPS Each year, more and more students are interested in and applying for apprenticeship opportunities. This year alone, 5 students have already secured an apprenticeship ranging across a variety of sectors. Our apprenticeship alumni network is growing and we are proud to celebrate their achievements.
YEAR 12 LECTURES
WIth the majority of students leaving CGS for university, this is a growing alternative route to successful careers which is important for students to understand.
Through assemblies, talks and workshops, students are introduced to all pathways CAN YOU HELP? throughout their time at CGS so that they can make informed decisions. For any students wishing to learn more or who require assistance for applying, please pop by the Careers Office opposite S8.
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN CAREERS MOCK MEDICAL INTERVIEWS Professionals from a variety of medical fields came in to replicate medical interviews with our aspiring medicine, dentistry and veterinary students. Thank you to the parents and alumni who kindly supported this event which we know hugely benefitted the students ahead of their interviews. We are looking to repeat this again in November should any parents be willing to spare a couple of hours one afternoon we’d be delighted to hear from you.
MOCK ASSESSMENT CENTRE BY JACK Y12 In June, a consultant from the Bucks Skills Hub hosted a session for students considering degree apprenticeships. The session covered multiple key aspects of applying for degree apprenticeships, including what is required in applications, mock assessment scenarios, and interview techniques. The apprenticeship workshop was very useful for understanding the process of applying and helping develop important skills that are useful in assessment centres, such as communication, teamwork, and leadership. The workshop was split into two group projects. Initially, we had a trading exercise with the objective of maximising the value of tokens we were given. Following this we were presented with a business proposal, in which we had to pick 2 of 5 potential strategies and present our reasoning behind the decisions. This greatly helped me develop my public speaking skills and selfconfidence which are both invaluable skills for the future.
Old Cheshamians We are very fortunate to have such an engaged and encouraging alumni supporting our students at CGS. Since September, we have had more than 50 alumni support sixth form lectures, career talks and events across a wide range of fields ranging from higher education, finance, engineering, medicine, law, marketing, data science, cyber security, fashion and many more. With thanks to Mrs. Ware for her work in establishing and growing our alumni network. Her dedication has laid the foundation for a vibrant and connected community, helping past students stay in touch and share their journeys with current students. If you or anyone you know attended CGS/Chesham High, please get in touch with martha.ware@cheshamgrammar.org
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN CAREERS CRIMINOLOGY DAY BY OLIVIA H Y12 On 4th July, I attended a Criminology workshop called “Crime Scene to Courtroom” run by a company called Zakon, where we investigated a real-life murder case. The workshop’s aim was to introduce a range of different careers that are available in the process of investigating a crime. We began by listening to a 999 call and learned how messages are passed from the caller to the 999 dispatcher to the police. Then we were given the case file and began looking at the crime scene. We were taught about the importance of decision making in cases like these as indecision and doubt can hinder an investigation enormously. We made decisions about what parts of the building to section off, and which suspects we would talk to first, ordering them by importance. We saw a recreation of the crime scene and identified any anomalies that could be used as clues or evidence and we watched and heard interviews of our suspects which we were able to recreate, learning about the different kinds of interview techniques that the police use. We were then shown forensic evidence of fingerprints and shoe tread prints and were tasked with identifying the suspects based on these. In the afternoon, we staged a courtroom with our suspect, witnesses, jury, barristers, and judges, where we were able to see the different roles in a courtroom. The entire workshop was extremely enjoyable to take part in, and the leader, Simon, was very engaging and interested us with many stories of his policing career. We were exposed to the many careers that are available in the police sector, such as 999 dispatcher, paramedic, detective sergeant, police constable, forensic investigators, the role of a CI (confidential informant), pathologist, and many more. At university, I am hoping to study Criminology and this workshop has confidently solidified this for me. After seeing the range of career opportunities available, as well as how each person has the ability to help others, I am definitely considering a career in the police, particularly as a Detective Sergeant. This workshop was so engaging and very well organised and I would highly recommend to anyone asking.
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN CAREERS OXBRIDGE & HEALTHCARE SUPPORT Recognising the additional application steps for aspiring Healthcare candidates and those looking to apply to the University of Oxford and Cambridge, Y12 students have had the opportunity to attend a wide range of events to help them with their preparations. In December, we took a group of students to look around Somerville and St. Anne's College in Oxford to talk to first year students to expose commonly held myths about studying at Oxbridge. In April, we went on our annual UCAS convention where Medical students had the opportunity to speak to universities they are considering applying to and find out more information about course content, delivery and admissions requirements. In June, we had talks from both CGS alumni who are studying Medicine and alumni who are studying at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge to explore the application process and a chance to ask questions about their experiences. Our budding Medics also had one-to-one sessions with a CGS alumnus- a chance for some individualised support and insight. In July, we hosted a Roadshow from the University of Cambridge and heard from the Schools Liaison Officer for Homerton College as well as a hugely informative talk from a current Year 13 student on applying to Veterinary Medicine, who provided an array of pitfalls and pointers. As the term draws to a close, the teachers have been offering subject-specific support for those with early entry applications and we have run workshops on personal statements to provide an understanding of what makes a successful application for early entry. We are looking forward to a busy Autumn term supporting all students with their post-18 applications and ensuring that everyone has the support and insight they need to make their next chapter a happy, aspirational and successful one.
