The Department’s Offer

Careers and Future Pathway Programme

The Tormead Careers and Future Pathways programme encourages pupils to build essential career management skills, namely the ability to recognise their strengths, interests, and values, understand their non-negotiables, build their network, make evidence-led decisions and explore the world of work, training and learning. Cultivating these essential skills in our pupils ensures they are future ready and can navigate an ever-changing landscape of higher education and employment with resilience and flexibility, thereby shaping a life of purpose and authenticity beyond Tormead. The Careers and Future Pathways programme is delivered through curriculum PSHE lessons, Year 10 and Year 11 Next Steps lessons, and careers events and experiences.

The Director of Careers and Higher Education provides impartial advice and guidance to all pupils and parents, to facilitate informed decision making at every stage. One-to-one appointments are available for pupils when choosing their GCSE subjects, A Level subjects and post-18 options. Focusing on the right path for each student is at the heart of our provision. We promote curiosity, reflection, aspirational thinking, and informed decision making.

Work Experience

All Year 11 and Lower Sixth students are expected to undertake work experience in June. This is a brilliant opportunity to explore potential career interests and gain much needed experience for university or degree apprenticeship applications. We work closely with our wonderful parent and alumnae community to identify unique and valuable opportunities.

Placements have included Christie’s auction house, Exxon Mobil, Guildford Chambers Barristers, House of Tailoring, Rowley House Vets, QinetiQ, Rolls Royce, Royal Albert Hall, Send Medical Practice, Sky, Surrey County Council Speech and Language Therapy Department, Surrey County Hospital, Stevens & Bolton LLP, Walters and Cohen Architects, and Watts Gallery.

Encounters with Higher Education

Cambridge University, Lancaster University, Royal Holloway and the University of Surrey admissions teams deliver presentations to Year 10, Year 11 and Sixth Form about choosing a degree, student finance and student life.

Year 12 students visit the University of Surrey Law School’s Court of the Future to participate in mock trials and debate topics such as human rights law and the use of AI in the legal sector.

Our alumnae also offer mentoring and advice to students who are interested in studying at the same university, or the same course or degree apprenticeship they are on.

Applying to University

The Head of University Admissions works closely with students in Sixth Form to ensure confidence in the UCAS system, which results in timely and appropriate applications to a wide range of subjects. Applicants to Oxbridge, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Dentistry receive specialist support throughout the process. Tormead provides an intensive mock interview programme with the support of our experienced Oxbridge and medical alumnae.

For a full list of the universities that Tormead students go on to, please visit the University Destinations page here.