We are incredibly proud of our Young Careers Ambassadors, whose enthusiasm, commitment and leadership have made a real and lasting impact across our school community so far this year. Their willingness to step forward, support others and help shape our careers events has been truly inspiring.

This year, our ambassadors played an essential role in the success of the Careers Fair, greeting visitors, guiding students and ensuring the event ran smoothly from start to finish. Their professionalism and confidence created a welcoming atmosphere and helped many students feel more at ease when exploring future pathways.  All of the visitors to school commented upon their professionalism and enthusiasm.  

Alongside this, the ambassadors will be deeply involved in peer mentoring, offering support, encouragement and practical advice to fellow students. Whether through one-to-one conversations or group sessions. 

They have also taken the lead in supporting a range of other careers-related activities throughout the year. Their creativity and initiative have helped strengthen our whole-school careers culture.

Our ambassadors summed up their experiences in their own words:

“I like being helpful.”
– Joel

“I like being a Careers Ambassador as it gives me opportunities.”

“It has helped me develop my communication skills.”

- Harvey

“I like being a Careers Ambassador because I love to help out. My favourite part is bringing visitors to different events and communicating with them.”
– Kristina

“It helps me with public speaking and has helped me gain a wider understanding of different jobs available for me in my next steps.”
– Mahi

“I like seeing all the jobs that different people do it inspires me.”

– Ella Rose

These reflections highlight exactly why we are so proud of them. Their dedication, positivity and willingness to grow have not only enriched their own skills but have also made a meaningful difference to the wider student community.

We would like to offer a heartfelt thank you to each of our Young Careers Ambassadors. You have shown exceptional commitment and set a brilliant example for others to follow. We cannot wait to see what you continue to achieve.

Etone College proudly hosted its annual Careers Fair this week, bringing together a wide range of employers, education providers and training organisations to help students explore the exciting opportunities available to them after leaving school.

The event, held in the  sports hall, welcomed pupils from across all year groups. Students had the chance to meet representatives from local and national companies, apprenticeship schemes, colleges, universities, and public services. Exhibitors included businesses from sectors such as engineering, healthcare, construction, finance, hospitality and the armed forces.  We also had representees from different universities and colleges. 

Throughout the day, students engaged in meaningful conversations about career pathways, entry requirements and the skills needed to succeed in the modern workplace. Many also took part in interactive activities, gaining hands-on insight into different industries. The fair aimed to broaden students’ horizons, helping them discover roles they may not have previously considered.

“The Careers Fair is an important part of our commitment to ensuring every student receives high-quality guidance about their future. Events like this encourage our young people to think ambitiously, ask questions, and begin planning for life beyond school.”

Students described the fair as informative and motivating, with many noting that they now feel more confident about making decisions regarding GCSE options, post-16 routes and long-term ambitions.

We would like to thank all organisations who attended and contributed to the day’s success. Their support plays a crucial role in helping students build aspirations and understand the wide variety of opportunities available to them, helping them to be competitive members of the workforce.

As always we look forward to continuing to develop strong links with employers and educational partners, ensuring every student is equipped to take the next steps towards a bright and successful future.

Our Careers Ambassadors have recently taken part in an engaging and informative training session designed to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to support our school’s careers programme.

The session began with an exploration of the Careers Ambassador role, emphasising the importance of being positive role models and advocates for careers education within the school community. Ambassadors will be actively involved in supporting events such as careers fairs, employer visits, and workshops, as well as promoting the value of planning for the future amongst their peers.

A key focus of the training was an introduction to the Gatsby Benchmarks – a framework of eight guidelines that define what world-class careers guidance should look like in schools. Ambassadors looked closely at how each benchmark applies to activities already taking place in school and discussed how they can contribute to ensuring every student receives high-quality support. Particular attention was paid to Benchmark 3 (Addressing the needs of each pupil) and Benchmark 4 (Linking curriculum learning to careers), where the Ambassadors have a key role to play.

We also explored Labour Market Information (LMI), helping Ambassadors understand how to access and interpret data about local and national job trends. This includes recognising which industries are growing, what skills are in demand, and how this information can help students make informed decisions about their future study and career options.

