Careers & Next Steps
Supporting Every Student’s Next Step
At Kimberley Sixth Form College, we are committed to helping every student make informed, ambitious and successful choices about their future. Through our comprehensive Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) programme, students develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to progress into higher education, apprenticeships, training or employment.
Our careers provision is delivered in partnership with Bedford Borough Council, independent careers advisers, employers, higher education providers, training organisations, parents, carers, alumni and a wide range of external partners.
Meet the Careers Team
Our dedicated and experienced Careers Team is here to support students throughout their journey. All of our Careers Advisers are fully qualified Level 6/7 Careers Practitioners with extensive experience, specialist training and counselling skills.
WAT Trust Destinations Lead
Mr I. Stewart
istewart@wootton.beds.sch.uk
Careers Administrator
Mrs A. Stuart-Leach
careers@wootton.beds.sch.uk
Careers Advisor
Rebecca Jordan – Watch Your Career Bloom
UCAS Coordinator
Mrs C. Stewart
cstewart@wootton.beds.sch.uk
Our Careers Commitment
Our ambition is simple: every student should leave Wootton Academy Trust equipped with the skills, knowledge and confidence to take the next step in their education, training or career.
Our CEIAG programme focuses on three key areas:
Careers Policies and Guidance
Further information about our careers provision can be found in:
Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) and Employability Policy
CEIAG Entitlement Statement
These documents outline what students and parents/carers can expect throughout their time at Wootton Academy Trust and include our Provider Access Statement.
Scholarships and Bursaries
Planning for university? Most student finance applications open in the spring of Year 13, usually from March. For the latest information and to apply, visit the Student Finance website.
Useful resources:
Scholarships & Bursaries
Kimberley Sixth Form College students may also be eligible for a range of scholarships and bursaries to support their next steps after college.
Speak to the Careers Team for advice on student finance, scholarships and bursaries, and to ensure you don’t miss any opportunities available to you.
Connolly Foundation Awards
As a partner institution of the Connolly Foundation, Kimberley students can apply for:
Academic Excellence Award
- Up to £1,200 per year during university study.
- Available to students progressing to higher education and studying eligible academic subjects.
- Requires strong Level 3 results, minimum of 120 UCAS tariff points (in the best three subjects)
A Level A* = 56, A = 48, B = 40, C = 32, D = 24, E = 16
BTEC DIPLOMA D*D* =112, D*D = 104, DD = 96, DM = 80, MM = 64, MP = 48, PP = 32
Discretionary Award
- Up to £600 per year.
- Open to students regardless of subject choice, grades or progression route.
- Students do not need to attend university to apply.
Every year alumni of Kimberley Sixth Form College benefit between £50k-100k from Connolly Foundation Awards
Find out more:
Harpur Trust University Bursary
The Harpur Trust offers bursaries of up to £3,600 for eligible students progressing to university.
Students may be eligible if they:
- Are aged 19 or under on 31 August of the application year.
- Come from a low-income household.
- Are starting a full-time undergraduate or foundation degree.
- Have lived in Bedford Borough for at least two years.
Find out more:
Students will be made aware of these opportunities in Year 13
Our Careers Programme
Our careers programme is aligned with the Gatsby Benchmarks, Career Development Institute (CDI) Framework and PSHE Framework, ensuring students receive high-quality, progressive careers education throughout their time at the Trust.
Students engage in a wide range of careers-related learning opportunities, including:
- A dedicated tutor programme
- Careers-focused assemblies
- Enterprise and employability activities
- National awareness days and themed weeks
- National Careers Week and National Apprenticeship Week
- Employer encounters and workplace experiences
- Careers learning embedded across subject areas
Each year, activities are reviewed and enhanced to reflect new initiatives, opportunities and labour market developments.
Measuring Impact
We continually evaluate and improve our careers programme through:
- Student surveys and focus groups
- Destination data analysis
- Termly Gatsby Benchmark reviews using the COMPASS tool
- Parent/carer feedback
- Employer feedback following engagement activities
Year 12 Work Experience
Work experience is a compulsory and highly valued part of our Sixth Form careers programme.
For the 2026–27 academic year, Year 12 students will complete a one-week placement during the week beginning 28 June 2027.
