An expanded programme of Future Ready Pathways will give students greater choice and strengthen connections between academic study, industry experience, digital and AI skills and preparation for life beyond school.
From September 2027, every Sixth Form student will follow a Future Ready Pathway alongside their core academic programme and Plus 1 choice, giving them opportunities to explore their interests through real-world projects, industry connections, mentoring, work experience and skills development.
The changes reflect our belief that while excellent qualifications remain fundamental, young people will also need the confidence, adaptability and skills to navigate a world of work being transformed by technology, AI and new industries.
Head, Lee Richardson, said:
“We have always been ambitious about what a CHS education should give our students. Excellent academic outcomes matter enormously, but our responsibility goes further than preparing young people for examinations.
The world our students will enter is changing quickly. We want them to leave CHS able to think critically, communicate confidently, collaborate, solve problems and adapt to new opportunities. Our Future Ready Pathways bring that preparation much more deliberately into the Sixth Form experience, while retaining the academic ambition and individual support that are at the heart of CHS.”
Students will be able to follow one of eight Future Ready Pathways:
- Innovators & Digital Pioneers
- Scientists & Medical Specialists
- Leaders, Lawyers & Global Influencers
- Entrepreneurs & Enterprise Leaders
- Artists, Creators & Designers
- People, Psychology & Social Impact
- Sport, Performance & Elite Development
- Environment & Sustainable Futures
Students will work with industry experts and external partners, undertake projects and experiences connected to their chosen field and have opportunities for mentoring and work experience. They will also be able to draw on CHS’s extensive Old Waconian network, connecting current students with alumni working across a wide range of professions and sectors. In addition, digital and AI skills will be embedded across all eight Pathways, reflecting their growing importance across almost every profession.
The development of the Sixth Form curriculum also reflects the changing range of opportunities available to students after CHS.
While university remains the right next step for many, increasing numbers of young people are exploring different routes into their chosen careers, including Degree and Higher Apprenticeships, direct employment and other work-based opportunities.
Careers guidance at CHS is therefore about much more than supporting a UCAS application. Through the Future Ready curriculum, students will be encouraged to explore the full range of post-18 options and understand the different routes into the careers and sectors that interest them.
Head of Sixth Form, Michael Jones,
“Sixth Form should be a time when students start to discover what really interests them and where their strengths might take them. We don’t expect a 16-year-old to have their future mapped out, in fact, part of our role is to give them the experiences that help them work that out.
“The new programme gives students greater opportunities to explore possible directions while continuing to challenge themselves academically. Whether that’s meeting someone working in an industry they hadn’t previously considered, tackling a real-world project, developing their digital skills or gaining meaningful work experience, we want every student to build a bank of experiences they can take with them beyond CHS.”
The Future Ready Curriculum builds on the wider CHS Sixth Form experience, which combines academic ambition with individual support, co-curricular opportunities, careers guidance, leadership, community involvement and access to a global network of more than 13,000 Old Waconians.
