Universities & Careers

The school has a well-resourced Careers Room, which is available for research from early morning until late evening, seven days a week.  There are up to date books and magazines, as well as videos and DVDs, and access is available to the internet.  The Shells (year 9) are introduced to the facilities of the Careers Room at an early stage in their first term.

Careers advice is, however, not left to chance, and there is a structured programme of guidance to help the pupils with their decisions at various stages of their passage through the school, beginning with advice over GCSE choices at the end of the Shell year. Much of this advice at this stage is delivered through the House-based tutorial system. 

Later, aptitude and interest testing is offered, work experience is encouraged and the options for Higher Education are considered.  Careers experience courses, including those organised by ISCO, the Independent Schools' Careers Organisation of which the School is a member, are much valued options and interview training forms a part of the preparation for university application.  Seminars and lectures are organised, for pupils and parents, designed to explain and offer advice, and pupils attend university Open Days and Higher Education Conventions. The very popular and worthwhile option of a gap year is also thoroughly explored.

USEFUL FACTS AND FIGURES

81% of places gained in 2011 and 2012 were to Russell Group Universities.

Canford has had excellent success preparing pupils for the very competitive applications process to Medical Schools.  In the past 12 years, 122 pupils have applied and 82% have been awarded offers.

The school is also the leader in the area in terms of Oxbridge offer success.  31 pupils have gained offers in the past two years.  For Oxbridge successes in the past five years, please click here.