Careers Education
Kendrick School is committed to providing a range of opportunities, experiences and resources to enable students in KS3, 4 and 5 to help them engage with their future life after Kendrick.
Our aim at Kendrick School, is to ensure that the careers provision is tailored to the needs and circumstances of all our students. We have a careers plan and we encourage all of our stakeholders to be aware of it and we commit to keeping it up to date. We continually develop our network and information through our existing networks and our governing body to ensure that the programme considers their knowledge of the changing labour market.
A wide range of internal and external opportunities and activities are communicated through appropriate channels to inform our students of career development pathways.
The platforms that we use to deliver our programme are: assemblies, tutor time, PSHCE, employer-encounters, workplace experiences, employability experiences, Year-Group conferences and drop-down days.
If you are an employer who is interested in providing work experience to our students, please email our Careers Coordinator, CMcManus@kendrick.reading.sch.uk.
The main objectives of CEIAG at Kendrick are in line with the Governments careers strategy which is expressed by the Gatsby Benchmarks.
CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES
Please note that whilst we are happy to share these opportunities with you, we are unable to endorse or recommend them.
Bayer placement in Green Park Reading for anyone interested in Life Sciences. During Easter holidays
- Hands-On Experience: Get ready for an immersive experience where you’ll learn how we’re making a difference in healthcare and agriculture.
- Innovative Learning: Explore how our radiology division is helping to speed up diagnostics and discover what it takes to bring new products to market.
- Creative Challenges: Design your very own Consumer Health product and see your ideas come to life!
- Marketing Insights: Delve into the exciting world of marketing and understand how it plays a crucial role in our business.
- Medicines Journey: Learn how medicines are made and how they reach the UK market.
- Farm Visit: Experience agriculture first hand with a visit to a local farm and see how it connects to our work.
- Career Guidance: Gain valuable advice on CV writing and application processes to kickstart your career!
You will need to be able to commute to RG2 6AD and attend all four days.
More details and link to apply: https://finder.futuresforall.org/opportunity-detail/4818DC13-7E0E-4561-1501-08DE284584D5
Lloyds Bank Weekend work experience/apprenticeship opportunities
Find out about internships, work experience, and apprenticeship opportunities at Lloyds Banking Group's flagship offices.
Lloyds Banking Group is a world-renowned commercial, personal, and investment banking management firm and the UK’s biggest Bank. LBG has over 30 million customers and around 60,000 employees globally and is an FTSE 100 company. Under the Lloyds Banking Group business, they also own Halifax and Bank of Scotland and other financial institutions such as Scottish Widows.
Locations:
a) Leeds- 11 & 12 WELLINGTON PL, LEEDS LS1 4AP - Saturday 31st January
b) Bristol- 10 CANONS WAY, BRISTOL BS1 5LF - Saturday 31st January
c) Birmingham- 125 Colmore Row, Birmingham, B3 3SD - Saturday 7th February
d) Edinburgh - The Mound, Edinburgh EH1 1YZ - Saturday 7th March
The events have 2 slots and will run from 10am - 12.30pm & 2pm - 4.30pm - Please only apply for ONE time slot.
Dress code is smart/casual. No tracksuits or hoodies, please. Please come prepared with some questions ready for our experts!
Application Links (Click Below)
Leeds - Saturday 31st January
Bristol - Saturday 31st January
Birmingham - Saturday 7th February
Edinburgh - Saturday 7th March
Tuesday 31st March 2026 (In the holidays)
09:15 – 16.00
The University of Reading is delighted to be once again hosting our Scientists of the Future Day. This is an all-day science workshop for years 11 and 12, to give students a chance to experience what it is like to be a scientist first-hand.
Attendees will have the opportunity to undertake a series of laboratory activities, talk to current University of Reading science students, and explore our beautiful campus. If you enjoy science at school but are not sure if you want to go to university, then this will be an excellent opportunity to find out what it is like.
The lab activities you will experience on the day will be:
- Forensics and DNA: Solve the mystery using this powerful technique to separate DNA. Learn how to undertake gel electrophoresis and use micropipettes; real techniques that are used in diagnostic and research labs.
- Chemistry: Explore the science of equilibria and learn how these relate to the cycles of life. We will also demonstrate just how much energy is stored in sugary sweets!
- Food & Nutritional Sciences: Have you ever wondered how or why we taste things the way that we do? This session will look to explore this through your sense of taste and smell and start to explain the science behind the phenomena of taste.
We will be in touch by the end of February if you have been successful in securing a place. This event has been very popular the last three years so make sure you register early.
Business and Accounting Apprenticeships – Y13
These events are specifically for Y13 students who are still looking and applying for apprenticeships after they finish school this year.
Event with Grant Thornton:
- Wednesday 11th March, 4:30pm - 6pm
- Y13 Students
- Grant Thornton, 2 Glass Wharf, Bristol BS2 0EL
- Find out more and book on: Click here—> https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GT_Bristol
Unifrog
Our virtual university fair on 18 March at 4 - 6.30pm
The subject discovery fair gives students a taste of what it's really like to study at university through mini-lectures on trending topics across a wide range of subjects.
🤖 Cybersecurity and AI: How ChatGPT works with the University of Westminster
🌱 Environmental and earth sciences: Global sustainable development with the University of Warwick
💼 Business: Brands and what they mean to consumers with the University of Essex
And much more, with sessions on other popular subjects including Criminology and Psychology, Medical Sciences, and Creative Arts.
