Preparing for the outside world
Notre Dame recognises the importance of a sound careers education and guidance in equipping girls to meet the challenges of the job market in the modern world.
Our Commitment to Career Guidance for Your Daughter’s Future
Notre Dame places huge importance on providing comprehensive career guidance and support. We recognise the pivotal role that informed career decisions play in shaping the future of our students. We are dedicated to equipping each student with the necessary tools, resources, and insights to make well-informed choices about their career paths. Apart from a six-week careers programme which is embedded into every year’s PHSE from Year 7 upwards, below are a few key aspects that highlight our commitment to careers advice.
Guidance, Advice & Tools
- Dedicated Career Guidance Advisors: in Year 11, following the Morrisby Psychometric assessment students complete in Year 10, our advisors work closely with students to identify their interests, strengths, and aspirations. These professionals provide personalised guidance and support ensuring that students are well-prepared for the choices they make post-graduation.
- Bi-Annual Careers Fair: this event typically features more than 30 stands covering a wide range of careers, providing students with insights into various fields, current industry trends, and the skills needed for success. These activities aim to broaden their understanding of potential career paths and help them make informed decisions. Many of our advisors and ‘stall holders’ are Notre Dame alumnae who return to pass on their knowledge.
- Internship, Enterprise Days and Job Placement Programmes: we actively collaborate with local businesses, and alumnae to create internship opportunities for our students. These experiences not only expose students to real-world work environments but also help them build valuable networks within their chosen industries. Our commitment extends beyond education, aiming to facilitate smooth transitions from academia to the professional world. Examples of some of our enterprise days include chocolate packaging workshops and internal selling and marketing events.
- Online Resources and Tools: we understand the importance of technology in career exploration. Our school provides access to a number of excellent online resources and platforms, such as Future Learn, Springpod, Chanel Talent and InvestIN. These platforms and resources assist students in researching potential careers, understanding educational requirements, and exploring different career trajectories.
The right advice at the right time
Year 10 upwards has access to the online career platform Unifrog which has a wealth of information on careers and universities. Parents can also have their own Unifrog account which allows them to research careers, look for work experience, attend webinars delivered by employers and universities to learn more about available opportunities including apprenticeships, and compare pathways so they can support their daughter in making an informed decision about their next steps.
Further information about careers and guidance for Sixth Form can be found on the ND6 Careers and University Advice page.
We firmly believe that by instilling a sense of purpose and providing robust career guidance, we empower our students to make well-informed decisions about their future.
Young Enterprise
We encourage Sixth Formers to engage in the Young Enterprise scheme.
Year 12 girls form a company and, under the leadership of the Managing Director, they run this business to bring a product to market then enter an annual competition with other local, regional and national schools.
One of our recent teams, Little Life Skills, wrote a book aimed at 5-7 year olds based on looking after the environment. They won best presentation in the regional final.
