A Clear Future
Hundreds of students benefited from talks with prospective employers and post-16 providers at a popular careers event hosted by the academy and its sixth form.
Clear Futures saw all year groups learn more about the subject options available to them at Toll Bar Sixth Form.
Representatives from the likes of Wilkin Chapman, John Leggott College, University of Lincoln and Hull York Medical School gave students the opportunity to discuss their future goals with experts.
Assistant Principal Ollie Fothergill said: “Students have been able to get resources and advice from further education and career providers, which many of them have taken on board.
“I’ve heard some wonderful conversations between our students and local businesses and it’s really important to our Academy that we contribute to be outward facing and provide our young people with all of these opportunities.”
The event was hugely popular, with different year groups invited into the settings throughout the school day to engage and explore the different options open to them when it comes to further education and careers.
Year 9 student William Kirkbride said: “I have spoken to lots of people, in particular the Army to discuss engineering. There’s lots of opportunities and you can explore the world alongside your job. I’ve really wanted to go into engineering and they told me about all of the benefits that can happen if you join the army engineering program. They told me all about what life would be like in the army and how supportive it can be for your future.”
Year 9 Mariam Sharif said: “I’ve always wanted to become a vet, so I decided to go and speak with Abbey Vets. They were very informative and helped me understand what I need to do and recommended a couple of college courses that would be beneficial. I also spoke to Hull York Medical School as I may also consider becoming a doctor, like my dad, so I was happy to see so many options for me to look into!”
Year 9 Isla Brewitt said: “I spoke to Franklin College and Bishop Burton College about becoming a professional photographer. I was looking into all of the courses that would accommodate that career alongside something like Art and found the exhibitors to be really helpful. I’m so happy I went today.”
Whether students already have a future career in mind or not, the event allowed them to discover new things and learn more about the sectors they were interested in.
Year 9 students Jacob Langley added: “I’ve had conversations with Franklin College about the opportunities tied to the things I already enjoy doing like football. They’ve helped me understand that there are more things possible that I originally thought, so I’m really glad I went to the fair.”
Year 9 student Jacob Hood said: “I found it interesting learning how many options I’ve got with what I want to do when I leave school. I’m interested in law and mental health so I was happy to see all of the opportunities that places like Toll Bar Sixth Form and Franklin College have to offer.
I also spoke with the NHS Apprenticeship team as well to discuss my options when it comes to mental health careers and also to Ørsted about the rise in the industry and helped me understand how it all works.”
Year 10 Zahid Hussain said: “I spoke with the NHS Apprenticeships team and I think I’m going to go back and do my work experience with them. I’m interested in going into medicine, so I think it would be great to benefit my career and further my options. I also spoke with lots of other providers in there as well and everyone was so helpful with directing you to the right courses and what options are available for us.”
Year 10 student Jasper Bambrook said: “It’s great that they’re opening this event up to the whole school. Lots of younger people don’t know what they want to do when they leave school, but I think events like this help us get a better understanding of different careers that are available to us and it helps us to focus on what to aim for throughout school, even from a younger age.”
A representative from Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln said: “Thank you for inviting BGU to support the careers fair. I was impressed by the number of students who already held aspirations for HE and career prospects, including the Year 12 students who are currently completing our Pre-Teaching Award. It was also a great opportunity to provide new ideas and prospects to other students who were still weighing up their options.”
Grimsby Institute said: “Thank you for inviting us and please tell your students how polite they were. I have never been to an event where they were so helpful! The staff gave a warm welcome to the school even on arrival and clear direction of the event, which felt so organised.”
A representative from Humberside Police fed back ideas on further collaboration with the Academy and its Sixth Form. He said: “Thank you so much for the opportunity to come to your school and speak to the students.”
Ollie Fothergill added: “I am really pleased with the first ever Clear Futures event we’ve held at Waltham Toll Bar. We’ve had over 1000 young people pass through the fair to speak to 27 local providers of post-16 and career options from throughout the community. I would like to thank the staff and providers who put together such a great event.”
