Ferndown Upper School careers programme runs through Years 9 to 13 with support targeted for students making key stage 4 option choices and post 16 options.

Every student at Ferndown Upper School has a tailored reflective journal which is a formal record of their progress and careers and enterprise activity.

At Ferndown Upper School we ensure that all students have at least 1 meaningful encounter with an employer, are provided with information about the full range of options available to them at Key Stage 4 and 5 and beyond.

Ferndown Upper School students are able to access a wide range of high-quality education and training across the area during Years 9,10,11 and in the sixth form. This page offers links to useful resources to help the transition process and careers and guidance information. Important information, advice and guidance are available to all students.

Following student voice feedback Ferndown Upper School offer Careers education through a series of off timetable events which we call ‘Drop Down Days’.  On these days students do not attend their regular lessons but receive high-quality independent advice and guidance from trained professionals.   We no longer run a traditional PSHE lesson in Years 10 and 11 as we consider that Drop Downs are a more effective way of delivering Careers.

Ferndown Upper School has an impartial Careers Adviser from Ansbury Guidance who is on site on Tuesdays and Fridays.  If you or your child would like an appointment please contact Phil Garnett via e mail – phil.garnett@ansbury.co.uk

Alternatively, students can book an appointment with their pastoral manager, tutor or Head of House. Sixth Form students should contact Nadia in the college block to book an appointment. There are forms to request an appointment outside the main pastoral office which can be posted in the nearby Ansbury Guidance postbox.

All students are surveyed annually to enable us to review the effectiveness of our careers programme.

Careers Education is so important to us that we begin careers input with all our Year 8 students in the local feeder schools.   This includes activities on personal finance and the job market.

Ferndown Upper School has a nominated Enterprise adviser who works with the school to support us with effective employer engagement.

Ferndown Upper School has been recognised for its commitment to Careers Education and Guidance:

• NCS Champion School
• STEM Ambassadors Award
• The Careers and Enterprise Company Award
• RNLI Engineer Award