SIXTH FORM TEAM It has been a pleasure working along side the sixth form team to help deliver these events.
CAREERS FAIR CAREERS FAIR & CELEBRATING NATIONAL CAREERS WEEK
Our largest event in the careers calendar is the biennial Careers Fair. This year we had over 70 stands with a variety of employers, universities and colleges. We had a host of talks on applying to university, degree apprenticeships and student finance. We felt it was a huge success and would like to thank all the parents, alumni and local businesses who supported the event by offering their services to help inspire the next generation.
YEAR 12 LECTURES
We also celebrated National Careers Week with our student career leaders and ambassadors hosting the house assemblies all week.
Contact:
If you would like to be involved in any careers related events, please do get in touch. Please also contact careers for any career related support and advice. Our student career ambassadors are also happy to help students with any queries relating to career events. Kate Lovelace, Careers Leader (kate.lovelace@cheshamgrammar.org
Lucy Hill, Careers Administrator (careersoffice@cheshamgrammar.org)
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES PowerUp Fest 2025 - Law Careers Day Organised by Young Professionals and Peppo Tutors, this is your chance to meet leading legal employers, take part in interactive workshops, and enjoy an inspiring, high-energy day filled with career insight and summer vibes! Some of the law firms attending include: Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Linklaters, A&O Shearman, Slaughter and May, Weil, Skadden, Taylor Wessing and many more! Date: 21st July Location: Online Sign up : Virtual sign up Eligibility: Year 12 and 13 students
Engineering Development Trust We are running a series of online masterclasses to help equip your students with key competency skills and knowledge that will help them to get ahead of the crowd. These sessions will be run by experienced industry professionals and after each presentation the students will have the opportunity to ask questions and receive a certificate of attendance for their portfolio. Date: Throughout Summer Location: Online Sign up : Here Eligibility: Year 12 and 13 students
Virtual Allied Healthcare Work Experience The Only LIVE NHS Healthcare Careers Virtual Work Experience in the UK Run by Healthcare Professionals! Let us help you to take your first steps into the world of healthcare careers. It is live, giving you the chance to interact will healthcare professionals, but from the comfort and safety of your own home. Join thousands of other students who are exploring healthcare careers with the help of our LIVE simulated high fidelity work experience programme! Date: 3rd August Location: Online Sign up : Here Eligibility: Year 10, 11,12 and 3
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES NHS Healthcare opportunities Apply for NHS work experience this autumn Interested in finding out more about healthcare careers? Students who are moving into Years 12 and 13 in the autumn are invited to apply for work experience at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust next term. The link will be posted on the Trust’s website between Friday 22 August – Sunday 7 September under the tab ‘apply for work experience’ during this time. Eligibility: Year 12 and 13 students
Engineering Development Trust - Insight into University - STEM Insight into University (previously known as Headstart) is a comprehensive virtual experience allowing students to explore STEM studies at university including degree apprenticeships and the career opportunities that these subjects lead to. It provides access to information on university and student life, STEM projects and activities set by leading UK universities and global STEM companies, first year undergraduate lectures, live interactive sessions with academics, admissions tutors, apprentices, employers and current students. Date: Over summer Location: Online (fee paying course) Sign up : Here Eligibility: Year 11, 12 and 13 students
Engineering Development Trust - Silver Routes Into STEM 16+ This is a four-day local (non-residential) experience that provides young people aged 16+ an amazing opportunity to explore STEM educational providers and companies, network with role models within the sector and develop a range of key skills through hands-on activities. The experience will include four days discovering different STEM pathways from universities to local companies while taking part in interactive workshops, university labs and hearing from industry professionals about different journeys into STEM. Date: 29th July to 1st August Location: London (fee paying course) Sign up : Here Eligibility: Age 16 +
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES TechGirl Festival On 28 August, we’re hosting the TechGirl Festival in partnership with Cambridge United Football Club. It’s a high-energy, in-person event for young women aged 16+ to explore careers in tech and STEM, and meet some of the most inspiring people in the industry. Hands-on tech experiences Insight into real-world career paths The chance to meet and be mentored by global tech leaders Date: 28th August Location: Cambridge Football Club Sign up : Here Eligibility: Age 16+
Lloyds Banking Group - Law Summer Virtual Work Experience Are you considering a career in law or finance? Want to understand what lawyers do inside some of the world’s top businesses? Join us for this virtual two-day insight programme with Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) to gain an exclusive look into the world of in-house legal teams, take part in workshops, develop your skills, and hear real-life career stories from legal professionals working in a leading FTSE 100 company. Date: 29th to 30th July Location: Online Sign up : Here Eligibility: Year 11,12 and 13
Engineering Opportunities Think engineering’s all hard hats and heavy lifting? Think again. From building satellite engines for NASA to revolutionising motorsport at Silverstone, our country is full of exciting opportunities to innovate, create and collaborate. Discover where you fit in here
Army Opportunities Did you know the Army offers bursaries that not only help fund university education, but also provide financial support for adventurous training and travel opportunities.
Find out more here