Finally, the group reviewed updates to the school website’s careers section. The Ambassadors were shown how the site is structured to support students, parents, and carers – providing access to careers advice, upcoming events, employer links, and online tools. As part of their role, Ambassadors will be helping to signpost others to the information available online and suggesting future improvements to ensure the site meets the needs of all users.

At Etone College, we place great importance on our comprehensive careers programme. As parents and carers, you play a vital role in supporting your child’s career aspirations. We encourage you to visit our careers page together and explore the wide range of options available:

https://matrixacademytrust.co.uk/careers/etone-college

Talking through next steps, discussing possible future careers, and researching different pathways can be a valuable experience. We also recommend reviewing prospectuses from local colleges and sixth forms to check entry requirements for various subjects; relevant links are available on the page above. It’s never too early to start thinking about your child’s future.

We regularly share information about apprenticeships, opportunities, and upcoming events via our Twitter page. Additionally, our website offers extensive advice on topics such as interview techniques, CV writing, and university applications.

Should you require any further support, please contact the school reception and ask for Mrs Barlow.

Attached to this newsletter is our Careers Roadmap, outlining key provision for each year group to help you stay informed. More detailed information can be found on our website.

Upcoming Event: Parents’ Online Careers Session – 18 July

We invite you to join our next online event on Thursday 18 July via Teams:

• 4.00pm – 4.30pm: General information about our careers and Learning for Life (LFL) provision

• 4.30pm – 5.00pm: UCAS information session for Year 12 parents

This session will also be recorded and made available on our website.

Session Aims:

• To explain the Careers, Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG) programme at Etone College

• To share how we support parents and carers with careers information

• To provide details about the Learning for Life curriculum and lessons

If you would like to receive the link to join the session, please complete the following Microsoft Form:
https://forms.office.com/e/TZDnqCL1jU

We look forward to seeing you there!

Arriving at Clare College, Cambridge was certainly a 'wow' moment for Year 10 pupils this week. The second oldest college in Cambridge is beautiful with stunning gardens and on a sunny day set a wonderful mood for the day. The tour with Student Ambassadors showed the beauty, relaxed, practical nature of the college with spaces for work, rest, and leisure. 

Their day started with an introduction to university life and all it has to offer. Year 10 fully engaged with every task and activity. A short university level thinking workshop enabled them to think deeply, unpack ideas, and debate their opinions. As always, Etone pupils impressed the presenter hugely with their ideas. 

Lily and Lillie reflected, "The experience was enriching and one to remember.  It made us feel like we can do anything." Charlie agreed, "it was a great day, I particularly enjoyed the tour." 

On Tuesday 8th April, a group of our enthusiastic Year 7 pupils from Etone College visited the University of Leicester to take part in a fascinating and inspiring day all about sustainability. The visit offered a valuable insight into environmental issues, university life, and even some local history.

Upon arrival, pupils were warmly welcomed by university staff and given a quick overview of the day ahead. The main activities were split into a carousel of three sessions, giving pupils the opportunity to learn, explore, and get hands-on with ideas for a greener future.

The first session dove into key environmental topics such as carbon footprints, global warming, sustainability, climate, and the greenhouse effect. Pupils discussed what these terms mean and explored how human actions are impacting the planet. They also explored positive solutions and suggestions, such as:

• Planting trees to offset carbon emissions
• Creating recycled art pieces to reduce waste
• Using renewable energy, like the example of Keele University’s wind farm, which generates 30–40% of its energy sustainably

Etone College pupils were the first to correctly sequence the carbon footprint of various foods that our speaker has asked numerous schools in his What is Sustainability session.

The second session explored the importance of biodiversity and the balance of ecosystems. Pupils learnt about how the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park dramatically restored its environment, a great example of how carefully considered actions can benefit nature.

