At Solihull School, preparing students for life beyond the classroom doesn’t begin in the Sixth Form - it starts the moment a pupil joins us, whether that is in the Prep School at age 3, or in the Senior School at age 11 or at age 16. The Solihull School FUTURES programme is a continuous, carefully crafted journey that guides pupils from their first steps in education through to their final days at school as they turn 18, ensuring they are confident, informed, and ready to take on the world.

Careers and life skills education at Solihull begins as early as our Nursery and Infant classes, where children start learning about different professions through our Think Equal programme.  This includes exploring a range of jobs, challenging stereotypes, and promoting equality from the very start of their learning journey.

Across the Prep School we are fortunate to benefit from the expertise of our wider school community.  Some of our parents and supporters have supported the STEM curriculum by speaking about their careers in dentistry, medicine, and veterinary science.  Others have enhanced pupils’ awareness of the importance of English through sharing their experiences in journalism and marketing, alongside our ever-popular sessions with children's authors.  In addition, visits from the emergency services, who bring their uniforms for pupils to try on, sirens to flash, and exciting vehicles to explore, are always a hit!  These enriching experiences help to bring learning to life and inspire pupils’ curiosity.

As pupils move into the Senior School, they are encouraged to explore their strengths, make informed academic choices, and discover the wide range of opportunities available to them. By the time they reach the Sixth Form, they are not just choosing subjects - they are shaping their futures with purpose and clarity.

The final two years, in our Sixth Form, are the culmination of this journey: a structured, personalised programme of support that equips students for university - whether in the UK or abroad - with apprenticeships, or direct entry into the world of work. With expert guidance, real-world insight, and a strong foundation beneath them, our students leave Solihull School not only with qualifications, but with direction, confidence, and the ability to thrive.

The FUTURES programme

The FUTURES programme is run by Mrs Chillcott, our Director of Futures.  In 2024/25, we expanded our team with the appointment of:

• Mrs Fallis, Degree Apprenticeship & International Universities Coordinator, offering bespoke support including CV writing, psychometric testing, and interview preparation
• Miss Saunders, Medics Pathway Coordinator, and
• Mrs McAlister, Oxbridge Coordinator

reflecting our commitment to providing focused, expert guidance in response to the evolving needs of our students.

As Upper Fifth (Year 11) pupils make their A Level study choices and consider what they might wish to pursue when they leave school, we prepare them for life in the Sixth Form with the use of specialist psychometric programmes, like Morrisby Online Careers Assessments and Unifrog, an online programme which enables pupils to research career and university options. These are supported by individual meetings and coaching sessions, to help pupils understand their strengths and guide them in making the optimum academic decisions to open exciting potential choices. For those who are less certain of their future pathway, we use individual/small group sessions to encourage them to explore opportunities that will help uncover their interests and strengths.

Once pupils enter Sixth Form, they select one of five main FUTURES pathways:

• Principal UCAS 
• Oxbridge 
• Medics 
• Apprenticeships 
• International universities 

In addition, we provide guidance on Gap Year planning, and support for those entering the world of work, connecting them with our alumni network and providing practice interview opportunities.

In the second term of Lower Sixth, we introduce weekly UCAS preparation sessions, along with regular FUTURES Friday lunchtime seminars from visiting speakers, Saturday careers workshops, allowing for a deeper dive into the world of work, and regular FUTURES newsletters, bringing together information from employers and universities across the UK and around the world.

Students are also encouraged to attend university open days and provided with up to two days off school to do so, where needed.

These activities culminate in UCAS Day, which features dedicated programmes for our different pathways. For prospective medics, there is UCAT training. For Oxbridge candidates, we welcome specialist tutors and alumni into school, to help them master the application process. For our Principal UCAS pathway candidates, we run a highly successful personal statement workshop, as well as guidance on how to excel in university and employment interviews (including those which take place online). 

Following the end-of-year examinations in May, all Lower Sixth students take part in a post-18 pathway meeting during the Summer Term, to help them consider academic and vocational courses that might be suitable for them, tailored to their projected academic attainment and career aspirations. There is support for those who believe they can push themselves further, with predicted UCAS grades also based on regular support and progress monitoring, enabling assessment of their ultimate potential.

As students enter the Upper Sixth and prepare to take their next steps beyond Solihull School, we ensure they are fully supported with a comprehensive suite of guidance. From rigorous interview preparation and admissions test coaching to expert advice on firm and insurance offers, student finance, and accommodation planning, every element is designed to empower students to make informed, confident decisions about their future.

Pastoral support and life skills education

Our approach is pupil-centric and aligns career planning, academic choices and teaching, to ensure each Sixth Form student gets the support that they need to thrive in their A Level studies and secure their preferred choice for post-18 study or employment.

Recognising the emotional and practical challenges of this stage of life, we've embedded a strong pastoral framework. Each student is supported by a dedicated tutor (with a maximum of 14 tutees), ensuring regular 1:1 coaching and group sessions. A Welfare Lead supports transitions into and out of Sixth Form, while our Wellbeing and Personal Development programme - delivered weekly -equips students with essential life skills, from budgeting and cooking to understanding trauma, grief, and healthy relationships.

Weekly sessions include:

• Money and me - financial products
• Credit rating, voting and proving your identity
• Housekeeping, utilities and daily budgeting
• Employment contracts, trial period, rights
• Interview skills
• Loneliness
• Sexual ethics
• Unhealthy relationships
• Grief and loss
• Understanding trauma

An approach that delivers results

In 2024, 96% of our Sixth Form students secured a place at their chosen university, apprenticeship, or employment destination - continuing a strong upward trend, with 93% achieving this milestone in 2023 and 94% in 2022.

It's not just about destinations, though - it's also about progress. We are proud to be in the top 5% of schools nationally for student progress between GCSE and A Level. This means our students consistently outperform expectations, achieving higher A Level results than 95% of their peers with similar GCSE starting points.