Cleverness is not enough: workshop to help even more sixth-formers secure degree apprenticeships

A parent led Year 12 students in a special QE Futures workshop that was geared towards degree apprenticeships. 

Sumeet Bhatia, from global technology giant Cisco, facilitated the last Futures session of 2025 with his colleague, Luke Brophy. 

QE leavers this year enjoyed record success with securing Degree Apprenticeships, which allow participants to gain a degree while also working for an employer. Companies offering places to Elizabethans this year included Goldman Sachs, Amazon and Deloitte. 

Assistant Head (Pupil Destinations) James Kane, who heads QE Futures, said: “This was a tremendously energising session on building communication skills and preparing for degree apprenticeship assessment centres. QE Futures often brings in the skills and experience of our alumni, and, on this occasion, it was great to be able to welcome a current QE parent and his colleague. 

“Yet again, our speakers emphasised the importance of developing the transferable qualities listed in our QE Futures Employability Skills for future success.” (These include communication, resilience and teamwork.) 

Mr Bhatia, Lead Business Development Manager (Innovation) at Cisco, delivered the session as part of the company’s Time 2 Give programme, through which employees can dedicate time each year to giving back to the community. 

The session was entitled Find Your Path to Degree Apprenticeships (drawing on the Futures slogan, Find Your Path).  

The boys taking part explored the art of inquisition and the power of asking great questions. They looked at the traits of a successful apprentice, and how to stand out in degree apprenticeship assessment centres. And they considered the importance of effective speaking and listening as core employability skills.  

The session included interactive discussions that encouraged unconventional thinking and curiosity.  

Key ‘takeways’ for the participants were that:  

• Curiosity beats cleverness – great questions unlock understanding; 
• Assessment centres value teamwork, resilience, and structured problem-solving;
• Communication skills are vital and cannot be overlooked. 

One of those taking part, Vu-Lam Le-Nguyen, of Year 12, said the session was “wonderfully insightful” and that “interactive discussions encouraged me to think unconventionally”.   

Mr Bhatia himself reflected on an “incredible afternoon”, adding that it was “truly rewarding to engage with students, share insights about Cisco’s apprenticeship programme, and guide them on navigating early career stages”.