Careers

Every young person should leave school well prepared for life beyond their studies. High-quality careers education, information, advice and guidance play a key role in ensuring that students are equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to progress successfully into further education, training or employment.

Our careers programme is designed in line with the Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Career Guidance, ensuring students have access to a structured and progressive programme that supports them in understanding the full range of opportunities available to them. We aim to provide clear information, impartial advice and meaningful experiences that enable students to make informed decisions about their subject choices and future career pathways.

Through our PSHE curriculum, careers activities and engagement with employers, further education providers and training organisations, students are supported to explore different sectors and pathways. These experiences help them develop a deeper understanding of the world of work and how different education and training routes can lead to a variety of career opportunities.

Our goal is to inform, inspire and motivate students so they can confidently plan their next steps and recognise how the decisions they make today can shape their future.

Our Careers Team

Mrs Montague – Head of Careers 5 Dimensions Trust – Level 7 Careers Leadership, L6 in Careers Guidance and ILM level 5 in Leadership and Management.

Mr Kendall – Careers Lead Brooklands Campus

Mrs Raven – Careers Lead Walnut Tree Campus

Careers Adviser – Brooklands/Walnut Tree

Careers Governor Brooklands – Mr Garikayi

Careers Governor Walnut Tree – Mrs Dobson

Our Careers Policy can be found here - Walton High - Policies

At Walton High, Careers Education is not just a lesson, it is a whole school approach. Students can access Careers Information through a cross-curricular approach including:

PSHE programme
Careers talks and assemblies
Annual Careers Fair Yr8, Yr10, Yr11 and Post 16
Curriculum Links
Enrichment
Speed networking – Yr7, Yr8, Yr9, Yr10
Extra-Curricular opportunities –Trips and Visits
Employer and alumni engagement
Careers appointments, workshops and drop-in sessions
Work Experience Yr10 and Yr12

Parents and carers play an important role in supporting students to make an informed decision about their future. The document below outlines how we try and engage parents with our programme:

Engaging Parents and Carers with Careers Education

Our Latest Careers Newsletter

Walton High Careers Programme

Our Careers programme is assessed against the Gatsby Benchmarks, which are:

Benchmark 1: A stable careers programme

Benchmark 2: Learning from career and labour market information

Benchmark 3: Addressing the needs of each student

Benchmark 4: Linking curriculum learning to careers

Benchmark 5: Encounters with employers and employees

Benchmark 6: Experiences of workplaces

Benchmark 7: Encounters with further and higher education

Benchmark 8: Personal guidance

Our Careers Programme Poster Format

Careers Programme Excel Format

Audio Careers Programme Format

The careers programme is evaluated every three years. Feedback is gathered from students, staff, parents and key partners throughout the academic year following events and one to ones. This data is then used to inform our Careers programme.

Unifrog

Walton High students and parents have access to Unifrog, a comprehensive careers and destinations platform designed to support students across all year groups.

Students use Unifrog during tutor time and PSHE lessons, where they are guided through activities that help them explore their interests, understand different career pathways, and research future education and employment options. In addition to structured use in school, students can also access the platform independently in their own time to continue exploring courses, apprenticeships, and career opportunities.

Parents and carers are also able to create their own Unifrog accounts. This allows them to explore the same up-to-date information and resources as their child, helping them to support discussions about subject choices, further education, and future career plans.

Unifrog is designed to support learners in making informed decisions about their futures, with a range of tools that are suitable for all year groups. Each student has their own account that provides a range of information related to their interests and aspirations.

Key features of the platform for students include:

Psychometric testing quizzes
Career and subject exploration
Webinars and interactive short courses
Self-reflection and portfolio building tools
Search tools for live apprenticeship and employer opportunities, and university courses
Application and essay-building tools

Students can log in from any computer, tablet, or smartphone. We encourage parents to use the platform with your child so you can support them through the process of deciding on their next steps.

Parent Account -

You can create your own parent account where you’ll be able to see what your child is doing on Unifrog, including any interactions tagged against their name and any upcoming events we’ve logged for them. You’ll also be able to use all the same tools your child can to support them on their Unifrog journey.

To open a Parent account, click here: Parent - Unifrog

You can open your account using your email address or using Single Sign-On with a Microsoft or Google email account. If you have any issues signing in, please contact Mrs Montague by emailing careers@wh5d.com.

You’ll also have the option to sign up to Unifrog’s parent newsletter to get expert advice and guidance on supporting your child with their next steps.

