Careers bulletin – January 2026
A look ahead to careers related events in January-March at Kimbolton School
January to March are particularly busy months in the school calendar for careers-related activities, with several exciting national events taking place. These include National Apprenticeship Week in February and National Careers Week in March, during which we will host our own Careers Fair. All senior pupils will have the opportunity to attend, either during the school day or in the evening with parents.
To support and enhance careers education, we have planned a varied and engaging programme of events over these months. These opportunities are primarily aimed at pupils, while also welcoming and involving parents, alongside staff, governors, local and national employers, and universities.
Pupils will be invited to take part in a number of in-school careers events, and we would strongly encourage parents to support and motivate them to attend these sessions, as they form an important part of preparing for future pathways.
We encourage pupils and parents to engage with as many events as possible. They are designed to help pupils feel informed and confident about their next steps—whether that involves exploring career ideas, considering starting a business, planning a gap year, or thinking more broadly about future options.
Please sign up for any events of interest, as further details will be shared closer to the time. We look forward to welcoming pupils and parents to these events at school. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Career related events in January-March for your diary
Tuesday 13th January (All pupils) Lunchtime Insight Workshop – 13.00-13.30h Careers Hub – This will focus on setting up your own business. Russell Spiers, Head of Development at Kimbolton School, will be inspiring our pupils in setting up their own businesses and helping them to consider how they do that, whilst they are still at school or beyond Kimbolton. Sign up HERE
Friday 16th January (Interested Senior pupils 3rd-5th) Language Day – The event begins with a motivational talk from a leading football organisation, followed by an interactive carousel of short sessions exploring where languages can lead—from GCSE and A Level choices to degrees and future careers. An inspiring opportunity to see how languages can open doors, both academically and beyond. Pupils will be contacted by the language department.
Friday 23rd January (For everyone)– Future Friday Breakfast – 08.00-08.40h Green Room – This will focus on Creative industries . We will welcome an OK who was a BBC presenter and has had a wealth of exciting experiences in the creative industry and we will have some information about ERIC a fantastic creative industry app for pupils to use. Please sign up HERE. (please be aware there isn’t breakfast provided due to time constraints – so please fuel up before you arrive and sign in is at the saloon steps not bursary!)
Thursday 29th and Friday 30th January (Fifth Form only) – Fifth Form Drop In Careers Sessions at lunchtime 13.00-14.00h. All Fifth form will have had a careers appointment with Mrs Southern by the end of January. If any pupils have questions, would like more information or want a follow up appointment they can come to these sessions to talk to her in the Careers Hub. No appointment necessary!
9-13th February NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK : During this week we will celebrate apprenticeships by:
- A whole senior school competition all week
- Tuesday 10th February (All Senior pupils) – Lunchtime Insight Workshop – 13.00-13.30h Careers Hub – This will focus on finding employment, apprenticeships and understanding recruitment – all important to consider now so that pupils are doing things now that will support successful applications when the time comes. Sign up HERE
- Wednesday 11th February (All Senior pupils)- Finance day with talks and activities throughout the day on different aspects of finance from opening a bank account, budgeting, spotting fraud and scams, gambling risks, pensions and more!
- Friday 13th February (For everyone)- Future Friday Breakfast – 08.00-08.40h Green Room – This will focus on Healthcare. We will welcome back a couple of OK’s who are currently working in healthcare professions and Mrs Southern will give an overview of working in the NHS. Please sign up HERE. (please be aware there isn’t breakfast provided due to time constraints – so please fuel up before you arrive and sign in is at the saloon steps not bursary!)
- Friday 13th February (All Senior pupils) – Whole school assembly about Degree Apprenticeships
2-6th March NATIONAL CAREERS WEEK : During this week we will celebrate apprenticeships by:
- Tuesday 3rd March (All Senior pupils) – Lunchtime Insight Workshop – 13.00-13.30h Careers Hub – This will focus on networking and we will have some local employers coming along to support this session to help pupils build up their confidence and communication skills. Sign up HERE
- Thursday 5th March (1st-4th during the day and all welcome in the evening) – Higher education and Careers Fair – A fantastic event for all pupils to find out more about different careers from OK’s and local employers and also talk to universities. All pupils will attend the event either in the day with their year group or in the evening with parents. More details to follow in the February careers bulletin.
