The Internship | Charterhouse School

This Quarter (term), Charterhouse has launched a ground-breaking new elective for First Year Specialists (Year 12): The Internship. Set within the framework of the Global Greyhound Strategy Group – our very own international consultancy company – this programme is unlike anything else offered in schools today. Fifteen pupils have been selected to take part in an intensive ten-week internship that replicates the pace, pressure, and professionalism of a busy international workplace.

From the very first session, interns were thrown into the deep end. Without the comfort of a gentle introduction, they were immediately immersed in corporate chaos. Emails poured in, some urgent, some trivial, and all demanding attention. Simultaneously, pupils were handed an extensive pack of raw data and instructed to produce a concise one-page executive brief, as well as a polished two-minute verbal presentation for a senior member of the firm. To complicate matters further, distractions were deliberately engineered to test their focus, organisation, and resilience.

It was a baptism of fire, but the results were outstanding. Our pupils quickly discovered the art of prioritisation: learning to distinguish what matters most, what can wait, and what can be safely ignored. They experienced first-hand the importance of teamwork under pressure, of communicating clearly, and of thinking strategically when time is scarce. Above all, they learned that professionalism is about more than just delivering a task; it is about how you respond under pressure, how you support those around you, and how you uphold your values in a demanding environment.

Looking ahead, the interns face an exciting and challenging journey. Over the next ten weeks, they will rotate through the key departments that drive any international consultancy: Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, and Strategy & Innovation. In each department, they will be set real-world problems drawn from corporate practice, requiring them to analyse, debate, and develop solutions. With Managing Directors visiting to share their expertise and department heads assigning briefs, pupils will be stretched to apply both their creativity and critical thinking to an endless stream of complex challenges.

What makes The Internship truly unique is the authenticity of the experience. This is not a simulation for its own sake, but a carefully designed immersion into the realities of professional life. Interns are expected to juggle competing deadlines, deliver concise insights, and present their findings with clarity and confidence. They are also encouraged to draw on the values that define a Greyhound: resilience, adaptability, kindness, and a commitment to excellence.

Few schools can offer their pupils such an opportunity. The Internship provides Charterhouse pupils with more than just skills for the future, it gives them a taste of the world they are preparing to enter. By experiencing the demands of a consultancy environment while still at school, our interns gain not only confidence and practical ability, but also a distinct advantage when they step into higher education and, ultimately, the workplace.

At Charterhouse, we pride ourselves on preparing young people not just for exams, but for life. With The Internship, we are raising the bar once again.

“Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t be afraid to succeed either. Both will test you. Both will change you and both are the only way to grow.”

“When you leave this programme and head into the real world, no one will ask you how many times you played it safe. They’ll ask you what difference you made. They’ll ask what problem you solved that no one else could. They’ll ask if you had the courage to try, and the resilience to bounce back when it didn’t go to plan.”

*The photographs on the right hand side were taken by Jan, First Year Specialist.