Our Professional Guidance Centre (PGC) has been busy celebrating National Careers Week (NCW) this year with a host of events, engaging pupils in activities that will help them with their plans for the future.
PGC Prayers on Monday 23rd February highlighted the idea of a career as a ‘journey’, unique to each individual, and launched the events, which included a UCL Talk, an Employability Workshop with Spirax Sarco, a CV Writing Workshop, a talk about studying in Australia and New Zealand, and much more.
As part of National Careers Week, a representative from UCL delivered a talk on admissions and student life. He began by offering a brief insight into the history of UCL, an institution founded on utilitarian and progressive principles, which was particularly inspiring to hear about.
The university’s strong academic reputation was also emphasised, having ranked ninth in this year’s QS World University Rankings. The representative highlighted UCL’s extensive global alumnae network, and I was especially encouraged to learn that over half of its student body is international, mirroring a similar level of diversity to that of CLC. The geographical layout was also explored, with the main Bloomsbury Campus situated beside the British Museum, the East Campus near Stratford, and the School of Management based in Canary Wharf.
The most informative part of the talk focused on admissions, where the speaker answered questions about year abroad programmes and, in particular, the lesser-known Dual LLB/JD with Columbia University, which was fascinating to learn about. He also outlined some of the most competitive courses and their entry requirements. I learned that International Management is currently the most competitive programme, and that English Literature requires both an interview and a written assessment, which I had not anticipated.
Beyond the geography and academics, the insight into student life was equally engaging. The speaker addressed questions about accommodations and community, and we learnt of the abundant opportunities available to meet new people, with over 300 societies catering to virtually every interest imaginable.
Overall, I found the talk highly insightful and a valuable opportunity to learn more about UCL.
Ashley, SFC1
On Tuesday, we attended a Spirax Sarco Business Taster workshop. In a group of eight, we were assigned different roles and given four hours to complete our individual projects on the theme of ‘Repurposing an abandoned building in Cheltenham’.
In my group, I was the Engineering Manager, and we came up with the idea of a cat cafe! Our team planned to partner with a local cat shelter, highlighting the sense of community the business starter strived to build with us.
Overall, I think we time managed well; however, to improve in the future, we were reminded by the judges that the inclusion of an advertisement video would be beneficial.
Before we presented and pitched our idea, we had a friendly talk with Spirax Sarco employees about their career experience, which widened my idea of job opportunities.
This was an amazing experience, and I feel I have broadened my horizons.
Nerissa, UC4
As part of National Careers Week 2026, we delivered a CV writing workshop for Upper College students, giving them the chance to reflect on their experiences and learn how to evidence a wide range of skills effectively. Throughout the session, students explored approaches to structure and formatting a CV, considered what employers are genuinely looking for, and discussed how to use AI tools ethically and responsibly in the application process. It was brilliant to see such strong engagement across the group, and many commented on how much they realised they already have to offer.
Mrs Mooney, Employability and Skills Adviser and Spanish Teacher
Our school recently welcomed Sarah Nash, Director at Study Options, an application support service for students wanting to enrol at universities in Australia and New Zealand. Sarah came to speak to students about what studying in those countries is like and how the university systems work there. The talk gave us a really interesting insight into student life, campus facilities, and the application process.
One of the most surprising things we learned was about the facilities at some Australian universities. Many campuses are very large and well-equipped, and some even have swimming pools in their student accommodation. This reflects the more outdoor lifestyle in Australia, where the warm climate means universities often invest in sports and recreational spaces for students to enjoy between classes.
Sarah also explained how the university system in New Zealand works. Unlike the UK, New Zealand only has eight universities in the entire country. Despite the smaller number of universities, they are all well-established and respected globally.
Another interesting point that Sarah brought up was that the application system for universities in Australia and New Zealand is quite similar to the UK system. Students usually apply through a centralised process where they choose courses and universities, and their academic results play an important role in whether they receive an offer. This makes the process relatively straightforward for international students who may already be familiar with systems like UCAS in the UK.
Overall, the talk was very helpful in introducing what university life would be like in Australia or New Zealand!
Kipling, SFC1
We hope that the events have inspired pupils to seek further information and guidance to enable them to make the best decisions for their futures. The PGC is here for all students, and activities carry on all year, including our new weekly HE and Careers Bulletin, which highlights many further opportunities. We are also in the process of recruiting some PGC Ambassadors from the Upper College who will be able to shape and highlight future events and activities.
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