In conversation with Cranleigh Abu Dhabi’s Careers and Futures Team Jonathan Andwati and Sally Andwati
PARTNER CONTENT: At Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, pupils’ future aspirations are nurtured with care, thanks to the dedicated Careers and Futures team.
Led by Jonathan Andwati, who teaches History and oversees pupils’ futures, and Sally Andwati, a former English teacher now fully dedicated to careers guidance as Head of Careers, this dynamic duo ensure pupils are not only academically prepared but also ready to step confidently into their next chapter.
The Careers and Futures Team at Cranleigh Abu Dhabi plays a pivotal role in guiding senior pupils through their university applications and future planning, starting as early as Year 9.
Sally primarily oversees UK applications, while Jonathan focuses on US, Canadian, and other international applications.
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Together, they support pupils at every stage, ensuring they make informed subject choices and build strong profiles for future success.
Beginning in Year 9, pupils are introduced to how subject choices can influence future opportunities, with sessions explaining how GCSEs and A Levels align with different career paths.
As Sally explains, “We work closely with Year 9 and Year 11 pupils during their subject selection process, providing sessions and ‘taster days’ where they can explore different subjects before making final decisions.”
For Year 12, the emphasis shifts to building pupils profiles.
Jonathan says, “We help pupils package their experiences and extracurriculars from Years 9 to 11, ensuring they are well-prepared for internships, work experience, and university applications.
By the end of Year 12, they’ve already started preparing for the application process.”
As Year 13 approaches, the focus sharpens on finalising applications, especially for those aiming for early deadlines.
“We have already assisted a handful of Year 13 pupils who are applying early for Oxbridge, medicine, and dentistry,” says Sally.
“We’ve been guiding them individually, ensuring their personal statements, written since May of Year 12, are perfected, their university choices are right, and their grades meet requirements.
It’s a tense time, but we aim to make the process as smooth as possible, offering encouragement as they navigate these big decisions.”
This personal attention extends beyond just Oxbridge candidates, ensuring every pupil receives the support they need to make the best higher education choices for their future.
Interacting with universities
One of the standout initiatives organised by the Careers and Futures Team at Cranleigh Abu Dhabi was a recent university fair, described by Sally as “the biggest since the pandemic.”
The event brought top universities from around the world to the school, creating a unique opportunity for both pupils and their parents to interact directly with representatives from prestigious institutions.
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Sally says, “It was lovely to see pupils and their parents walking from booth to booth, discussing everything we had covered during career sessions.
“It was a real eye-opener for many of them and seeing it all come together was a big achievement.”
The fair featured a diverse range of universities from the UAE, including New York University Abu Dhabi and the American University of Sharjah, alongside renowned institutions from the UK, Spain, Canada, and even Hong Kong.
“One of the best pieces of feedback we received was from parents who hadn’t initially considered countries like Canada or Hong Kong as options for their children,” Sally adds.
“Having a representative from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, which is ranked in the top 50, really opened parents’ eyes to the possibilities, and we now have a pupil seriously considering this as their destination.”
This initiative, among others, not only showcased the calibre of universities available to pupils but also broadened horizons for both parents and pupils, providing invaluable face-to-face interactions that helped them consider a wider range of future education options.
Accommodating diverse aspirations
At Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, the Careers and Futures team tailors its approach to meet the diverse aspirations of its pupils by working closely with tutors and engaging pupils in individualised pathways.
“With a large cohort, it’s important that we individually target each pupil,”
Sally explains, “This is where the tutor groups play a crucial role; they know their pupils well and can help us identify those more inclined towards STEM, Humanities, or other fields.
“When we later meet with pupils one-on-one, we use this information to help guide their pathways.”
This personalisation is further enhanced through frequent meetings with pupils and parents.
“We hold lots of individual meetings, particularly with Year 12 and Year 13 pupils, ensuring they take ownership of their future plans,” Jonathan adds.
“We guide them in researching universities and career options, but the pupils are responsible for building their profiles and thinking through their choices. It’s about facilitating their journey, rather than us making decisions for them.”
This approach ensures that every pupil is equipped with the guidance and tools they need to make informed decisions about their future, while empowering them to take control of their own path.
Measuring success
The success of Cranleigh’s Careers and Futures team goes beyond traditional metrics like university rankings.
They focus on guiding pupils toward personal fulfilment and well-being, ensuring each pupil finds the right path for their individual aspirations.
Jonathan emphases that true success lies in meeting pupils’ personal aspirations, pointing out that while some enter prestigious institutions, others also thrive at lesser-known universities, highlighting the importance of a qualitative approach to measuring success.
Sally acknowledges that from a quantitative perspective, the fact that most pupils in the last two cycles were accepted into their top or second-choice universities is seen as a significant achievement.
“Success is about pupils’ long-term happiness and seeing them thrive in their chosen paths,” she says, adding that the moments that stand out for her and Cranleigh Abu Dhabi are when pupils go on to achieve great things.
For more information, visit Cranleigh
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