At Vandyke, we are incredibly proud of the outstanding achievement of our students. Students who leave Vandyke go on to secure places on a range of university courses including Russell Group and Oxbridge institutions. In addition, students have secured higher level degree apprenticeships with top employers such as Santander, Ernst and Young, UBS, VW, Vauxhall, BE Aerospace and many more.
Vandyke School’s Sixth Form careers provision places equal importance on alternative career pathways. With a growing number of students wanting to apply for apprenticeship programmes, ranging from levels 3 - 7 (advanced, higher, degree and professional levels), we also provide an extensive programme of dedicated support to students from Year 12. Our destination statistics for apprenticeship success sit above national average, and our work has even been recognised in parliament by our previous MP, Andrew Selous!
Below, you will meet some of our former students who share their varied career pathways since leaving Vandyke. We’re very proud of them and their achievements, and are grateful to them for taking the time to share their stories to inspire our current students. Students are grouped alphabetically by sector / profession.
If you are a former Vandyke student who would like to share your career experiences with our Sixth Formers, please get in touch via the Vandyke Alumni LinkedIn page or by emailing [email protected].
Auditing
Jake
Level 7 Auditing Apprentice at Ernst Young LLP
Jake studied A levels in Business, Law and PE. After he finished school, he joined EY’s Luton office, and has started his apprenticeship in Auditing. EY is the third biggest global professional services firm, and their teams help companies with auditing, tax advice, consulting, strategy and transactions.
Jake says, “After finishing full time education, this apprenticeship has been a fantastic way for me to continue learning, whilst earning at the same time, and I get to work with real clients, gaining an understanding of how businesses really work. I have settled in really well and love that I work locally to home. I am keen to continue a relationship as an alum of Vandyke so that I can help students to pursue routes like this if they don’t want to go to university full-time or move away.”
Finance
Sacha
Finance apprentice at Mercedes-Benz Financial Services UK Ltd
Sacha studied A Levels in Business and Politics, and a Diploma in Finance. Sacha faced a number of different stages of recruitment to secure a role locally.
Sacha shares, “My best advice is to seek out as many opportunities as possible, the more related things you do, the stronger your application will be. Be proactive like reaching out on LinkedIn, build your network. Put time into considering how you can stand out from the other applicants, what makes you individually unique and special. I joined the Student Council at school to improve the environment for my peers, and ensure that all voices were heard. This shows leadership, social responsibility and collaboration.”
Law
Issy
Solicitor at Taylor Walton LLP
"I started the Solicitor Apprenticeship in September 2018 and qualified as a Solicitor in November 2024. I am a huge advocate of the apprenticeship route, and I strongly believe any students who are interested in a legal career should consider non-traditional routes.
The apprenticeship allows you to gain a significant amount of practical experience compared to peers who enter the profession through traditional routes, spending around 6 years in a professional environment compared to the traditional 2 years. Building trust and professional relationships across the firm can lead to more advanced opportunities prior to qualification, such as meeting clients independently and gaining experience on complicated cases.
One of the downsides frequently mentioned is missing out on the ‘university experience’. However, there are plenty of social opportunities during the apprenticeship, with peers at your firm and other professionals you meet networking. You can also still experience aspects of the university lifestyle through the student events at your university – you get the best of both worlds.
The biggest challenge I faced during the apprenticeship was the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations, though I was grateful the apprenticeship had provided me with such a breadth of practical experiences and adaptable personal skills, which no doubt significantly improved my performance in the exams.
The highlight of my apprenticeship was qualifying, knowing my hard work throughout the previous years had paid off and feeling well-prepared to start my professional career.
My key advice in setting yourself apart during applications is to gain as much experience in professional workplaces as possible, even if it is not possible to obtain legal experience. Keep your options open and consider all the routes available – it is not just the traditional route or the solicitor apprenticeship route. I have had many colleagues create successful careers through paralegal apprenticeships, CILEX and other types of legal apprenticeships. There is no one way into law, and remaining flexible will open doors for you."
Maisie
Solicitor apprentice at Osborne Clarke LLP
At Vandyke, Maisie studied Law, Business Studies and Politics. Maisie says, "I’m now in the second year of my solicitor apprenticeship with Osborne Clarke in their London office. I spent my first year in the Commercial Litigation team and I’m currently working in the Financial Institutions Group.
"Some of the highlights so far have been attending the Royal Courts of Justice to sit in on a client trial I’d been helping with – and then being able to report back to the team that we’d won, as well as enjoying our firm-wide summer party with a Radio 1 DJ.
"I still have two years left of my apprenticeship journey before I join my training contract cohort, and I couldn’t recommend this route more. I’ve gained invaluable hands-on experience in the legal sector, I’m working towards the equivalent of a Masters Degree in Law and Legal Practice, earning a competitive salary – and I’ll qualify with no student debt!
"If you’re interested in a legal degree apprenticeship, please feel free to reach out for a chat."
NHS
Molly
Previous Nursing Apprentice, NHS
Molly left Sixth Form during the height of the Pandemic with BTEC Extended Certificates in Health & Social Care and Travel and Tourism. She also studied A Level Law. Molly knew that she didn’t want to go to university full-time and applied for a nursing apprenticeship at a local hospital.
Molly says the highlights of her apprenticeship are “learning everything on the job, experiencing things in the present, with also the guarantee of a job giving me peace of mind.” Molly recognised that there were challenges in securing the role initially; “The process was competitive and being only eighteen, interviewing against others who had more experience was daunting.”
Policing
Adam
Policing Apprentice, Thames Valley Police
Adam studied A Levels in Business, English Language and Law. During Year 13, Adam applied for the Thames Valley Police entry route for Police Constables and, following a seven-month recruitment process, he began training in August 2023. Training involved a blend of classroom theory and practical operational scenarios and after this, he joined a response team in Aylesbury, undergoing a tutorship and operational portfolio before passing his probationary period.
Adam says, “I have worked within an exceptional team, and supervisors who supported my transition into investigating more serious and complex crime when I showed interest. A career highlight was in September, when I briefed 15 officers and led a Misuse of Drugs Act warrant that uncovered an international drugs line. This helped me evidence my investigative skills, and I have now secured a Detective Constable role within the CID, starting in this month. I thoroughly recommend policing to anyone who's motivated and wanting a real challenge.”