Share the sign up link with your students
Business and Accounting Insight Events with Grant Thornton - Y12 & Y13 Students
(Cardiff, Bristol, Oxford and Edinburgh)
Application Links (Click Below)
Cardiff- Friday 6th March - 4pm - 5:30pm
Bristol - Wednesday 11th March - 4:30pm - 6pm
Oxford- Friday 13th March - 5pm - 6:30pm
Edinburgh - Thursday 19th March - (Session 1 - 3pm - 4:30pm / Session 2 - 5pm - 6:30pm)
Business and Law Conferences
Business Conference:
- Location: 71 Basinghall St, London EC2V 7HH
- Date: Friday, 6th March
- Time: 9:30am – 1:30pm
- Employers Attending: Lloyds Banking Group, UBS, S&W, CIMA, BDO, KPMG, University of Law Business School, Grant Thornton, Black Rock, RSM, PA Consulting
Law Conference:
- Location: 71 Basinghall St, London EC2V 7HH
- Date: Friday, 6th March
- Time: 2pm – 6pm
- Employers Attending: Browne Jacobosn, Slaughter and May, A&O Sherman, Farrer & Co, Bird & Bird, Fragomen, Pinsent Masons, Cripps, Ashurst, Stephenson Harwood, Freeths, University of Law, Fox Williams
When you apply using the link below, you can select the time slot you’d like to book.
Application Link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YP_Spring
All who attend will receive a certificate that can be used on your LinkedIn profiles and in any future CVs or job applications.
2-week paid work experience offer for Year 12 students during the school holidays
Smart Futures provides young people with 8 days of paid employability training and work experience followed by the opportunity to request an EY business mentor to support career, personal and academic develop over the course of 6 months.
We are excited to run a Smart Futures Business & Technology programme with EY Reading in 2026! This will suit any students who are interested in finding out more about careers in professional services, accounting, consulting, technology, law, and similar careers.
Dates (school holidays):
- 26th to 29th May 2026
- 27th to 30th July 2026
To be eligible, young people need to be:
In Year 12 and either 16 or 17 years
- Eligible, not necessarily claiming free school meals OR the college bursary within the last 2 years. You can see if you are eligible using this tool or check our website
- Studying A Levels or equivalent Level 3
- Achieved a minimum of an English Language Grade 4 or English Functional Skills Level 2
If you are interested, please complete an application form ( APPLY ) When completing the application form, you must select ‘Business and Technology’ as the Programme, this will then allow the option to apply to the Reading based programme.
A stable careers programme
Every school and college should have an embedded programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by pupils, parents, teachers and employers.
Kendrick School is committed to providing a range of opportunities, experiences and resources to enable students in KS3, 4 and 5 to help them engage with their future life after Kendrick. Our aim is to ensure that the careers provision is tailored to the needs and circumstances of all our students.
Learning from career and labour market information
Every pupil, and their parents, should have access to good-quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities. They will need the support of an informed adviser to make the best use of available information.
At Kendrick, we continually develop our network and information through our existing contacts and our governing body to ensure that the programme considers their knowledge of the changing labour market.
Addressing the needs of each pupil
Pupils have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each pupil. A school’s careers programme should embed equality and diversity considerations throughout.
Our careers programme is designed in such a way as to be relevant across all 3 key stages and therefore is progressive in nature. It sets out to increase the autonomy of our students when making career decisions and showing them a range of alternative routes after leaving Kendrick.
Linking curriculum learning to careers
All teachers should link curriculum learning with careers. For example, STEM subject teachers should highlight the relevance of STEM subjects for a wide range of future career paths.
Kendrick will ensure a collective approach to the careers programme where staff will explain the relevance of their subject areas and expertise with connection to the workplace and future careers.
Encounters with employers and employees
Every pupil should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment activities, including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes.
Kendrick School recognises the relevance of allowing our students to have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about the world of work. We ensure that all year groups on KS3 and KS4 achieve this above the minimum level of one encounter per year.
Experiences of workplaces
Every pupil should have first-hand experiences of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities, and expand their networks.
Kendrick School has long-invested in the activity of giving our KS4 & KS5 students a week's work experience. We have an external provider (Learning to Work), to source and manage these placements. The process includes a short interview with the student so that a good match between the placement-provider and student is achieved.
Encounters with further and higher education
All pupils should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them. This includes both academic and vocational routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace.
During the Post 16 conference, the Year 11 students have a chance to consider alternative places of study for their KS5 years and also alternative routes of study and employment are fully discussed.
In the Sixth Form, there is a formal programme to introduce and explain the UCAS application process as well as discussing alternative exit routes such as gap year, apprenticeships, internships and more.
Personal guidance
Every pupil should have opportunities for guidance interviews with a Careers Adviser, who could be internal (a member of school staff) or external, provided they are trained to an appropriate level. These should be available whenever significant study or career choices are being made. They should be expected for all pupils but should be timed to meet their individual needs.
Kendrick school sees the benefit of providing personal guidance to our students to help them focus on their future dreams and help them structure their next steps to reach their goals and fulfil their aspirations. We recognise that this will require the support of outside professionals, and we have entrusted this to 'Learning to Work'.
Careers Co-ordinator
Our Careers Co-ordinator, Mrs Candace McManus, leads our CEAIG work with a high level of expertise to maintain and develop our stable careers programme. Curriculum and tutor time is dedicated to allow for a planned delivery of CEIAG content through skilled personnel. We are supported by external professional agencies to assist with the delivery of certain aspects of the programme. We promote the importance of the careers programme to students, parents, teachers and employers so that they know what to expect and how they can contribute to its success. We undertake regular evaluation of the programme to inform future decisions about the programme.
Please contact the Careers Co-ordinator, Mrs McManus, for more information.
