Career development and education at Nelson College develops students' ideas from Junior through to Senior School with programmes specific to each level. In the Senior years (Year 11, 12 and 13) students develop clear ideas of their career goals along with the skills to make realistic career decisions and plans. Senior School students are encouraged and assisted to research widely and to take steps to further their decision making e.g. information days, work experience and attending career evenings.

Year 13 students begin the year with the Leadership Programme, which has a strong career education and planning focus. Students are interviewed on an on going basis with deliberate consideration of the transition from school to tertiary education, work, apprenticeships or Gap year options.

Year 11 and 12 students are guided through the subject and option selection process, which occurs in August. Year 12 students are encouraged to attend the annual careers expo held in May at Nelson’s Trafalgar Centre and parents of Year 11 students are encouraged to attend in their own time.

For all students individual interviews are arranged on request and by referral through parents, deans and subject teachers.
Year 12 and 13 students also have the option of applying for the Gateway programme.