Careers focus

The Xello platform offers an exceptional insight into higher education and careers options, as well as being the hub for this Inspiring Futures programme.

  • You will have your own secure login to create an online portfolio that showcases your interests, skills and abilities
  • You will be able to take a ‘Matchmaker’ quiz which offers career suggestions to match your own preferences

 

  • Career matches can be explored through the Xello platform with hundreds of career, college and university options to match your assessment results
  • You are also given the opportunity to build essential skills both through functionality on the platform and by tutors assigning lessons/work tasks onto your own dashboard
  • You will also have the facility to reflect on learnings and to save experiences from your Inspiring Futures programme to your Xello portfolio

an exceptional insight into higher education and careers

Subject Taster Sessions

Not every Cognita school with Year 11 also offers a Post-16 programme but through Inspiring Futures, subject taster sessions will be available for all. Teaching experts from Cognita schools, supported by subject specialists, will offer exciting glimpses of what is available Post-16 across a wide range of disciplines.

  • You will have the option to choose from a variety of subjects
  • Depending on the subject, sessions will either be delivered online or in the classroom

These online Subject Taster Sessions will be taken with students from other Cognita schools in the UK.

Communication

You know that exceptional communication skills, both inside and outside of the workplace will make a huge difference to your success as an individual. We are partnering with Debate Mate, an internationally respected organisation, which specialises in realising dreams through developing confidence and drive in students.

The Debate Mate team will lead this element of the programme. You will join students from across the participating Cognita Schools to hone your skill and prepare for a schools-wide challenge. Like Cognita’s vision with this programme, they want to inspire future game changers.

  • Debate Mate will run workshops over the two-week period
  • Alongside the full workshops, online sessions will also be run for students who are unable to travel
  • The programme will start with a welcome introduction, followed by debating and presenting skills and finally finishing with a live debate

Project Consultancy

In the current climate, work experience does not exist in person like it did in the past. Equally, the workplace has moved on in the past 12 months and employees are now required to collaborate online more than ever before.

This demands a different use of skills such as leadership, listening and communicating, and understanding new ways of working together. Project Consultancy will futureproof you for the world of work as it evolves.

Working with other Cognita schools, you will liaise virtually with other students and use online resources to create different ideas, to deliver a project that will be evaluated by a panel. The winning group will receive a prize to enjoy as a team. Interesting times such as these can inspire the most creative work!

Teams will be comprised of a small group of students. Students will be expected to present their final piece at the end of the two-week period.

This is a unique opportunity for you to showcase your work and thoughts to a panel of senior corporate directors at Cognita. Build your C.V. with evidence of specific skills that employers of tomorrow will likely be seeking.

Team Challenge Day

Devised by Active Learning Group, this Team Challenge Day will bring students together from schools across the country. Taking place at the prestigious Berkshire College of Agriculture (BCA) near Maidenhead, students will form teams from each participating school. The Challenge will take place outdoors and feature a series of activities designed to challenge minds and bodies. It aims to promote communication skills, creativity, teamwork and leadership – all while navigating around the College grounds and nearby countryside. Accommodation is available on-site for those students who may need to travel the night before from further afield.

Career Speakers

We have lined up an impressive range of individuals who will be sharing their insights and experiences from their career journey and explaining what their job involves on a day-to-day basis. You will be able to select from whichever talk/s interests you and participate in a live Q&A at the end of each session to ask any questions.

This is your opportunity to speak to an expert in the field, learn more about the range of opportunities that exist in the workplace, and be inspired by different industries and careers.

Each speaker will deliver their talk online via a live webinar. Talks will also be recorded.

INSPIRING FUTURES PROGRAMME

WE WANT TO inspire future game changers!