What is Unifrog and how to get the most out of it - What is Unifrog? A guide for parents and caregivers : Know-how library

Use this conversation proforma to help guide careers conversations at home using Unifrog:

Unifrog Parent Conversation Starters

Careers Information for Students

All students have access to a qualified Careers adviser if requested. You can request an appointment by emailing careers@wh5d.com Our Careers Team also run a break, lunchtime and after school drop in where appointments can be booked.

Careers office locations:

Walnut Tree – Our office is located in the library
The Careers adviser is available on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Brooklands – Our office is located next to the Dance studio near Post 16
The Careers adviser is available on Thursdays and Fridays.

Your form tutor or any teacher in the school can refer you to the Careers Team for Careers advice and guidance on your next steps.

Throughout your time at Walton High, you will attend a number of Careers related events with key events highlighted below:

Employer Engagement through our annual Career WorkOut sessions with our partners WorkTree. This session allows you to speak face to face with employers and find out more about the different career paths available. All students in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 attend these events.
Our annual Careers Fair where we welcome over 40 Employers and providers to speak to you about their opportunities. This includes further and higher education providers as well as universities and employers offering apprenticeships. This event is for all students in years 8, 10, 11 and Post 16.
In year 8 you will have the opportunity to go into the workplace with a parent or family member.
In years 10 and 12 you will have the opportunity to complete work experience during an allocated week.
All students have access to Unifrog our online careers platform, this is a fantastic resource allowing you to explore different pathways. You can access Unifrog here and during tutor/PSHE sessions.
Careers Assemblies take place in February for all year groups and include talks from providers such as MK College and Varsity Nine.
Careers in the Curriculum plays a key role in exploring opportunities available following your studies, you can explore Careers linked to your subjects here.

The full Careers programme can be found here.

Our new annual pathway meetings with your form tutor allows you to discuss your next steps and career aspirations. Tutors are then able to refer any students who need specialist advice and guidance to a qualified careers adviser.

Your options after Year 11:

All students need to be in a form of Education until the age of 18. Following year 11 your options depending on your GCSE grades are:

Post 16 or one of the many sixth forms across MK including our Trust schools Shenley Brook End and Hazeley.
College – MK College, Bedford, Moulton and Northampton*.
Apprenticeships - https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/influencers/what-is-an-apprenticeship
Specialist providers – Arts1, Dancebox, Varsity Nine, MK Dons SET, Christian Foundation*

*Not an exhaustive list, more options available these are examples of offers only

This helpful booklet provides you with a clear overview of your options and explains the different pathways available in more detail.

Having a plan A and plan B is important to ensure you secure a destination following Year 11. If you need any support, please book an appointment with the Careers Adviser.

Your options following Post 16, Sixth Form or College:

University – A wide range of courses are available across hundreds of universities within the UK. This includes foundation years and Masters. You can explore all universities and courses on offer via UCAS here. When you are in Post 16 you will be supported with the application process.
Apprenticeships - L3 and above including higher and degree level. Our Careers Team run Apprenticeship workshops each year and support students on a one-to-one basis with applications. Our Year 13 apprenticeship padlet can be found here this hold lots of helpful information and live vacancies.
Employment – Some students go straight into employment this can be a great way to develop your employability skills and experience, entry level jobs with the opportunity to progress through training. Many companies offer school leaver programmes.
Gap year – Time taken out of education to explore your options. This might include work experience, travel or volunteering. A gap year needs to be structured with an overall aim. Gap year information can be found here

If you need support in exploring your options, please book an appointment with the Careers adviser – careers@wh5d.com

The Sixth Formers Guide to Degree Apprenticeship

Virtual work experience

There are many opportunities to engage with virtual work experience from the comfort of your own home. This will allow you to explore different career paths as well as developing your C.V ready to apply for work, university or apprenticeships. You can use the following platforms to explore your options:

Springpod – Springpod Virtual Work Experience Search | Springpod

Subject spotlights - University Taster Search | Springpod

FuturesForAll – Futures For All the UK's Top Social Mobility Charity | Futures For All

Medic Mentor – University Hospitals Birmingham Trust Virtual Work Experience - Medic Mentor

Brighton and Susex Medical School VWEX – BSMS Virtual Work Experience

Law Virtual work experience Virtual Work Experience for Law Students | The Lawyer Portal

Putting together a C.V

Why you need a C.V

A C.V is your first chance to promote yourself. A good C.V might get you a job interview.

You usually need a C.V to apply for a job or to give to an employer you’d like to work for.