- Friday 6th March (For everyone)– Future Friday Breakfast – 08.00-08.40h Green Room – This will DT and architecture. We will welcome a local employer who runs an architecture firm to talk about how it is changing with the role of technology and Mrs Southern will talk about different ways into architecture and roles in DT. Please sign up HERE. (please be aware there isn’t breakfast provided due to time constraints – so please fuel up before you arrive and sign in is at the saloon steps not bursary!)
Tuesday 10th March (For everyone) – Gap Year Webinar 19.00-20.00h. This webinar is for any Senior School parent and pupil to join. Find out more about what it is like to take a gap year with some of our OK’s who have already done one! There will be lots of information about planning and budgeting for a gap year and also what benefits there are to taking one. Sign up HERE for all evening webinars to receive the link to join.
Thursday 19th March (For everyone) – What is student finance? What is a student loan? Webinar – 19.00-20.00h. This informative session will be run by a university. They will share with us exactly what it means when we talk about student finance and loans. There will be time for questions at the end. Please Sign up HERE
Tuesday 24th March (For everyone) – Starting a business whilst at school or beyond Kimbolton – 19.00-20.00h. This session will support pupils understanding of being self employed and inspire them in starting their own business from finding the gap in the market to advertising and safeguarding. It will give tips and advice on building a business and how to make it successful. It will be a fun session and there will be time for questions at the end. Please Sign up HERE
Friday 27th March (For everyone)– Future Friday Breakfast – 08.00-08.40h Green Room – This will be about the computing and tech industry. We will welcome back an OK who has worked with Google and TiK ToK and will talk to us about how AI and computer technology is changing the world of work and the many different roles there are within it. Please sign up HERE. (please be aware there isn’t breakfast provided due to time constraints – so please fuel up before you arrive and sign in is at the saloon steps not bursary!)
Making the most of Xello
Xello is our careers platform which is bespoke for each pupil in the senior school. It is designed to be accessible, engaging, and it helps pupils explore their interests, career paths, and set goals based on their skills and strengths.
Pupils use Xello both in lessons and independently on their own devices.
To ensure success for every pupil, Xello offers:
- Flexible learning – Activities can be broken into smaller steps to build confidence.
- Visual engagement – Clear, accessible design with real-world career insights.
- Structured support – Guided prompts and in-class demonstrations to help pupils get started.
- Personal exploration – An About Me section to capture each pupil’s strengths and aspirations.
- Ambitious planning – A strengths-based approach that encourages achievable, motivating goals.
I have included some optional resources you can explore with your child to help them become familiar with Xello.
Start your adventure with Xello – Start Your Career Adventure With Xello
Xello dashboard – Your Student Dashboard
Understanding your careers matchmaker – Understanding Your Career Matches
Our aim in using Xello is that every pupil feels inspired, supported, and ready to take the next steps on their journey.
For any questions about Xello, please contact Mrs Southern.
Volunteering, virtual work and career experiences
Getting involved in volunteering or work experience is one of the best ways to prepare for life beyond school. Not only does it give you practical, hands-on skills (like teamwork, organisation, and problem-solving), it also helps you build confidence, communication, and resilience—qualities that employers and universities are always looking for. In this workshop, pupils will learn why these experiences matter, how they can shape your future career options, and discover practical ways to find opportunities both in school and in the wider community.
“What actually is virtual work experience?”
In case you have the same question here is a brief explanation.
Virtual work experience lets pupils explore different careers online. They take part in interactive activities, hear from professionals, and complete tasks to build skills and confidence. It’s a safe and flexible way for pupils to learn about the world of work from home. These experiences are designed in collaboration with leading employers and include video content, interactive activities, and the chance to receive a certificate upon completion. They vary in length from 30 minutes to 10h on average. Sometimes they are live, but mostly On Demand.
