SENIOR SCHOOL
Life
Ready
Building the Foundations for Success
Research shows that young women nationally do not always feel well prepared for their careers and futures. At Oxford High School GDST, we are dedicated to changing this narrative with our Life Ready Programme.
Makers of the Bold: Preparing Girls for Life
At Oxford High School, we don’t just educate, we ignite.
We believe that bold futures are built early. That’s why our Life Ready Programme starts from the moment girls join our School. Throughout their time here our students are encouraged to think independently, challenge convention, and take ownership of their journey.
We’re not interested in producing polished CVs for the sake of it. We’re interested in helping girls discover who they are, what they care about, and how they can make an impact.
Real Futures, Real Preparation
Bold futures don’t happen by accident. At Oxford High School, we start early and we go deep.
From Year 7, our girls begin exploring what a career means, not through rigid definitions, but through imagination, dialogue and discovery. They’re encouraged to think about the future not as a fixed destination, but as something they can shape. By Year 8, they’re uncovering their strengths and exploring how those might connect to real-world professions.
In Year 9, they dive into our “Getting Ready for Your Working Lives” programme, which includes a day spent in the workplace with a relative or family friend. It’s a chance to see behind the scenes, ask questions, and begin to understand what work looks like, and feels like.
Then we step it up. In Year 10, we help girls focus on their skills and how those skills transfer across industries and roles. They learn how to write CVs and cover letters, and they begin preparing to secure their own work experience placements. We don’t hand them a list, we guide them to find their own path, with plenty of support and contacts to help them get there. We give them the tools to stand out.
By Year 11, the emphasis is on action. Girls learn how to approach phone interviews, how to present themselves professionally, and how to think creatively about their work experience. For those considering competitive fields like medicine or veterinary science, we ensure they understand the expectations and begin building the experience they’ll need for future applications. By the time they reach Sixth Form, our pupils aren’t just aware of what’s out there, they’ve already begun to explore it. Many have a clear sense of direction. All have the confidence to choose boldly.
Media Literacy: Thinking Critically in a Digital World
At Oxford High School, we embed media information literacy into the curriculum from the early years of Senior School. Our pupils learn to evaluate online sources, spot bias and misinformation, and use digital tools to research, present, and communicate with clarity and confidence.
Whether they’re preparing a persuasive article, analysing ethical questions around AI, or presenting ideas on climate change, our girls are taught to think independently and responsibly in a media-saturated world.
This isn’t just about keeping up, it’s about staying ahead. In a landscape that’s constantly shifting, we equip our pupils to navigate complexity, challenge assumptions, and lead with integrity.
It’s one more way we Make the Bold, by preparing girls not just to consume information, but to question it, shape it, and use it to make change.
Alumnae Connections: Inspiration That Sticks
At Oxford High, boldness doesn’t stop at graduation, it comes back.
Our alumnae return year after year to share their journeys, offer advice, and mentor current students. From professors at world‑leading universities to engineers in Formula One, consultants shaping financial and political landscapes, and innovators at companies like GlaxoSmithKline and Lindt, they show our girls what it means to forge a fearless, original path.
These connections aren’t just inspiring, they’re practical. Through our Careers Fair, LifeLunches, and Women of the Future Forum, pupils engage directly with professionals who’ve walked the same corridors and asked the same questions.
It’s a network that empowers them to imagine and pursue futures as bold as they are.
As part of the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST), our students tap into a powerful 70,000‑strong alumnae network. From CareerStart Webinars in industries such as Psychology, Aviation, and Emerging Technologies, to mentoring via GDST’s LinkedIn platform, our girls gain access to real‑world insight and opportunities from the very beginning.
This is how we Make the Bold. We surround our pupils with women who’ve done it, and who are ready to help them do it too.
