To mark National Careers Week, Senior and Junior School pupils took part in events to help them explore a wide range of careers and discover the many pathways available after school.
In the Junior School, all year 5 and 6 pupils took part in a carousel of workshops with parents and carers, who talked about their personal experiences in a variety of different professional fields. Pupils enthused about the experience, with one child saying: “I enjoyed learning about all the interesting careers, especially in AI and renewable energy. I think it was fun and a worthwhile day.”
The Senior School’s annual Careers Fair took place on Thursday, for Year 11-13 pupils from Highgate and our partner schools. Over 35 professionals from a range of different sectors – including medicine, law, finance, the creative industries, technology, and engineering – attended to chat informally with pupils about their career pathways and what their jobs entail. Pupils were encouraged to keep an open mind and speak to people who work in areas that they know little or nothing about.
Carine, a Barrister who presented at the fair (pictured above), reflected: “It’s hard to know what a job is going to be until you’ve spoken to someone who does it. For the people who don’t know what they want to do, and even the ones who think they do, it’s a good chance to speak to people who really do it so they can ask all those questions.”
Additionally, there were information stands from gap year providers, Degree Apprenticeships, recent alumni and the Metropolitan Police, for pupils to learn more about the opportunities available after school.
Alison Parsons, Careers and Employability Specialist, explained: “Events like the Careers Fair can really motivate pupils to start thinking about where their interests and skills could take them in the future. The pupils benefit from the insight and real-world experiences that the delegates provide, and the evening can be really inspiring for them.”
One of the pupils who attended the fair explained that they enjoyed “how each delegate was very passionate about their job and willing to have long, detailed conversations about it.” Another student appreciated “the diversity of careers represented and options to talk to gap year organisations.”
Throughout the school, children are encouraged to follow subjects they enjoy and are good at – rather than trying to predict their final career choice and choosing subjects to suit – because they are most likely to do well in them and therefore make themselves more employable along the way.
Highgate Alumnus, Ian MacGregor (pictured above), joined the event to talk to pupils about his career as a freelance musical theatre director. He explained how he spent 20 years as a management consultant in the financial services, before returning to his original, school-days passion in the theatre. “I did the music for plays at Highgate, which is where my love of it came from. The teaching here was inspirational – the whole reason I do what I do. I absolutely love it.”
Alison Parsons provides more information on Highgate’s careers programme in a recent blog.
