The vast majority of Hampton boys progress to university, although advice is also given on a range of options including Degree Apprenticeships. From the First Year upwards, the Hampton School UCAS and Careers Department offers extensive support and guidance to ensure that each pupil has a thorough understanding of opportunities in education, training and employment, and the skills necessary to make informed decisions.
The Careers programme includes the offer of internal interviews with individual pupils at key decision-making times; and advice and guidance is offered from staff and external professionals.
First Year pupils are introduced to the Careers programme in the summer term. Second Year boys undertake a Career Investigator programme to give them some early ideas. Third Year pupils are given help in choosing their GCSE subjects and are offered the opportunity of an individual interview with a member of the UCAS and Careers team.
Pupils and parents may at any time make an appointment to discuss future plans with the careers staff or Head of Year. All Fifth Years take the ‘Morrisby’ careers aptitude tests and have follow-up interviews with their Form Tutor and a member of the UCAS and Careers team if they wish.
Alumni regularly return to Hampton to offer guidance and share their expertise. The School holds an annual Careers Week in the spring term which enables pupils and their parents to consult experts from many professions and organisations; and boys are also able to participate in the LEH Careers Convention. The School enjoys close contact with its Alumni network and these links offer boys the opportunity for work experience and internships before they proceed to degree courses.
The UCAS process for university application begins in the spring term of the Lower Sixth, which is also when the Oxbridge process begins. Pupils interested in applying to Oxford or Cambridge are given help and advice over college choice, and have dedicated timetable time in the autumn term for preparation for the admissions tests which take place in November.
The annual Higher Education evening is held in the first week of the summer term and is an opportunity for parents to find out more about the process of university application. Pupils and parents have access to Unifrog, an excellent platform to help with university and course choices; and every pupil and their parents are offered a UCAS Parents’ Meeting in the first half of the summer term, where they are able to discuss university options with a member of the UCAS team, SLT or Head of Department. The Lower Sixth are also taken off-timetable for a Personal Statement morning in the second half of the summer term, where pupils are given an introduction to the UCAS Personal Statement and specialist subject-specific advice.
Every year, a handful of pupils choose to apply to North American universities, most often alongside their UCAS applications. There is a member of the UCAS team to oversee US university applications, but the School prepares and supports boys for entrance to American Universities using an external provider.
Unifrog – finding the best universities and apprenticeships
