At CLS we believe that pupils can achieve great academic outcomes, while also developing the commercial awareness, perspective and skills needed for life beyond education.
We place career learning and skills at the heart of our education. Through our Futures programme, we equip pupils to be ready for higher education and their professional lives.
Connecting with the world of work
Through our themed networking breakfasts, to which we welcome over 100 speakers to breakfasts across the school year, pupils engage directly with professionals from a wide range of sectors, gaining candid insights into different roles, career journeys and workplace realities. These conversations help pupils broaden their horizons, ask informed questions and develop confidence in building professional relationships.
Our work placement programme gives Fifth Form and Junior Sixth pupils the opportunity to apply that learning in professional settings. This year, the programme provided more than 145 placements across 15 sectors, enabling pupils to develop commercial awareness, independence and employability skills while gaining first-hand experience of the workplace. The application process is designed intentionally to mirror real-life recruitment, requiring pupils to identify opportunities, apply competitively and navigate selection processes, enhancing pupils career readiness.
The Futures Programme in depth
Each year, pupils build their knowledge and skills across three themes:
- Exploring personal values and interests, and opportunities in the workplace
- Experiencing the workplace through visits and encounters with employers
- Engaging with higher education and careers by reflecting on knowledge and experience, and planning university and career transitions.
Our Futures programme is aligned to the Gatsby Benchmarks and the CDI Career Development Framework, which means that each pupil’s Futures experience is tailored, full of employer and higher education opportunity and experience, and up to date.
Preparing for life beyond CLS
Our unique location means we can harness the power of our alumni, parents and industry partners. Together they provide invaluable opportunities for pupils to learn, develop and gain life-shaping experiences, including through careers talks, networking events, workplace visits, placements and skills development workshops.
From First Form to Senior Sixth, through the curriculum and beyond, our team of experienced teachers and expert advisers support pupils as they journey from career awareness to career readiness. Through their careful guidance, they help our pupils learn how to explore and evaluate career options, and create plans for what comes next.
Our pupils develop a strong sense of self-awareness during their time at our school. This gives them the confidence to make informed decisions that reflect their interests and strengths, so they are better able to seek out and capitalise on future opportunities.
Almost all our leavers take up places at university in the UK or overseas, and we offer comprehensive and high-quality data-led guidance throughout the various university application processes. We also encourage and support applications to degree apprenticeships.
There's nothing more rewarding than supporting pupils in taking their first steps on the pathway to their future.
