Future Ready Programme
The Dukes Plus Future Ready Programme is a comprehensive package of support designed to empower students to face their futures with confidence. Delivered by the university and careers experts at Dukes Plus, it is available exclusively to Dukes schools.
Applications to top universities are increasingly competitive and the careers landscape is changing faster than ever before. To prepare our students for this dynamic and challenging future, every Dukes school benefits from the expertise of Dukes Plus. From exclusive careers talks for students to rigorous training for our university advisors, the Future Ready Programme takes our university and careers education to the next level.
Discover how we’re getting our students future ready.
Dukes Career School
The Dukes Career School is a series of intensive one-day workshops for students aged 15-18 at Dukes schools, designed to enhance their skill development and enable them to explore a range of competitive industries.
Delivered in-school by Dukes Plus career experts, each workshop is a fully immersive, gamified experience. There are three workshops in the series which build on one another to provide a thorough careers education:
- Year 10 (Grade 9): Industry Insights Workshop – a taster of five sought-after industries, including hands-on activities and advice on what to explore next.
- Year 11 (Grade 10): Recruitment Ready Workshop – a crash-course in how to excel at every stage of the recruitment process, from drafting CVs to impressing at interview.
- Year 12 (Grade 11): Assessment Centre Workshop – a simulated assessment centre, featuring psychometric testing, exercises, and group tasks, plus personalised feedback.
Dukes Plus University and Careers Accreditation
All university and careers advisors across Dukes schools are formally certified each year through a rigorous, high-level training programme delivered by Dukes Plus. This annual Accreditation ensures that every advisor is expertly equipped with the latest insights, strategies, and guidance to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of university admissions and career development.
The Accreditation is led by Dukes Plus Head of International Schools & Partnerships, Hayley Bendle. Hayley is a former Director of Careers & Higher Education at Cardiff Sixth Form College, the UK’s leading independent school for academic results and university destinations. She has advised over 1000 UK and international students who have successfully gained places to study at the world’s most selective universities. Hayley also serves on the Communications Committee for International ACAC, a global organisation of higher education counsellors and consultants.
Dukes Plus Careers Centre of Excellence
In keeping with our commitment to excellence in university applications and careers education, our Careers Centre of Excellence serves as a dedicated hub within the school for students to receive high-quality, personal advice on their next steps after graduating.
Staffed by our highly trained university and careers advisors, the Centre offers a year-round programme of tailored support. Beyond scheduled events, the door to the Careers Centre of Excellence is always open to students who wish to access advice, explore opportunities, and plan confidently for the future.
Dukes Plus Online Careers Institute
The Dukes Plus Online Careers Institute is an online lecture series featuring leaders from world-class universities and companies – created exclusively for families at Dukes schools. Every fortnight during term time, Dukes Plus will bring powerful perspectives and insider advice to your screen, helping families make smarter decisions about university, careers, and life after school. Sessions are high-energy and exclusively available on demand to all students and parents at Dukes schools from Year 9 (Grade 8) upwards.
Speakers will include:
- Decision-makers at elite universities, discussing their institution, application process, and how to stand out
- Directors at world-class companies, covering how they hire, what they wish they’d known at 17, and what students should be doing now to stay ahead
- Leadership and life-skills experts, revealing how to build transformative self-confidence, develop unbeatable resilience, and lead an incredible team
Students and parents can sign up here.
About Dukes Plus
Part of Dukes Education, Dukes Plus is a family of specialised consultancy services and educational experience providers, including the highest standards of university preparation, once-in-a-lifetime industry experiences, tuition, summer schools and day camps.
Each individual organisation in Dukes Plus is a leading provider of expertise and support for students at every stage of their journey from school to career. The Dukes Plus organisations work closely with students in the UK, Europe, and around the world, either supporting students directly or supporting schools to provide services.
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