Futures Provision at The Wren
At The Wren, we are committed to helping students become active and responsible citizens in our wider community. We provide a range of opportunities that enable students to develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to become ‘work ready,’ supporting them in exploring and accessing their chosen career pathways.
Our Futures programme is guided by the Gatsby Benchmarks, as recommended in the Department for Education’s Careers Strategy. These benchmarks provide the framework for our career’s education and guidance, ensuring that all students—regardless of background or circumstance—have access to the information, experiences, and support they need to make informed decisions about their future.
We actively encourage students to seek guidance from staff when developing their CVs, applying for jobs, or considering the next stage of their education. Support is provided by a range of staff, including our Careers Advisor, Futures Lead, Wren Six Director, Key Stage 4 Director, and Progress Leaders.
To further support students, we make use of Unifrog and Connect, platforms that allow students to explore the world of work, apprenticeships, university, and further education such as UCAS. Through these platforms, students can complete assessments to identify their strengths, interests, and skills, helping them to explore suitable career pathways and make well-informed choices.
Year 11 and Year 13 students are provided with additional support from our Careers Advisor through one-to-one meetings and group sessions. This guidance explores post-16 and post-18 pathways, including Sixth Form, further education, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities.
While we encourage students to continue their studies within our Sixth Form, we equally support those who choose alternative routes into employment or further education by ensuring they receive clear and impartial advice.
Students also have the opportunity to explore different pathways through our annual Futures Fair, which features over 30 stallholders showcasing a wide range of career, apprenticeship, and further education opportunities. The Futures team ensures that events such as National Careers Week and National Apprenticeships Week are actively promoted to all year groups, giving every student the chance to engage with careers guidance and information.
Information about careers and futures is regularly shared with our families, students, and staff. This is communicated through the Wren10, the student bulletin, and our Futures Padlet platform, ensuring that everyone has access to up-to-date guidance, opportunities, and events.
Our Futures programme is formally reviewed every three years using Compass+, incorporating feedback from students, staff, and families to ensure it remains relevant and effective.
Next review date: 11th March 2027
Employers or industry partners interested in working with The Wren are encouraged to contact the Futures team at [email protected].
Our Futures programme includes a structured range of activities and support for students. For this academic year, the planned programme is, not exclusively, outlined below, aligned with the Gatsby Benchmarks Indicators:
| Planned activities and sessions | |
| Year 7 and Year 8 |
Introduction to Unifrog (3, 8) Completion of personality quiz (3, 8) Complete interests quiz (3,8) World of Work focus (4, 5) Subject specific lesson starters focusing on careers in that field (4) Off timetable events to meet with different employers (5) National Careers Week (4, 5, 8) |
| Year 9 |
Completion of personality and interest quizzes on Unifrog (3, 8) Key Stage 4 Options Evening (3, 4, 8) World of Work focus (4, 5) Off timetable events to meet with different employers (5) National Careers Week (4, 5, 8) The Wren Futures Fair (3, 4, 5, 7, 8) |
| Year 10 |
Work Experience Week (6) Careers Advisor appointments (3, 8) Mock Interviews (5, 7, 8) National Careers Week (4, 5, 8) The Wren Futures Fair (3, 4, 5, 7, 8) |
| Year 11 |
Sixth Form Open Evening (3, 4, 7, 8) Careers Advisor appointments (3, 8) Interviews for Sixth Form (7, 8) Post 16 transition programme for Sixth Form and outside providers (7) National Careers Week (4, 5, 8) The Wren Futures Fair (3, 4, 5, 7, 8) |
| Year 12 |
Mock CV writing with CV workshops (5, 7, 8) Mock interviews (5, 7, 8) Introduction to the UCAS process – students (7) National Careers Week (4, 5, 8) Introduction to apprenticeships (7) Work Experience Week (6) University visits (7, 8) The Wren Futures Fair (3, 4, 5, 7, 8) |
| Year 13 |
UCAS tutor workshops (7, 8) Mock interviews (5, 7, 8) Personal statement writing workshop (8) Completion of Oxford/Cambridge entrance examinations (7, 8) Support for University interviews (8) The Wren Futures Fair (3, 4, 5, 7, 8) |
Wren Futures Team
For any queries regarding The Wren’s Futures provision, please contact our Futures Team via: [email protected]
The Wren’s Futures Lead: Alison Ainscough
The Wren’s Careers Adviser: Emma Novak
To book an appointment with our Careers Adviser, please complete one of the forms below, if relevant.
Students from all year groups are encouraged to attend a drop-in session with the Careers Adviser. Drop-in Session times are below:
- KS4 and KS5: Monday Lunchtime
- Application Support/CV Writing: Tuesday after school:
- KS3: Wednesday Lunchtime
Additionally, please take a look at our Futures Bulletin Board for weekly updates on great opportunities related to our student’s futures.