Tips for writing your C.V

Employers get lots of C.Vs to look at and must decide quickly who they're going to interview. It’s good to make your C.V clear and easy to read.

When you write your C.V, remember to:

use a clear font like Arial, Times New Roman or Calibri in size 11 or bigger
always use the same style throughout
use headings and bullet points to make it easier to read
be clear and to the point
get someone else to read it to double check your spelling and grammar

Further information about how to write a C.V can be found here.

Our C.V builder guide can be found here.

Helpful websites and resources

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk – Career profiles and information

https://www.careerpilot.org.uk – Career profiles and information

https://www.prospects.ac.uk – Career profiles and information

https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship - Apprenticeship information and search tool

https://www.getmyfirstjob.co.uk/ - Apprenticeship information and search tool

Amazing Apprenticeships | Explore Technical Education & Apprenticeship Opportunities

Careers Information for Parents

At Walton High your child will go through a tailored careers programme to support them with their next steps. You can find our careers programme for 2025/26 here. As well as this, you can support them in the following ways at home:

What you can do to help

Have regular conversations with your child about what they want to do in the future.
Encourage self-awareness with your child (what skills and qualities do they have/could they develop).
Help them to explore their options by researching a wide range of careers.
Ask them about their careers meeting or request a meeting for your child using the email below.
Find out about entry requirements for sixth form, college and university courses or apprenticeships they are interested in.
Keep an eye on changes in education, job trends and LMI (Labour Market Information).
Support them in attending open events.
Get in touch with the school’s careers adviser, if you need further support for your child careers@wh5d.com

Unifrog – Supporting Your Child’s Future

At our school we use Unifrog, an online careers platform that helps students explore their interests, research pathways, and make confident decisions about life after school.

What is Unifrog?

Unifrog brings together information about:

Careers and labour market information
College and sixth form courses
Apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships
Universities and higher education
C.V building, personal statements, and application tools

Students use Unifrog during careers lessons and at home to record experiences, research options, and plan their next steps.

Parents can now create their own Unifrog account

Parents and guardians can now set up a parent account linked to their child’s profile. This allows you to:

See the options your child is exploring
Understand different post-16 and post-18 pathways
Access guides on apprenticeships, T Levels, and university
Support conversations at home about careers and choices

You can register here:
👉 Parent - Unifrog

Simply enter your email address or sign in using Google/Microsoft and follow the on-screen steps.

Unifrog Overview

Unifrog Parents Introduction

Unifrog Careers Conversations With Your Child Document

Unifrog Guide for Parents and Caregivers: Know-How Library

How we use Unifrog in school

We use Unifrog to:

Deliver careers lessons and activities across all year groups
Help students research realistic pathways based on interests and GCSE subjects
Record employer encounters, work experience, and skills development
Support applications to college, apprenticeships, and university
Track and evidence our careers programme in line with Gatsby Benchmarks

Students build a personal profile over time, creating a valuable record of achievements and experiences that can be used for applications and interviews.

Why it’s useful for families

Unifrog helps turn the confusing world of career pathways into clear, manageable steps. With a parent account you can:

Talk more confidently about options
Understand entry requirements and deadlines
Help your child compare pathways side by side
Avoid the last-minute panic in Year 11 and Year 13!

Helpful resources

All students will have access to a range of support and advice in relation to their career progression when making important decisions about their pathway choices.

Parents are welcome to attend any one-to-one guidance meetings. Parents can request career meetings via careers@wh5d.com
Parents can access Unifrog to help support their child in making career and learning pathway decisions.
Parent Careers magazine: https://careermap.co.uk/live-careermags/
Termly Newsletters are shared with Parents from the Careers Team
Parents can provide feedback on the careers programme at any point via email feedback@wh5d.com

This booklet will help with supporting students with key information for Post 16 transition and explore all options available:

This helpful Post 16 options booklet has been put together by the Careers and Enterprise Company providing information on local provision helping parents of learners with SEND:

Other useful resources

Understanding A levels - A levels | Skills for Careers

Understanding T levels - About T Levels for students | T Levels

Understanding BTECs and vocational courses - Vocational Qualifications Guide - Youth Employment UK

Understanding Apprenticeships - What Is an Apprenticeship? Benefits, Levels, and How to Find One

Understanding V levels (New) - First new V-Level subjects announced from 2027 - BBC News

Helpful websites:

Careerpilot – Careers linked to school subjects - Careerpilot : Jobs by subject

Job profiles by sector - Explore by job sector | National Careers Service

Amazing Apprenticeships - Amazing Apprenticeships | Explore Technical Education & Apprenticeship Opportunities

Virtual work experience - Springpod Virtual Work Experience Search | Springpod

Careers Team at parent events:

Our Careers Team have a presence at our Year 8 options evening, Year 11 parents evening, Year 11 IAG evening and Post 16 open evenings. We also engage with prospective students at our Year 6 open events.

