Spotlight on… Futures at Taunton School
How Taunton School’s Futures Programme Prepares Students for University, Careers and Apprenticeships
The Futures Department at Taunton School provides a bespoke, student-centred service designed to support every learner’s educational and career aspirations. Formerly known as the Careers Service, the team rebranded as ‘Futures’ to reflect a broader, more dynamic approach that recognises today’s evolving workplace and the diverse pathways our students may choose.
Head of Futures, Alice MacNair, explains: “‘Futures’ is much broader than ‘Careers.’ We explore degree apprenticeships, gap years, university, emerging technologies such as AI, and above all, we focus on the growth, interests, and future of each pupil.”
Alice and her team work tirelessly to ensure every student is supported in shaping an exceptional future that is right for them.
Futures Curriculum in Practice
Taunton School’s Futures department follows a spiral curriculum, revisiting key concepts throughout a student’s time at Taunton School – from Pre-Prep through to Sixth Form. Each encounter increases in complexity, helping students build on prior knowledge while gaining exposure to a broad range of ideas and opportunities.
Our work is also aligned with the Gatsby Benchmarks, ensuring high-quality, consistent careers education. However, our approach is still able to remain deeply holistic and neutral, prioritising each student’s unique needs over any predefined pathway.
This tailored support includes:
A variety of careers, apprenticeship and university fairs
Specific PSHE sessions
Close links with local businesses
Application and interview guidance for universities, apprenticeships, workplaces, and even sporting opportunities such as the Tetrathlon World Cup!
Talks from alumni in various fields
Futures Guidance Begins in Pre-Prep
The Taunton School Futures Curriculum supports pupils at every stage:
Pre-Prep and Prep: Visits and workshops from local professionals, plus PSHE activities using the Jigsaw programme, help develop emotional literacy and early awareness of careers.
Senior School: Support becomes more personalised – from choosing GCSEs, to shaping future pathways, to one-to-one guidance for those unsure of their next steps.
Sixth Form: Support with university, apprenticeship, or workplace applications, interview technique workshops, career fairs and more.
Alice highlights the importance of enjoyment when advising students: “For those unsure of their future, the best advice is often to study what they enjoy. We help them explore their strengths and advise based on who they are as individuals.”
The team keeps updated with labour market trends, higher education changes, global admissions processes, and more. Whether assisting with international university applications, offering moral support after setbacks, or helping a student reorganise their priorities, the team provides expert, compassionate guidance. They also regularly meet with careers advisors from other schools and have plans to co-develop a Somerset & Devon Careers Conference to share best practice.
Collaboration is key: tutors, teachers, houseparents, and parents all contribute to shaping a student’s journey. From Year 7 onward, every interaction is recorded on Unifrog, enabling students to track achievements, explore interests, and prepare applications.
Inspirational Opportunities
Communication is central to Futures. Students receive regular Teams updates on opportunities including:
Work placements
University open days
Apprenticeship offers
Subject-specific webinars and Q&As
Parents can access information through the Parent Portal and the Futures webpages. Events are promoted through House Assembly Notices, The Courier, and Parent Bulletins.
Highlights from the annual Futures calendar include:
National Apprenticeship Week
UCAS launch
Business & Law events
Careers conventions
Gap year talks
Alumni webinars
Classroom sessions and assemblies cover personal statements, international applications, apprenticeships, career profiles, psychometric tests, and more.
Helping Students Develop Exceptional Futures
The Futures Department ensures that every student benefits from up-to-date information, tailored guidance, 1:1 meetings, and inspiring opportunities.
By forging strong links with universities, employers, and training providers, and beginning Futures guidance from a young age, the team ensures that all students can explore meaningful options and make confident, informed decisions about their next steps.
At Taunton School, our aim is simple: to empower every student to pursue their own exceptional future supported by expert, neutral, and holistic guidance every step of the way.
Find out more about our Futures provision > https://www.tauntonschool.co.uk/schools/sixth-form/futures-careers-department/