Higher Education & Careers | Sherborne School

Sherborne has long recognised that helping a boy to research and implement his plans for Higher Education and the world of work is an important part of our pastoral provision. The Careers Department is exceptionally well equipped to focus on the needs of an individual boy. The ten members of the department, who have a range of experience and qualifications in relevant areas, have defined roles and offer a structured programme. However, much of our work is done on a "drop in" basis, as the Careers Room is staffed throughout the working week.

Whereas many schools use external organisations to conduct interviews, our strength is derived from getting to know an individual boy over an extended period of time. We cooperate closely with pastoral and academic colleagues.

It is vital that we help the boys to develop their ideas through meeting those who are in the best position to offer up to date insights: delegates to our annual Careers Convention representing over 40 career areas; admissions tutors and current students at our Higher Education Forum. We lead regular visits to universities and City institutions and conduct two annual surveys of recent Old Shirburnians about their experiences of university and employment. All members of the department attend conferences and visit universities: the Head of Department has visited all 120 UK universities and over a dozen abroad within the last few years.

In the area of university advice this is an outstanding department. As we are committed to an evidence-based approach in our work, it is only right that we justify this statement. Recently our "Guide to Higher Education Application" has been presented to the Minister for Higher Education by a fellow MP as a model of good practice, and our methods and materials have been similarly praised by a Head of Admissions at a Russell Group university. We have also had a significant influence in national debates on the "exchange rate" between A Level grades in university entry.

Philip Rogerson MA
Director of HE and Careers

NEWS: Philip Rogerson, the Director of Higher Education and Careers, in recent years has visited all 120 UK universities, as well as others in the USA and Europe. Click here for more...