Careers Week 2020

Posted at 11:05 am on 19th March, 2020

Careers Education - Pathways to University

Wellacre supported National Careers Week from the 2nd to 6th March, and this year’s theme - to promote good careers education and pathways to university. 

Mr Duffy, Head of Year 11 and Director of Futures, said:

“Our aim for Careers Week was to develop students’ thinking about their understanding of university as an option and to raise their aspirations.”

Through various activities during the week, students gained knowledge of the different pathways to gaining a degree level qualification, including universities, colleges and new higher and degree apprenticeships.  

Mentoring programmes included a Year 9 Aspire to University programme, a Year 9 and 10 raising aspirations with Trafford College project, and a Year 8 and 9 business mentoring scheme with lawyers Horwich Farrelly. 

In addition, Wellacre staff promoted World of Work events and linked curriculum learning to careers with focused activities.  These included a Year 7 Geography crime field trip, Year 9 Sport Ambassadors officiating at a Trafford primary multi-sport event, CCF cadets learning paddlesports, and a pensions session in Maths. 

Teachers shared their own career pathways and employability skills throughout the week and in tutor time, students engaged in UCAS progression pathways, preparation for Wellacre’s Careers Fair and the Online START careers programme.

The week culminated in the whole school Careers Fair. 

Mr Duffy added:

“At our annual Careers Fair, we aim to inspire and encourage students to think about life after Wellacre.  We invite a diverse range of exhibitors and students have the opportunity to speak one-on-one with them about education and career pathways.”  

Exhibitors included: Urmston Grammar School. UTC Warrington, Trafford College, Salford Colleges, Access Creative, BTTC Rail and APM Project Management, Sale Sharks Community Trust, the National Citizenship Service and Salford Foundation, the Army and the RAF, Trafford Housing Trust, ProVQ, the Growth Company, GM Higher, STEGTA, Trafford Council, Oak Tyres and Davanti Tyres, the NHS Manchester University Trust and Connexions.

The NHS representative said:

“We had lots of questions about how to get into nursing, with many students’ dads and uncles working in Medicine, which is good to hear.  Year 9 students have been telling us that they have just chosen their options and many have picked Science and Languages; this is great as a pathway to the NHS.”

The Oak Tyres exhibitor said:

“We are at Wellacre representing the local workforce and apprenticeships.  We have been talking about the opportunities on offer for the future and how students never stop learning, even in the workplace!”

Corporal Michael Walsh, visiting from the Army, said:

“Students have been asking broader and genuine questions about careers in the forces.  They have been learning that there is a lot more to our organisation than just combat and I’ve been answering questions about opportunities as Chefs, Electricians and Musicians in the Army.

“Our message to students is that they need to always work hard - to get promoted above the rank of Corporal, they need good Maths and English grades.”

The Careers Week and Fair had a positive impact on students, with many gaining new ideas and insights into their own potential for their Post-16 future.  Students asked exhibitors a wide variety of questions including:

Year 11 Thomas said: “What is the best option for an aspiring journalist?”

Year 8 Harrison said: “What jobs are available in Physics and Chemistry?”

Year 8 Nicky said: “Are there any Cyber Security apprenticeships?”

Year 10 Max said: “Do you have an Aviation course that could specifically lead onto a career in Air Traffic Control?”