For the second year running, The Buckingham School participated in National Careers Week giving students an insight into the current job market alongside the various routes into employment. The week started with all students from Years 7-10 being actively involved in question and answer sessions with local business representatives about their jobs and the path they had taken since leaving school. All our students found this a stimulating experience as it gave them first-hand knowledge of the various opportunities open to them and the routes they could take. Many thanks to all the business representatives who contributed to this successful event.
Throughout the week, subject areas led lessons on employment opportunities in their area together with routes into these roles. Health & Social Care had a representative from the National Health Service provide a talk to students on the jobs within this area, skills required and how they could enhance their employment opportunities. Psychology had a visitor from Buckingham University who talked about routes into employment, alongside the job roles involved. Performing Arts had working actors come to lessons to talk about the opportunities available in this field. These type of activities were carried out across the curriculum giving students a clear insight into future paths they might wish to pursue.
CFE students were given an assembly by an apprentice from a local firm who is currently working towards her Level 5 qualification which gave students a clear comparison of this potential route against the more academic pathway through university. This firm are also mentoring a team of students in a countywide sales challenge, the final of which is at Pinewood studios in High Wycombe. This event started with all Year 12 students being involved in an ’in-school’ challenge with the winning team moving on to represent the CFE in the final.
Alongside these activities, a group of student from Years 10, 11, 12 and 13 also visited the National Apprenticeship Show in Milton Keynes. This was an invaluable opportunity for them to talk face to face with over at a hundred of the country’s largest apprenticeship providers giving the chance to find out about potential vacancies, job roles and the qualification frameworks involved. It was clear from speaking to students on their return that they found that the experience had widened their knowledge of the opportunities in apprenticeships.
The activities involved in Careers Week run alongside the many other opportunities students have throughout their time at The Buckingham School to meet and engage with employers, training providers and universities. Maths, Science and Computer Studies have recently had very successful days involving STEM challenges in their specific disciplines and plans are currently in place for Year 12 to visit the UCAS Fair at Bedford University and for the annual Careers Fair, attended by all students from Year 9 onwards, which takes place in June.
Watch out for details of the ever-expanding opportunities students have for Careers Advice at The Buckingham School.
Mr P Cunningham, Vocactional Co-ordinator