These are a brilliant use of time for any pupils over the summer holidays! We recommend Springpod for a great range of opportunities with a wide range of companies. Older students may also be interested in The Forage, which is online work experience with large corporate companies and includes tasks and feedback within the experience.
Volunteering opportunities for all
Volunteering is brilliant to boost your soft skills and to benefit your community. Here are some good websites for you to explore to find the right volunteering for you.
3. Cambridgeshire County Council Volunteering
4. Get Volunteering Cambridgeshire
7. Cambridge Council for Voluntary Service (CCVS)
9. National Trust – Cambridgeshire
10. Caring Together
Check these websites for free webinars every month
General work experience websites:
Springpod – work experience opportunities both on demand and also live
The Forage – 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– lots of free short courses.
Where can I get more careers advice and information?
Careers Resources Page – General information for current families at Kimbolton School
Any student from First Form to Upper 6th who has questions about their career journey can arrange a careers appointment with Mrs Southern by filling in this form or speaking to their tutor.
Parents are also encouraged to contact Mrs Southern if you have questions related to your child’s careers education or planning. Contact Mrs Taylor for university-related queries.
- Careers by subject and industry areas please use XELLO. Use the Explore tab at the top and click on Careers. This will bring up an excellent search engine.
- Degree apprenticeship listing A-Z
- Latest Degree Apprenticeship Listing – Higher-and-Degree-October-2025.pdf
- What you can do with your university subject degree?
- University open days University subject tasters and events
- Aspire guide to careers, further education and university
- Degree Apprenticeship information
- Up-to-date information on degree apprenticeship vacancies around the UK
- Degree Apprenticeship Academy – Contact Mrs Southern for more information
OKs and local business partnerships with Kimbolton School
At Kimbolton, we greatly value the opportunities our pupils have to engage with professionals from a wide range of industries and careers. These interactions help pupils broaden their horizons, develop aspirations, and gain valuable insights to inform their future goals beyond Kimbolton.
We are continually working to strengthen our connections with both our Old Kimboltonians (OKs) and local employers who generously give their time to support our careers events. In 2026, for example, we will be hosting a variety of activities including speed networking, mock interviews, and enterprise days for different year groups.
Mrs Southern, our Careers Adviser, is actively involved with two local networking groups, fostering mutually supportive relationships that benefit both our pupils and the local business community.
If you are a parent who owns a local business or would like to learn more about these networking groups—and then in turn perhaps get involved in supporting our pupils—please see the information below and get in touch directly with the organisers.
THREE SHIRES Networking Group – First Wednesday of the month 10.30-13.00h
Three Shires is a lively and welcoming business network run by an OK. It brings together everyone from sole traders to thriving companies across Kimbolton and the surrounding villages. Now celebrating its tenth year, the group is a vibrant mix of talents — from a micro-baker and cathedral organist to lawyers, artists, website designers, and virtual assistants. Members range from seasoned managing directors to ambitious apprentices and undergraduates, all sharing ideas, experiences, and a passion for what they do.
Everyone welcome, small charge to include tea, coffee and occasionally champagne!
For more information please contact johnhitchin@btinternet.com/07702 597 670
KIMBOLTON CONNECTS Networking Group – Third Wednesday of the month 19.00-21.00h
Kimbolton Connects is a friendly local networking group for business owners, professionals, and community leaders in and around Kimbolton. Meeting monthly at local venues in the evening where members share ideas, build connections, and support one another in a relaxed setting. It’s a supportive community whose members actively network both within and beyond the group, always eager to help and champion one another’s businesses.
As a lockout group (one member per profession), we always welcome visitors who would like to see how the group works and connect with others locally.
One of the organisers, a Kimbolton parent who runs the Kimbolton Online website, has created a page featuring parent-owned businesses — also a great place to join or show your support.
For more information please email hello@kimbolton.online