Recent Events
Secondary Careers and Higher Education Evening - 8th March 2018
Following the success of this event in previous years, we are once again offered all KBA students from Years 7-13 and from schools in the surrounding area the opportunity to attend our Careers and Higher Education Evening.
60 organisations gave presentations or provided one to one careers advice to the students and parents who attended. The presentations included ‘Applying for medicine and training as a medic’, 'Careers in Sport', ' Applying for Nursing and Midwifery' and 'Careers in Engineering'. Presentations on apprenticeship routes and different aspects of university were also included in the event. Employers across many different sectors including engineering, construction, retail, the forces, the legal profession and healthcare, provided an insight into a wide range of potential careers and the different paths that can be taken in order to pursue them. Our thanks to all those who exhibited at this event.
Nuffield Research Placements
Students in Year 12 have been invited to apply for a prestigious Nuffield Research Placement. The placement offers students the opportunity to work alongside professional scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians in the workplace.
Careers in Construction
All sixth form students were given the opportunity to attend an event at a local college outlining the higher-level apprenticeship routes into careers in construction.
PREPARATION FOR THE WORLD OF EMPLOYMENT AND UNIVERSITY INTERVIEWS
Brightside Mentoring
All students in Year 12 have been offered the opportunity to be mentored by someone currently studying at university. Most students in the year group have taken advantage of this programme which is designed to better prepare them for university study and student life.
Social Mobility Foundation
Students in Year 12 were invited to apply for the Social Mobility Foundation programme. This offers one to one careers guidance and support by matching students to a mentor who is working in the career they wish to join in the future. Students are invited to skills sessions and sector-specific events which will improve confidence, broaden their horizons and make them more aware of different career routes. There will also be the opportunity for students to undertake internships in the sector in which they want to work.
Traineeship in Television and Journalism
Last year a number of students in Year 12 undertook a traineeship in television and journalism at the University of Northampton. The programme was organised by NCOP. The students worked on a magazine television show and received training in TV presenting and all other aspects of the production as part of the traineeship. This year, students have been offered the opportunity to undertake traineeships in Sports Journalism and Radio or Newspaper Journalism.
Traineeship in Podiatry
A number of students in Year 12 are undertaking a traineeship in Podiatry. Run by the Podiatry Department at the University of Northampton, this traineeship is providing an insight into the workings of the Podiatry Clinic at Northampton General Hospital and the academic work that underpins this.
One really exciting experience being taken up by Year 12 currently through the National CollaborativeOutreach Project (NCOP) has enabled students from KBA to gain insight in to their desired careers. NCOP has organised three weeks in a graduate work placement to enable students to learn as much as they can about the role and realities about their specific career goal. The project is unusual in that it provides a bursary of £750 to students who successfully complete the project
Cambridge University Interviews and applying for Russell Group Universities
Students in Year 13 who have the potential to apply to study at Oxbridge or other Russell Group Universites, have attended a workshop run by Cambridge University to help prepare them for the interview process. These students will also be offered sessions at Oundle School to help advise and support them in making their applications.
A number of students in Year 12 attended an event aimed at advising students on how to best prepare for applications to Russell Group universities. Year 12 students will also have the chance to visit Cambridge University in the SummerTerm for further information on Oxbridge applications.
Mock Interviews for university applicants

All students in Year 13 were offered a mock interview with staff form De Montfort University to help prepare them for university interviews. Students who are applying for medicine related fields have also been offered additional sessions at Oundle School to help prepare them for their specialised interviews.
Global Learning Programme
The Sixth Form Global Learning programme includes a wide array of presentations from universities and apprenticeship providers to ensure students can make an informed choice about their next steps.
All students in Year 12 and 13 also have the option to have a one to one careers interview with a Careers Advisor from Prospects at any point in the year.
In the Summer Term, all Year 12 students will have the oppotunity to visit Nottingham University and Loughborugh university for open day visits and will also undertake a week of work shadowing.
COMPETITIVE EDGE PROGRAMME
Students in Year 12 and 13 have had the opportunity to take part in the Competitive Edge Programme run by Prospects. The programme is aimed at students who want to go directly into employment at the end of their sixth form studies. Working with a range of employers, the programme is designed to cover the skills needed to make students employment ready covering areas such as the production of CVs, interview techniques and presentation skills.