Careers Information for Teachers

The Careers Team is available to support teachers and staff at Walton High. Careers is a whole school approach with teaching staff ensuring careers is embedded into the curriculum.

Resources to support teachers and staff with careers can be found via the links below:

Subject presentations can be found here

Posters for classrooms can be found here

To explore the most up to date Labour Market Information or LMI click here

Unifrog - There are some excellent resources to support Careers in the Curriculum, more information click here

Some websites you may find helpful:

Unifrog here
BBC Bitesize Careers here
National Careers Service here
CareerPilot here
Step into the NHS here
Prospects here
UCAS here
Russell Group Universities here
Apprenticeships here
Not Going to Uni here
Amazing Apprenticeships here
T levels here
Labour Market Information here

Mrs Montague runs teacher CPD sessions to help prepare teachers to deliver pathway meetings throughout the year. Further training can be found through the CEC - Teacher Development Courses | CEC Resource Directory

Provider Access Legislation and Employer Information – Support and Involvement

To support every student in reaching their full potential, Walton High is committed to ensuring students leave with a broad range of skills, knowledge, and experiences that prepare them for successful future destinations. Engagement with external organisations plays a vital role in helping students develop an understanding of the wider world and the opportunities available to them.

Partnerships with employers, education providers, and training organisations provide valuable insight into different industries, career pathways, and workplace expectations. These collaborations allow students to gain meaningful experiences and develop the skills required for success beyond school.

At Walton High, we greatly value the support and expertise that organisations can offer in helping to inspire and prepare our students for their future careers.

We work in partnership with the Careers and Enterprise company/Careers Hub and Worktree to enhance the careers education and opportunities available to our students. We are also proud of our growing alumni network, who play an important role in sharing their experiences and career journeys since leaving Walton High.

In addition, we work with a wide range of businesses and organisations who support our students through partnerships, activities, and opportunities, including:

Employers
Further Education Providers
Apprenticeships providers
Alternative provision and training providers

We are always keen to engage with new employers and providers who are looking to engage with our students. If you would like to support our careers programme, please contact our Head of Careers.

You could become involved by offering:

site visits - host small groups of students
assisting with talks e.g. assemblies and masterclass talks that we offer on different industries
attend our annual careers fair to speak to students about your company and promote apprenticeship opportunities
provide a work experience placement for a student
support students to produce a C.V
participate in mock interviews and provide feedback for success

If you would like to engage with our Careers programme, please contact Mrs Montague on 01908 677954 or careers@wh5d.com

Provider Access Legislation

Alumni – Past Students

Alumni Engagement: Supporting the Next Generation

Our alumni community plays an important role in inspiring and supporting current students. Former students bring valuable real-world experience, diverse career journeys, and practical insights that help young people understand the many pathways available to them after secondary school.

We invite alumni to stay connected with the school and contribute to student development through a range of opportunities throughout the academic year.

Share Your Story: Alumni Case Studies

We are always keen to highlight the journeys of our former students. Alumni case studies showcase the different paths taken after leaving school and help current students understand how education, interests, and opportunities can lead to a wide range of careers.

These stories may be featured on the school website, in newsletters, or used within lessons to demonstrate real-life career pathways.

Speak at a School Assembly

Assemblies are a powerful way to motivate and inspire students. Alumni speakers can share their personal experiences, challenges, and successes, helping students to see what is possible beyond school. Even a short talk can have a lasting impact on students who may be considering similar paths.

Attend Careers Fairs

Our school regularly hosts careers fairs where students can meet professionals from different sectors. Alumni participation helps students explore industries, ask questions about career progression, and gain insight into the skills and qualifications required for different roles.

Take Part in Speed Networking

Speed networking sessions allow students to meet several professionals in a short amount of time. Alumni rotate between small groups of students, sharing their career journeys and answering questions. These sessions give students exposure to a variety of career options and valuable advice about future opportunities.

Stay Connected

Whether you can contribute by sharing your story, speaking to students, attending events, or offering professional insights, your involvement makes a real difference.

