National Careers Week inspires future careers
Last week, pupils across our Group celebrated National Careers Week (NCW), a celebration of careers guidance and free resources in education across the UK. The aim is to provide a focus for careers guidance activity at an important stage in the academic calendar to help support young people leaving education.
Fiona Kain Employability Manager for Group commented:
Last week saw the 10 year Anniversary of the NCW. Schools across our Group ran a number of exciting and varied activities including: hosting a Dragons Den event, hearing from employers in specific sectors and researching different job roles. Pupils attended a virtual careers fair during various points of the week and took virtual tours around University Campuses. Pupils also tapped into their creative side, designing posters about their dreams and hopes for the future. Here are a few highlights from our schools.
Pupils at Avon Park School explored the opportunities, support and the future of the jobs market. Throughout the week, pupils accessed virtual events and even attended a live careers meeting with a member of the RAF, which Saima Khan, Teacher organised.
Elm Class also completed an NHS questionnaire to find out the career that would best suit them.
Elm Class discover career opportunities.
Over at Queensmead House School, pupils in secondary spent the week working together in their form groups to come up with a new idea or invention to pitch to the ‘Dragons’ (the school's Senior Leadership Team). During the morning of the pitches, the Dragons made their way around and were treated to a variety of pitches that really demonstrated the diverse strengths and talents of pupils, which included musical instruments, presentations, acting and artwork, which all had an air of creativity and innovation.
One of the presentations came from Year 9 pupils who designed and created the marketing and recipe for their own hot sauce brand and presented it using a PowerPoint with accompanying guitar playing. They were praised for their teamwork throughout and developing the idea together.
Throughout the week, pupils also put together ‘Hope for the Future’ posters. In class they discussed the challenges facing young people today and how this can cause a level of worry and apprehension for those looking to leave school and attend colleges, universities, and workplaces in the near future. After many interesting debates and discussions, the pupils produced posters to detail what they hoped for in their futures.
Pupils get involved in discussions around Hope's For Their Futures.
At Oversands School, pupils have been taking part in questionnaires to identify key skills in their chosen job roles, and linking this to their classroom subjects. In primary, pupils shared their dream jobs and as many favoured roles in public services, the school has arranged for them to meet and interview a member of Cumbria Police to discuss the skills they will need to pursue such a career. How impressive is that?
Pupils from Broadbeck Learning Centre participated in a range of activities such as; where do I see myself in 15 years’ time, skills and qualities for different jobs and virtual careers fair where pupils choose a career of interest and watched the video followed by a group discussion. As part of the ‘real or not careers’ activity, two pupils made a video interviewing staff about their previous careers and skills they developed. During the task, staff had to discuss a job, which they had no experience. All the staff and pupils watched the video and then had to choose which job staff had not experienced. Overall the week was a success.
Well done everyone.