Careers & Alumni

Careers programme information

The information below summarises our careers programme which is recognised as outstanding. Our careers leader is Mrs S Keane (email. careers@hemelschool.com tel. 01442 390100).

'Careers education is generally a strength. ‘Golden threads’ run through all year groups, and there are a wide range of opportunities to engage with employers. This includes work experience in Year 10. Pupils have the information they need to make well-informed choices about their next steps. This includes an appropriate programme of support for sixth-form students. The school meets the requirements of the Baker Clause, which requires schools to provide pupils in Years 8 to 13 with information about approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships'.

Ofsted, December 2022.

Our Careers Programme

The Hemel Hempstead School seeks to maximise the life chances of all of our students and so it is crucial to prepare young people for life beyond school.

The school aims to meet the needs of all students so the programme will be differentiated to ensure progression through activities that are appropriate to students’ stages of career learning, planning and development. They need to be empowered to plan and manage their own futures and availability of information is a key determinant of career choice.

The programme will raise aspirations, challenge stereotyping and promote equality and diversity. It supports social mobility by improving opportunities for all young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special educational needs and disabilities.

The school endeavours to follow the DfE statutory careers guidance (2018) which includes the Gatsby Benchmarks.

The objectives

Empowering students to plan and manage their own futures.
Helping student to explore and follow courses that are appropriate to their needs.
Improving understanding of the world of work.
Ensuring appropriate provision and guidance.
Successful transition to the next stage of education and employment.
Offering a responsive service that allows time for face to face guidance.
Providing comprehensive and unbiased advice and guidance.
Actively promoting equality and challenging gender stereotypes.
Provide activities that help raise motivation and attainment.

Measuring the impact

One of the main ways we measure and assess the impact of our careers programme is using Compass to generate a Gatsby profile. Compass is a tool for schools and colleges in England that supports schools to evaluate their careers activity against the eight benchmarks of best practice - known as the Gatsby Benchmarks. The tool was built in partnership with the Gatsby Charitable Foundation.

Our latest Gatsby profile can be found here HHS Gatsby Profile December 2022.

What we do

The list below shows the events and opportunities that we provide students to prepare them for their next steps and the wider world.

Year 7

Work Shadowing
Careers in PACE
Guest Speakers
Future Skills

Year 8

Female Role Model Event
Careers Day
The Brilliant Club
Group Interviews
Careers in PACE
Guest Speakers
Future Skills

Year 9

University Awareness Workshops
Start Profile
Careers Day
Options advice and Evening
Engineering Masterclass
The Brilliant Club
Smiths Detection Visit
Careers in PACE
Future Skills

Year 10

Work Experience
Maths 4 Girls
Dacorum Careers Fair
CV writing and interview skills
1:1 guidance with YC Hertfordshire
Post 16 information talks
TV Career Talk
Employability workshop
Role Model Event
1:1 guidance with YC Hertfordshire
Working options talk
Careers in PACE
Future Skills

Year 11

Post 16 Options Information Evening
Psychometric Testing
1:1 guidance with YC Hertfordshire
1:1 guidance with YC Hertfordshire
Careers in PACE
Future Skills

Year 12

Dragon's apprentice (targeted)
Careers in PACE
Skills package: (CV writing, student finance, choosing a university, open days, personal statements, apprenticeships & taking a gap year).
Dragon's Apprentice
Next steps interviews
Healthcare insight
Law insight
Berkhamsted post 18 Fair
Social Media Profiles
Post 18 options
Work experience
UCAS conference
Mock interviews
Morrisby Online

Year 13

Careers in PACE
Guest Speakers

University applications

Guidance interviews (on request)

Apprenticeship workshops (targeted)

OxBridge entry examinations
Guidance interviews (on request)

Berkhamsted post 18 fair

Future Skills Programme

In September 2020 we introduced our Future Skills programme as part of our 'careers in the curriculum' provision. Students spend time with their Form Tutor each week working on the development and practical application of 8 key skills which prepare them for employment and the wider world. The 8 key skills are:

Listening

Speaking

Problem Solving

Creativity

Staying Positive

Aiming High

Leadership

Teamwork

Alumni

The Hemel Hempstead School (HHS) Alumni is an official community dedicated to connecting, celebrating and engaging with ex-students and staff of The Hemel Hempstead School.

It aims to reach out to all HHS alumni and develop opportunities for them to connect and support each other, and the school. Wherever you are in the world and whatever stage of life you’re at; the chances are that there’s a Hemel Hempstead School Alumnus who could help you with your next step, or who would benefit from sharing your experiences since leaving school.

Email us at alumni@hemelhempsteadschool.co.uk to find out how to join, or for more information on what HHS Alumni is all about visit http://www.hhs.herts.sch.uk/alumni.

You can also “Like” The Hemel Hempstead School Alumni on Facebook and follow @HHS_Alumni on Twitter to hear local news, plans for reunions and school events or simply to get in touch with other alumni.

Click here to see our HHS Alumni page on LinkedIn.

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