If you would like to get involved in any of these activities, please contact the school to learn more about upcoming opportunities to support and inspire our students.

Alumni Spotlight

Our Alumni Spotlight celebrates former students who are making a difference in their careers, communities, and industries. These stories help inspire current students by showing the wide range of opportunities available after leaving school.

Each spotlight highlights a past student’s journey since leaving school, including their education, career path, challenges they have overcome, and advice for current students.

If you are a former student and would like to engage with our Careers program, please contact us by emailing careers@wh5d.com.

Please join our Brooklands Academy LinkedIn page - Walton High Brooklands Campus: Overview | LinkedIn

Please join our Walnut Tree LinkedIn page - Walton High Walnut Tree Campus: Overview | LinkedIn

Labour Market Information

What is Labour Market information (LMI)?

Labour market information is information relating to the world of work, employment trends, job roles and job availability. It includes a wide variety of data and analysis related to employment and the workforce.

How can Labour Market Information (LMI) be used?

You can use this information to find out about different job roles and the sectors that these roles are in. It will allow you to identify the skills and qualifications that are required for job roles, so you can plan your career path.

Why is it important?

Looking at LMI is an important way for you to develop your knowledge of different job roles that are available and the career paths that can be taken. From this information you will develop an awareness of the local and national job growth sectors, allowing you to make informed decisions about your future aspirations. By using LMI you will be able to plan realistic goals relating to your choice of career and aspirations.

South Midlands data:

Growth sectors in Milton Keynes:

Technology: A key area with strong growth.
Logistics and Transport: Milton Keynes' central location drives demand in warehousing, supply chain, and driving roles.
Construction: Ongoing development projects create a need for construction workers.
Healthcare: Roles like carers, nurses, and social workers are consistently in demand.
Retail: A significant sector in the area.
Financial Services: A growing area within Milton Keynes with many national and international organisations with headquarters in MK.

Careerometer: A tool to compare jobs

The Careerometer tool will help you to compare different job roles that you may be interested in. It uses up to date labour market information collected by LMI for All. It will show you data relating to pay, weekly hours of work and future employment prospects for the job role you select.

To use the Careerometer all you need to do is click on one of the cards below. Simply type in the first career that you think you might be interested in and select from the drop-down list. This will then give you the pay, hours of work and future employment prospects for that job role. You can then click on the other two cards to add your second and third choices to see the comparison.

Use the link below to compare up to three job roles:

Careerometer – LMI For All

Please see below a short video highlighting the way the world of work is changing:

//www.youtube.com/embed/59d3UZTUFQ0#t=0.5

You can find out more about Labour Market information via this site - Labour Market Information | Jobs Market Information

Impact of AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expected to change many jobs over the next ten years. Instead of simply replacing workers, AI will mostly change the way people work and create new types of jobs.

First, AI will take over some routine and repetitive tasks. Computers can analyse large amounts of data, recognise patterns, and answer common questions quickly. Because of this, jobs that mainly involve repeating the same tasks are most at risk of automation.

Some jobs that may be affected the most include:

Data entry clerks, because AI systems can organise and process data automatically.
Telemarketers and call-centre workers, as chatbots and automated customer service tools become more common.
Cashiers, because of self-checkout machines and automated payment systems.
Bookkeeping and basic accounting roles, since AI software can track finances and create reports quickly.
Some factory and warehouse jobs, where robots can perform repetitive physical tasks.

However, AI will also create new job opportunities. There will be growing demand for people who can design, build, and manage AI systems, such as software developers, data scientists, and AI engineers. Other roles will focus on checking that AI systems are fair, safe, and used responsibly.

Many existing jobs will work alongside AI rather than being replaced by it. For example, doctors may use AI tools to help diagnose diseases, teachers may use AI to create learning materials, and engineers may use AI to design better products. In these cases, AI helps people work faster and make better decisions.

Because of these changes, skills such as problem-solving, creativity, communication, and teamwork are difficult for AI to copy and will be highly valued. Digital skills, such as understanding technology and data, will also become more important in many careers.

Finally, people will probably change jobs more often and keep learning throughout their lives. As technology develops, workers may need to learn new skills or retrain for new roles.

In summary, over the next decade AI is likely to automate some tasks, change many existing jobs, and create new careers. People who are adaptable, creative, and willing to learn new skills will be best prepared for the future world of work.

The chart below shows in red where AI is already at work and in blue where AI is likely to impact over the coming years. Not necessarily replacing jobs but streamlining them to make them more efficient.

Walton High