Careers In Depth - Preparing Sixth Form Pupils for the new Jobs Market

Many parents will have read the recent news headlines regarding the dynamic nature of the jobs market of the future. The World Economic Forum Jobs Report (2025) suggests that 22% of current jobs will be transformed, 170 million new jobs will be created globally and, 92 million will be displaced. Meantime, stubbornly 63% of employers still cite skills gaps as the biggest barrier to transformation. 

In this context, we are constantly adapting the College’s My Future Careers Programme with a focus on reflecting the needs of the different year groups, their stage in the career journey and equipping pupils with the critical employability skills which are so vital. There is a focus on “encounters with employers” which evidence suggests is an indicator of a high-quality careers programme.  The recent Careers in Depth for the Upper Sixth is a good example, students had the opportunity to hear from and speak to twenty-three different leaders from a wide range of organisations. The event is run as a panel format with our expert guests formed into seven panels, each hosted by a member of staff. The panels covered popular multifaceted professions such as: Medicine and Healthcare/Engineering and the Built Environment/ Finance/Law/Business and Management/ IT and Technology and Arts and Media.  

Across each panel pupils were presented with a broad range of expertise enabling them to understand the difference between for example a Barrister and a Solicitor, the different types of work undertaken by each, routes into these roles and what employers might be looking for from new employees. Similarly in the Business panel, students heard about different roles including, CEO, Human Resources, Marketing, Business Development, Finance and Operations, the panel also explored how these roles interacted with each other at different times 

This event is timed to support and inform our Upper Sixth students as they begin their UCAS applications. 

The Objectives of the Careers in Depth Event

1. To assist pupils, understand the breadth of exciting roles that exist within some of the multifaceted professions. 
2. To demonstrate the flexibility and career transitions that can be achieved, learn how others have planned and managed their careers. 
3. To support pupils understand how careers can develop from a wide range of undergraduate studies using real examples from the panel.

Detailed biographies were provided of the twenty-three experts who comprised current parents, and OLs from across the decades. Students chose two/three panel sessions to attend. Parents also received copies of the biographies prior to the event as we recognise their vital insights at this stage in supporting pupils making choices. 

In Feedback, Pupils Appreciated the Following: 

• The wide range of careers presented
• The panel style, with a teacher leading with some open questions and then opportunities to ask additional questions
• Talking to multiple different people and how they became successful
• The expertise of the different speakers
• Positive conversations about AI and the impact on different industries 

Note  

The College is hugely grateful to the OLs and parents for their support. These events are an important part of the Lancing experience, and we know from our feedback that students really appreciate these events which would not be possible without the engagement of the volunteer experts. If you would like to offer your skills to join our network of volunteers, please contact careers@lancing.org.uk