“Many of our students are planning a university pathway; however, approximately one-third of our boys are looking at trade pathways, which can be started while they are at TGS.”— Mrs Anthea Ritchers
The Toowoomba Grammar School Careers department is always a hive of activity. We are a team of four and usually work with the boys from Year 9 onwards.
Our focus is to work with each individual student to assist in creating awareness of the world of work, helping students to articulate their interests and identifying what is important to them and their values. We assist the boys in developing the skills to explore the different careers out there. We connect them with employers and industry professionals and help them navigate towards the job or career they are interested in. We work hard to individualise each student’s unique School journey to help prepare them for life after school.
Our academic program caters to all students, whether they are interested in pursuing careers in the creative arts or medicine. We have the capacity for our students to follow a straight academic or vocational pathway or a combination of both. This leaves many doors open for the boys when they leave the security of TGS.
How do boys know what they want to do after School when they are only in Year 10?
Subject selection and career planning are a big part of Year 10. How do our students know what they want to do after School? The answer is — they don’t know yet, and that is okay. At Toowoomba Grammar School, we aim to support the boys in making informed decisions and provide them with the skills to navigate the many and varied career options available to them. There is always a way to get to where you want to go; the pathway may just look a little different for some students. We are all about pathways!
Career plan interviews
In Year 10, our boys undertake career profiling, which looks at career interests, aptitude and abilities, personality profiling and transferable skills. Each student receives a personalised report which is used in our career plan interviews with our students and their parents. In these meetings, we discuss possible pathways and assist the boys with subject selection for Years 11 and 12. We are fortunate to have the time to see each student and his parents for an individual meeting. This allows the Careers department to get to know each boy and assist with his pathway planning for senior studies.
Industry exposure and work experience
Throughout Years 10, 11 and 12, all of our students have the opportunity to complete work experience, attend industry-based tours and hear from employers across our region. Some of these employers are TGS Old Boys - we love it when our Old Boys come back to share their career journeys with us. The connections and opportunities for our students to explore different careers helps them to make more informed decisions about life after school and develop an understanding of different industries.
University visits
Early preparation for university entry is also important. During the career plan interviews, subject selection and university prerequisite subjects are often hot topics of conversation, as it is important to choose subjects that will keep options open. I often have boys who have changed their minds from Years 10 to 12, so planning is important. Each year, the University Showcase event allows the Year 12 students to engage face-to-face with representatives from Queensland and northern NSW universities. The students are also provided with the opportunity to visit several university campuses and residential colleges during Years 11 and 12.
The key message is that it is going to be okay. At TGS, there is excellent academic and vocational support to assist the boys and help them make informed choices about life after school. We enjoy travelling through the final stage of their school journey with them. We hope to equip them with the tools they need to navigate the tertiary system, the trade pathway and the world of work. As our vision states, we aim to ensure the boys exit TGS with the skills to be independent, well-balanced and successful in life, to respond well to challenges, and to achieve lifelong wellbeing.
Latest Blog
That Life-Changing Moment
His teacher, Mrs Rosemary Bishop saw his potential. She believed this young indigenous boy from Murgon had something special to offer the world and she fought to put him on the path to greatness. Mrs Bishop contacted the then Headmaster of Toowoomba Grammar School, Mr William Dent and asked if Waverley could be accepted into Toowoomba Grammar School on a scholarship. Mr Dent agreed and so changed the course of Waverley’s life. “I don’t like to think about where I would be now if that hadn’t…
Senioritis - The way we think affects the way we feel and behave
As high school students approach their final year, they may experience a phenomenon known as "Senioritis". As described by educators, Senioritis is a decrease in motivation and productivity, often accompanied by procrastination, complacency, and negative risk-taking behaviours. While not a medical term, Senioritis is a widely recognized term used to describe a common set of observed behaviours. As Jessica Lahey notes, "Senioritis is a real phenomenon. It can be defined as a decline in…
A Space for Learning
A core pillar of the Toowoomba Grammar School Strategic Plan is to provide an inspiring and broad curriculum for all boys, adopting technology and innovative pedagogy to transform learning outcomes. Over the last couple of years, the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted teachers to explore new frontiers of pedagogy, adapting to the difficult circumstances by launching interactive software, digitising trusty, tried and true resources, recording our lessons, flipping our classrooms, and cultivating an…
When it comes to Music, Variety is the Spice of Life
In the Queensland Curriculum, the content of the music syllabus includes the study of the people, places and cultures involved in musical creation and performance. As our country becomes increasingly diverse, it is important for students in every school setting to study a wide variety of musical styles, cultures and genres. The Toowoomba Grammar School Music program of 2022 embraces this holistic approach to the study of music, encouraging teachers and students to explore a variety of musical…
A Trailblazer for Multicultural Australia
Wellington Lee has been described as a trailblazer for multicultural Australia. He was born in 1925 and attended TGS from 1940-42 before serving with the RAAF during WWII from 1943-46 and the Active Reserve of Officers from 1953-83. Mr Lee was a remarkable man of good character who lived in an exciting time of growth and change during Australia’s, and particularly Victoria’s history; the early days in Melbourne when 10% of their population was a thriving Asian community. It was also a…
REACH - Character Development in the Junior School
Being a kind person is fundamental to the growth of a successful person. Adults in our young men’s lives have a responsibility to model and teach the importance of respect, accepting and acknowledging our need to contribute to society in a positive and meaningful way. In 2016, the Junior School staff felt there was a need to create a program that allowed us to develop the character of the boys in the Junior School. Tailoring a program to meet our boys’ needs rather than a generic one allows…
The Grass is Always Greener
It’s time we put this age-old rumour to rest once and for all… The Toowoomba Grammar School ovals are not painted, dyed or manufactured grass; rather, the glorious green that greets passers-by as they drive into the Garden City comes from the sheer hard work and dedication of our TGS grounds team, led by Danny Beresford. Danny has exceptional pride for his grounds and a strong family connection to TGS. He is an Old Boy (2002-04) who played for the 1st XV in 2004 and was in the Track and Field…
A life in Words - Reading Biographies
Biography; from the Greek Bios - Life & Graphia - Writing; are books that chronicle the lives of real people. The subject of a Biography can be a celebrity, athlete, politician, athlete, historical figure or ordinary person that has achieved something of note. Reading Biographies is a valuable and oftentimes rewarding experience, with many potential benefits to the reader. Inspirational Biographies often recount successes and struggles of those people who have, over the course of their…
Spielberg in the Making...
I first became aware of film making when my brother showed me the behind-the-scenes featurette on our Lord of the Rings DVD. From then on, the process intrigued me, and I eventually got my hands on my dad’s camera and simple editing software. I made a bunch of little movies with my friends which were all pretty bad but I loved doing them anyway. What I liked most was that it was an easy way to share stories and even when the movies were not good, it was still a way of telling stories in a…