Why work experience matters
Work experience gives students the opportunity to:
- Explore different industries, sectors and career pathways
- Test potential career interests in a real working environment
- Develop workplace skills and professional behaviours
- Build confidence, resilience and independence
- Strengthen communication and teamwork skills
- Gain valuable references for future applications
- Improve their employability and career readiness
How it works
- Placements take place during normal working hours set by the employer.
- Students are responsible for arranging their own placements.
- All placements will be checked and approved by the Careers Team.
- Transport costs are not covered by the college, so students should consider travel arrangements carefully.
- Students should record their placements through their Unifrog account and complete any required documentation.
We encourage students to secure their own placements as this provides valuable experience in researching opportunities, making enquiries and engaging with employers. It also allows students to gain experience in a field they may be interested in pursuing after sixth form.
For questions regarding work experience, please contact: workexperience@wootton.beds.sch.uk
Student Feedback
“I have overcome the barrier of my previous inability to talk to a large group of people.”
“Helped me gain confidence, skills and knowledge.”
“Communication skills have definitely improved thanks to working as part of a team.”
“Confirmed that this is what I want my future career to be.”
“I enjoyed it and got a Saturday job out of it.”
Start Early
Students who completed work experience in previous years were asked what advice they would give to future students.
90% recommended finding a placement as early as possible.
Successful placements are often arranged through family contacts, friends, employers or direct applications to businesses of interest, so we encourage students to begin their search early in the academic year.
Additional Opportunities
Throughout the year, students can also undertake online work experience, webinars, virtual insight events and employer engagement activities. These opportunities can provide valuable insight into different sectors, careers and progression routes, helping students make informed decisions about their future.
Where these activities take place during college hours, students must follow the relevant absence procedures and complete any required Unifrog documentation.
Unifrog
Unifrog is used across Wootton Academy Trust to help students research and plan their future pathways.
Students can use Unifrog to:
- Explore careers and industries
- Research higher education opportunities
- Find apprenticeship pathways
- Compare different progression routes
- Complete applications for future destinations
Unifrog can be accessed anywhere with an internet connection, and we strongly encourage students to use it regularly as part of their career planning.
If you experience any issues accessing your account, please contact: careers@wootton.beds.sch.uk
Parents and carers can also access Unifrog to support conversations about future pathways and opportunities. To be added to your child’s account, please contact:
careers@wootton.beds.sch.uk
Parents & Carers
Supporting Your Child’s Future
Parents and carers play a vital role in helping young people understand career opportunities and make informed decisions about their future.
The law now requires young people to remain in education or training until their 18th birthday. This can include:
- Full-time study at a school sixth form, college or training provider
- An apprenticeship or traineeship
- Full-time employment or volunteering combined with part-time education or training
Throughout their time at Wootton Academy Trust, students receive extensive careers support and guidance. We encourage parents and carers to engage with this process by attending information events and parent evenings whenever possible.
If you have concerns or questions about careers-related matters, please contact Mr Stewart.
Careers Guidance Interviews
Every student will have the opportunity to meet with a qualified Careers Adviser during:
- Year 13, or
- The summer term of Year 12
Parents and carers will be notified in advance of the appointment. We hope this allows families to discuss outcomes together and continue supporting students as they make decisions about their next steps.
Resources
Useful resources available to students and parents/carers include:
- Careers Programme (Sept 2024)
- Useful Careers Websites and Resources
- Apprenticeships
- What to Expect from Your Careers Guidance Interview
Additional useful links
Get Involved
How Parents, Carers, Employers and Alumni Can Help
We believe the best careers education is supported by a strong network of employers, parents, carers and alumni who can share their experiences and expertise with our students.
We welcome support in a variety of ways, including:
- Taking part in Year 9 speed networking events
- Delivering careers talks or workshops for students
- Supporting mock interviews and assessment centre activities
- Representing your organisation at careers and higher education fairs
- Hosting workplace visits
- Offering work experience placements for students
The examples above are just a starting point. If you have other ideas or would like to support our careers programme in any way, we would love to hear from you.
Please contact careers@wootton.beds.sch.uk to discuss how you can get involved.