Pudsey Grammar School
Mount Pleasant Road
Pudsey, Leeds, LS28 7ND
Headteacher: Mr M McKelvie BEng (Hons.) Glas.
0113 255 8277
info@pudseygrammar.co.uk
Year 7-9
Your careers journey starts here!
During Key Stage 3, you will begin to explore who you are, what you enjoy and the skills you are developing. You do not need to have your future career planned yet — this stage is about being curious, trying new things and understanding the many opportunities available to you.
Through lessons, careers activities, employer encounters and personal development, you will begin to:
- discover your strengths, interests and skills;
- explore different subjects, careers and industries;
- understand how your learning connects to the world of work;
- develop the confidence and skills needed for your future.
Remember: every subject can lead to a range of different opportunities, and the skills you develop now will be valuable in any future pathway.
Year 7:
Year 7 is about settling into secondary school and beginning to discover more about yourself.
You should start thinking about:
Exploring your interests
- Which subjects do you enjoy and why?
- What activities, hobbies or topics interest you?
- What types of tasks do you enjoy completing?
Understanding your strengths
- What are you good at?
- What skills do you already have?
- What skills would you like to improve?
Building your future skills
You will begin developing important skills that employers value, including:
- communication;
- teamwork;
- problem solving;
- creativity;
- organisation;
- resilience.
Year 8:
Year 8 is a chance to build on what you have discovered and start exploring the wider world of opportunities.
You should start thinking about:
Connecting subjects to careers
- How could different subjects link to future jobs?
- What careers use the skills you enjoy developing?
- Are there subjects you want to learn more about?
Understanding yourself
- What are your strengths and areas for development?
- What type of environments do you enjoy working in?
- Do you prefer working with people, ideas, technology, practical tasks or creativity?
Looking ahead
You will begin learning more about:
- different career pathways;
- the skills employers look for;
- how your choices today can support future opportunities.
Year 9: Preparing for GCSE Options
Year 9 is an important year as you begin choosing your GCSE subjects and preparing for the next stage of your education.
Choosing GCSE options is about finding the right balance between:
-
subjects you enjoy
-
subjects you are interested in developing further
-
subjects that support your future goals
You should start thinking about:
Your GCSE choices
Ask yourself:
- Which subjects do I enjoy?
- Which subjects am I successful in?
- What skills do these subjects help me develop?
- Could these subjects support careers or pathways I am interested in?
Your future options
Remember that GCSE choices do not decide your entire future. There are many routes after Year 11, including:
- sixth form
- college
- apprenticeships
- vocational courses
- employment with further training.
Preparing for Key Stage 4
As you move into Years 10 and 11, you will:
- study your GCSE subjects in more depth;
- develop independence and study skills;
- complete careers activities and work experience;
- begin exploring your post-16 options.