Careers resources for parents

In this section

Find information here to help your child in their career journey through Kimbolton and beyond

Your Influence Matters More Than You Think

Parents and carers are one of the most powerful influences on a young person’s career decisions. Research consistently shows that young people are more influenced by conversations at home than by teachers, friends or careers advisers.

We want to work in partnership with you, helping you feel confident and informed so you can support your child as effectively as possible. To support this, we have created this webpage with a range of useful information and links to guide you through each stage of the journey. You will also find details of our careers programme and optional events, giving you and your child opportunities to stay informed and get involved in what is happening in school.

Why parents make such a difference – the evidence

Parents are the biggest influencers on young people’s career choices.
Research found that 8 in 10 young people say their parents or carers are a key influence on their career decisions.
The Careers & Enterprise Company’s research with 35,000 young people found that confidence in career readiness rises from 45% in Year 7 to 74% in Year 13 when young people receive effective careers support. Parents play a vital role in that journey.

How you can help

Ask questions and listen to your child’s ideas.
Encourage them to explore different pathways, including apprenticeships, college, university and employment.
Help them recognise their strengths and achievements.
Stay curious about the changing world of work – many careers today did not exist when we were at school.
Focus on supporting informed choices rather than having all the answers.

“The conversations you have today can help shape your child’s future opportunities. Your encouragement, interest and belief in them can make a lasting difference. As a parent or carer, you are one of the most important influences on their career journey.“

Careers Education Programme for the Senior School

At Kimbolton School we are proud to offer a comprehensive Careers Education Programme that supports our pupils from the 1st Form through to the Upper 6th. This programme is designed to guide pupils on a journey of exploration, helping them navigate and evaluate their post-18 options.

Through a rich blend of curriculum-based learning and enrichment opportunities, we help pupils explore their strengths, discover a wide range of career pathways, and develop the skills they need to make well-informed choices, wherever their journey may lead. ALL senior pupils can access 1:1 careers support by filling in this FORM or speaking to their tutor.

If you have any questions and you want to speak with the Careers Lead about any aspect of the careers education programme please Contact Mrs Southern

Careers Education Programme 2026-2027 Download

Future Friday Breakfasts – 08.00h Green Room

Future Friday Breakfasts—a regular event open to pupils and their parents. These sessions will feature guest speakers from a wide range of industries that reflect the interests and aspirations expressed by our pupils.

We warmly encourage you to join us for these popular informative and engaging mornings. Research consistently shows that parents play a pivotal role in shaping their child’s career choices. We hope these events will not only broaden pupils’ awareness of potential career pathways but also equip parents to support meaningful career-related discussions at home. BOOK HERE FOR A PLACE

Lunchtime Insight Workshops – 13.00h Careers Hub

These have been developed in direct response to topics pupils in the Senior School are eager to explore. Open to all year groups, these sessions aim to provide valuable information, enabling pupils to build essential life and employability skills. BOOK HERE FOR A PLACE

Evening Careers Webinars – 19.00h

These careers-focused webinars are designed to help both pupils and parents gain a clearer understanding of careers exploration, understanding and managing transition points and post 18 pathways. Early awareness also enables pupils to seek out relevant work experience and engage in super-curricular and extra-curricular activities that will help them stand out when the time comes to leave school.

Each webinar will feature guest speakers who will share their own experiences and insights, offering a real-world perspective on the topic. These sessions will also highlight the flexibility within modern career journeys, including how pupils may pursue more than one route simultaneously which we call parallel planning—and how to manage such choices effectively. BOOK HERE FOR A PLACE

Careers Fair 2027 – save the date!

We are excited to announce the date of our next Careers Fair – Thursday 4th March 2027. This is a fantastic opportunity for both pupils and parents to explore a wide range of industries and careers, and to learn about the different pathways into them. It’s always a lively and inspiring event that encourages young people to think about their future and consider all the possibilities available. We hope you will join us!

Xello careers platform

Xello is a pupil-centred careers platform that empowers each child to take ownership of their future. Through interactive assessments and reflective activities, they will build self-awareness, explore post-18 options, and create a personalised career plan.

Xello’s engaging tools match interests and strengths with real-world pathways, including university courses, apprenticeships, and job profiles. It complements our curriculum by helping connect school learning to life beyond Kimbolton.

Relevant and timely topics are covered by each year group.

26-27 Xello Programme Download

Virtual work experience websites

NHS – 360 NHS work experience.

Springpod – work experience opportunities both on demand and also live.

The Forage – online work experience with large corporate companies – tasks and interaction.

TALENTXP work experience – online work experience with large corporate companies – tasks and interaction.

OpenLearn Courses – a really good site for courses and particularly ones that relate to specific jobs or further learning courses.

Alison Courses – a wide choice of free short courses.

Harvard University – Free courses.

Stanford University – Free courses.

Future pathway information

“All pathways lead to success, not all success comes from just one pathway. Parallel planning is where pupils can consider multiple pathways at once. At Kimbolton we are keen to support pupils as they work out which is their best next step.”