Students across Years 8 to 13 recently took part in the third Future Pathways Programme Day, designed to help learners develop essential skills, explore opportunities and reflect on the pathways available at each stage of their education. The programme supports informed decision-making while building confidence, aspiration and practical understanding of the world beyond school.
Year 8 – Creativity, Technology and Storytelling
Year 8 learners spent the day on a creative project designing an AI-supported comic strip. They explored the history of comics, developed characters and storylines, and used digital tools, including AI, to bring their ideas to life.
The creative freedom was a hit, with one learner saying they “liked being able to design our own characters and stories and then see them come to life,” while another added that the project helped them “learn how to plan properly and work as a team.”
Year 9 – Careers, Finance and Real-World Skills
Year 9 focused on how education links to careers and adult life. Learners explored different career pathways, researched salaries and qualifications, and tackled personal finance topics such as budgeting, insurance and risk. Practical spreadsheet exercises helped bring these concepts to life.
Feedback reflected the impact of the real-world focus. One learner commented, “I didn’t realise how important budgeting and insurance are until now,” while another said the sessions helped them “understand why maths and computing are useful outside school.”
Year 10 – Experiencing College and Technical Pathways
Year 10 learners visited London South Bank Technical College, experiencing college life first-hand through subject taster sessions. Groups explored areas including Film, Science, Engineering, Health and Social Care, and Esports, giving them practical insight into different learning styles and environments.
Sessions also covered apprenticeships, T Levels and college life. One learner said, “It made college feel less scary and more exciting,” while another added that it helped them “see different routes I didn’t know about before.”
Year 11 – Destinations, Reflection and Next Steps
Year 11 focused on planning for life after GCSEs. Learners completed the Careers and Destinations Survey via Unifrog to explore post-16 pathways such as sixth form, college, apprenticeships or employment.
They also took part in Holocaust Memorial Day learning, including a national webcast and survivor testimony, followed by structured reflection. One learner said it “made me think more deeply about responsibility and respect,” while another shared it helped them “reflect on the kind of person I want to be in the future.”
Year 12 – Preparing for the World of Work
Year 12 learners explored employability, apprenticeships and career pathways. Sessions also covered workplace health and safety, wellbeing, and the responsible use of AI in education and future employment.
One learner explained that they “felt more prepared for working life,” while another added that learning about AI helped them “understand how to use it properly rather than rely on it.”
Year 13 – Transition and Readiness for Life Beyond School
Year 13 learners focused on transitioning into higher education, apprenticeships or employment. Activities included enterprise skills, commercial awareness and learning about major institutions such as the Bank of England, helping learners build confidence and a broader understanding of the world ahead.
One learner reflected, “It made everything feel more real,” while another said they felt “more confident about leaving school and moving on to the next stage.”
The third Future Pathways Programme Day offered learners across the school the chance to develop skills, explore options and reflect on their aspirations. Feedback highlighted high levels of engagement and enjoyment, demonstrating the value of giving learners hands-on experiences that prepare them for the next steps in their journey.