Careers Month at Wellacre

Posted at 10:47 am on 23rd April, 2024

Opportunity for Careers Education and Encounters

Wellacre launched our inaugural Careers Month, from 26th February to 22nd March, to provide an opportunity for students to engage in meaningful careers education and encounters. 

Wellacre’s Careers Month invited all students to take part in the dedicated month of CEIAG (careers education, information, advice and guidance) learning and opportunities in all curriculum areas.

    

Staff brought curriculums to life and provided careers inspiration with business sector workshops and speakers, online work experience, and alumni and college visits. There were a wide variety of curriculum-linked activities which took place:     

*  Year 10 GCSE Drama students visited the UCEN Manchester audition masterclass for a skills and confidence boost to help guarantee them the best chance of success following a Performing Arts pathway.

*  Year 10 Science scholars explored the Manchester museum and widened their appreciation of STEM pathways at the British Science Week Takeover, talking to exhibitors about cutting edge research from viruses to graphene.

*  Year 9 Design Technology students received certificates for completing a virtual work experience programme (in lesson and at home) with Jaguar Land Rover, learning about the industry behind these vehicles from product engineering to commercial. 

*  KS3 Maths students studied payslips as part of a money unit with percentages. Students were able to apply what they had learned to understand the concept of tax and deductions to calculate take-home pay.

*  Trafford College and AOM Sixth Form College delivered Sports Coaching taster sessions for Year 10 and 11 OCR Sport students. Wellacre Alumni Jack led the AOM presentation and lesson, answering questions and encouraging college visits!

*  Year 10 Food and Cookery students took part in a Springboard CareerScope webinar and heard from key staff in the hospitality sector about how to start a career in hospitality, and the various careers and apprenticeship options in the hotel industry

*  Wellacre’s CCF cadets welcomed a team from the Royal Marines Commando Training Centre for a presentation about opportunities and life in the Royal Marines.

In lessons from MFL to History, students explored subject-specific careers opportunities with discussions of potential career paths and discovering where their passion for subjects could lead them. 

Students attended assemblies for the launch of Work Experience, which will take place in July. Year 10 will spend a week on placement, with Years 7, 8 and 9 shadowing a family member for the day.  Both experiences will boost students’ employability skills, networking opportunities and, ultimately, confidence in the working world.

During RESPECT, there was a weekly timetable of careers-focused activities utilising Xello, the career readiness software, to engage students in building the skills, knowledge, and plans for future success.  In year groups, activities included building work skills, careers planning, and CV writing.

We also encompassed our usual support for National Careers Week and National Apprenticeship Week and shared parents’ information guides outlining options after GCSE and sixth form/college, as well as opportunities for work experience and apprenticeships.

Mr Duffy, Year 11 Progress Leader and Director of Futures, said:

“This month has been really important in bringing subjects to life and linking curriculum learning with career opportunities. The meaningful encounters with the wide variety of organisations has allowed our students to begin networking and thinking about their own future plans from Year 7. I would like to thank all staff and participants for providing excellent opportunities for Wellacre boys.”