To support biodiversity closer to home, pupils were full of ideas, including:

• Building bug hotels

• Installing solar panels
• Creating small water fountains for local wildlife
• Starting gardening clubs
• Making bird feeders
• And even planting their own bulbs to contribute to the local ecosystem

We all enjoyed an alfresco lunch in the University grounds, just next to where our pupils had planted their bulbs, basking in the gloriously sunny day. They gained a taste of the independence that University pupils experience, the ability to select their venue to have lunch and where to work.

The final part of the day was a guided tour of the University of Leicester campus. Pupils had the chance to explore the grounds, see the learning spaces, and experience a taste of what university life is like. A highlight of the tour was seeing the carving of Sir David Attenborough and his brother, Lord Richard Attenborough, embedded into the walls of the house where they lived as children – a wonderful tribute to two iconic figures who grew up in Leicester and made a significant impact on both science and the arts.

Pupils also had the opportunity to hear from a current third-year student, who shared their experiences of applying to university, moving away from home, and what daily life is really like for a student. It was an inspiring and informative talk that sparked lots of curiosity about the future.

Our Year 7s returned to school full of excitement and new ideas. The trip was not only educational but also empowering, showing pupils that even small changes can help make a big difference to the world around us.

A huge thank you to the University of Leicester for hosting such a meaningful day and to the event organiser and our wonderful ambassadors for being so complimentary of our wonderful pupils and looking after us all day. We can’t wait to see how our pupils bring their sustainable ideas to life back at school!

On April 3rd 2025, all students in year 7,8,9 and 10 at Etone College took part in our annual Careers day event.  This forms part of the Statutory Careers programme.  During this time there were many exciting and informative experiences, for example, NHS services, Engineering challenges, STEM activities and visits to universities & the college. 

All of the activities  were themed around the careers opportunities available in the various industries attending the day and encompassed our employability skills 

Year 7 enjoyed sessions with 

Jaguar Land rover and CIPS engineering interactive sessions 

HMRC, looking at tax 

Stepnall construction, practical sessions looking at building problems 

The Civil service, practical session looking at the role of the civil service 

Leicester University, this session looked at raising aspirations and what university life looks like 

Role models talks, talks from role modes working in sports and procurement 

Year 8 enjoyed sessions with 

Hobra Myra, engineering

Jaguar Land rover and CIPS engineering

HMRC looking at tax 

Army, roles within the armed forces 

Police, practical task examining roles in the police force 

Lovetts estate agents, what are the roles of an estate agent 

Role models talks, talks from role modes working in sports and procurement 

Year 9 students had the opportunity to attend work experience and we have received feedback from companies outlining how well our students fitted into the working environment.  

Year 10 enjoyed experiences with 

NWSLC, Trip and a tour 

Role Models talks from role modes working in sports and procurement 

Gloucester University this session looked at raising aspirations and what university life looks like 

Ask, how to apply for jobs and apprenticeships 

Rise, looking at ways to adapt your skills for the world of work 

On careers day, 46 Year 10 pupils had the opportunity to visit Keele University. Alongside a tour of one of Britain’s largest campuses,

Pupils spent their morning engaged in a myth busting session introducing the university experience. 

After a lunch sitting in the sunshine, pupils also took on the challenge to create and then pitch an idea for a new degree or society in a Dragon’s Den session.  A huge array of activities were pitched from degrees in therapy, food design and real estate to societies focused on onions, niche music, and badminton. The Social Activism society pitch won the session so a huge well done to Jameela, Samruddhi, Yousuf, LaCie, and Adeena won a box of chocolates and employability points. 

Etone pupils really enjoyed the trip with most saying it inspired them to study a degree in the future. 

On April 3rd 2025, all students in year 7,8,9 and 10 at Etone College are taking part in our annual Careers day event.  This forms part of the Statutory Careers programme.  During this time there will be many exciting and informative experiences, for example, team building with HS2, NHS services, Engineering challenges, STEM activities and visits to universities & colleges will take place. 

All of the activities will be themed around the careers opportunities available in the various industries attending the day.

An overview of the planned activities can be found below:

We are really looking forward to the opportunity to have such an event in school and look forward to engaging the students in future careers and other opportunities.