Careers Programme

Our Careers Education Programme provides our students with the opportunity to plan and manage their careers effectively, ensuring progression which is ambitious and aspirational. It promotes equality of opportunity, celebrates diversity and challenges stereotypes. It is designed to meet the Gatsby Benchmarks and conforms to statutory requirements. WHS is committed to providing all students in Years 7-13 with a careers programme which is embedded into the curriculum and includes a variety of enrichment activities. The programme has been developed in line with the eight Gatsby Benchmarks for ensuring best practice and to meet the requirements of the Department for Education’s statutory guidance 2018.

The Gatsby Benchmarks are:

1. A stable career programme
2. Learning from career and labour market information
3. Addressing the needs of each student
4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
5. Encounters with employers and employees
6. Experience of workplaces
7. Encounters with further and higher education
8. Personal guidance

We aim to support students to make realistic and informed decisions about their future, by raising aspirations and providing impartial and independent information and guidance.

We will:

• Prepare students for the transition to life beyond secondary school (higher education and the world of work)
• Support students in making informed decisions which are suitable and ambitious for them
• Provide students with well-rounded experiences
• Develop characteristics e.g. social skills, communication, innovation, resilience and leadership which support students both in the curriculum and in their careers
• Inspire and motivate students to develop their aspirations

Opportunities

Please click on the documents below to see what opportunities are available to you at present.

Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a paid job where the employee learns and gains valuable experiences. 

Alongside on-the-job training, apprentices spend at least 20% of their working hours completing classroom-based learning with a college, university or training provider which leads to a nationally recognised qualification.  

An apprenticeship includes:  

• Paid employment with holiday leave  

• Hands-on-experience in a sector/role of interest 

• At least 20% off-the-job training  

• Formal assessment which leads to a nationally recognised qualification

Useful websites for you to explore: 

• Apprenticeships – Here you'll find information about apprenticeships and ways to connect apprentices to employers.
• Student – Amazing Apprenticeships – This site will give you information about a range of apprenticeships. The site also features short video clips.
• Sign Up To Pathway Careers, Training and Mentorship Service – Pathway CTM – Sign up to Pathway CTM and you will receive information about a range of careers events that you can join. You can also receive free careers mentoring.
• Find an apprenticeship – GOV.UK – Register on the Government Apprenticeship website to find live apprenticeship vacancies.
• Choice Magazine – Is your child considering an apprenticeship as their next step? Choices magazine is the ultimate parent and carer guide to apprenticeships and technical education! It is completely free of charge – find this month's edition here: amapps.uk/parent-magazine and sign up to receive it each month, direct to your inbox: amapps.uk/choices
• Amazing Apprenticeships' Parent and Carer Zone – A great place to explore apprenticeships and technical education.

Latest Apprenticeship Opportunities

• Check out Amazing Apprenticeships | Explore Technical Education & Apprenticeship Opportunities monthly round-up of webinars, including: The BBC, British Army, Dunelm and many more!

Morrisby Careers

Morrisby is a careers platform available to all students in Year 7 to 13 at Woodcote High School. It helps students to develop their understanding about their strengths and potential, and guide them towards their best career, subject, and future educational choices.

To sign up to Morrisby, you will need to:

• Visit Morrisby – Log In
• If this is your first time logging in, click on the sign up button at the top and then enter this code into blue box: MC65113Z
• If you have forgotten your log in details, click on the forgotten login button at the top and then enter your school email address. An email will then be sent for you to rest your password.

Once you have successfully signed in, complete the About Me tasks (Aspirations and Personality Quiz). 

Work Experience

JPMorganChase Work Experience Programme

We’re looking for curious and enthusiastic students aged 14 to 16 (in Year 10 or Year 11 at the start of the programme), who are interested in learning about the financial services industry. 

To be eligible to attend, you must be available for all sessions. 

• Session 1: 15th October 2025 (virtual)
• Session 2: 20th-21st October 2025 (in person)
• Session 3: 2nd April 2026 (virtual)

 To get involved please email [email protected]

Latest News

You can browse our latest careers news and updates below:

Recently, Fashion model, Jean Campbell visited us at Woodcote to talk to our Year 9, 10 and 11 students about Empathy: The Superpower That Unites Us. To read the full article, please visit our news page here.

We also hosted Woodcote’s Apprentice on Wednesday 3rd March with our Year 7 students. To read the full article, please click here.