CAREERS NEWSLETTER Introductory Edition · September 2026 KINDNESS · CONNECTION · RESPONSIBILITY · FORWARD -THINKING
WELCOME
A Message from the Careers Department At St Catherine's, we want every pupil to leave us with the confidence, independence and self-belief to embrace the opportunities ahead and make a positive contribution to society. Research has proven that a strong careers education can play an important role in preparing students for the future, helping them to understand their strengths, explore their interests and aspirations and make informed decisions about their futures. Our careers programme at St Catherine’s supports pupils at every stage of their journey, from broadening horizons and inspiring ambition in the younger years to providing personalised guidance for university, apprenticeship and career pathways in Sixth Form. Above all, careers education encourages our pupils to be curious, reflective and ambitious, equipping them with the employability skills, knowledge and confidence to flourish both during their time at St Catherine's and beyond.
WIDER PROGRAMME
Careers at St Catherine's Our careers programme is structured to ensure that there is meaningful support and inspiration for every pupil, from U3 to U6. Throughout their time at St Catherine's, pupils benefit from:
● Careers and futures guidance
● Work experience opportunities
● Encounters with employers and industry professionals
● University and apprenticeship support & guidance
● Parent and alumnae networking opportunities
● Tailored support at key transition & decision points ● Careers research and planning through Unifrog
● Employability skills development
The programme extends to our Careers Ideas programme in the Prep School and continues to provide support to our alumnae through the St Catherine’s Association with its network of over 8,000 members.
ST CATHERINE'S BRAMLEY
KINDNESS · CONNECTION · RESPONSIBILITY · FORWARD -THINKING
Page 2
FU T U R E S P R O G R A M M E
St Catherine’s Future Ready programme The vision for the Future Ready Programme is that girls are confident to think boldly and lead with purpose. The aim of the St Catherine’s Future Ready Programme is to ensure that pupils are encouraged to belong, to grow and to shape their future. Futures: Careers is an integral part of this programme, from U3 through to U6. Through taught lessons, lectures and experiences, pupils develop employability skills alongside their academic learning. Throughout the programme, pupils are encouraged to reflect on their experiences through the Unifrog competencies.
Competencies include: •
Communication
•
Teamwork
•
Emotional Intelligence
•
Confidence
•
Resilience
•
Digital literacy
•
Critical thinking
•
Time management/organisation
•
Leadership
•
Problem solving
U NI F R O G
Unifrog Now Available to All Pupils We are very excited to confirm that by half term all Senior School pupils will have access to Unifrog, the online careers and destinations platform. Unifrog enables pupils to:
•
Explore thousands of career pathways
•
Research UK and international universities
•
Investigate apprenticeships and alternative pathways
•
Complete skills and personality profiling
•
Record achievements and experiences
•
Develop career action plans
ST CATHERINE'S BRAMLEY
KINDNESS · CONNECTION · RESPONSIBILITY · FORWARD -THINKING
Page 3
WORK EXPERIENCE
Work Experience Work experience plays a vital role in helping students bridge the gap between education and the workplace.
Through both in-person placements and virtual opportunities, students develop confidence, independence and essential employability skills while exploring careers that match their interests and aspirations. In-person work experience offers valuable first-hand insight into professional environments and workplace expectations, while virtual experiences provide access to a wider range of organisations and sectors that may not otherwise be available locally. Together, these opportunities help students make informed decisions about their future and better understand the skills and qualities employers value. The St Catherine’s Work Experience Booklet contains useful guidance and a range of valuable links to help students find and make the most of both in-person and virtual opportunities. Click on the booklet to read it.
COMMUNITY
Our Association Community Makes the Difference Our thriving community of parents, alumnae and professional contacts helps bring careers education to life for pupils. Through this network we can offer: •
Career insight talks
•
University guidance
•
Mentoring opportunities
•
Industry expertise
•
Networking events — including our London Network
•
Work experience connections
ST CATHERINE'S BRAMLEY
KINDNESS · CONNECTION · RESPONSIBILITY · FORWARD -THINKING
Page 4
PARENTS
How You Can Support Careers Education at St Catherine’s Small Conversations Make a Big Difference •
Talk about your own career journey
•
Discuss future interests and aspirations
•
Explore careers together on Unifrog
•
Encourage attendance at careers events
•
Share professional insights and experiences
Get Involved We are always delighted to hear from parents who may be able to contribute through:
•
Speaking about their career sector
•
Speaking about their career journey
•
Offering industry insight
•
Providing workplace visits
•
Supporting mentoring initiatives
•
Sharing work experience opportunities
Please contact the Careers Department if you would like to get involved.
ST AY C O N N E C T E D
LinkedIn The St Catherine's LinkedIn account provides a virtual network for our alumnae, parents and staff, as well as our Sixth Form students. Please connect with us by following our LinkedIn account. Click on the icon to follow the link.
CO N TACT
Catherine Taylor Director of Careers Email catherine.taylor@stcatherines.info Phone 01483 899814
ST CATHERINE'S BRAMLEY
KINDNESS · CONNECTION · RESPONSIBILITY · FORWARD -THINKING
Page 5