by Carly Webber, Make Happen collaborative outreach officer
On 12 February Passmores Academy in Harlow, Essex held a careers day for its 220 year 10 students, called Aspire Day.
The aim of the day was to get the 15-year-olds thinking about their future options in education, including potential routes onto further education and the possibility of progressing onto university or taking an apprenticeship.
To start the day, students attended a motivational assembly session delivered by educational motivators Fix Up, which emphasised to students the importance of taking advantage of what was on offer throughout the day.
Next, smartly dressed in business clothes, students were invited to take part in one-to-one mock interviews with local businesses and members of the Make Happen team. For some students, this was their first ever experience of being interviews – which some understandably found rather nerve-wracking!
Further sessions focused on transferable skills, information about apprenticeships, facts about student finance and financial capability, and a talk called “Why Go To Uni?”
Feedback from students was really positive – 98% said they enjoyed the workshop – and many commented on how much they enjoyed the practical activities, felt as though had learned new information, and are now more focused on their future as a result of attending.
One student commented: “It has made me feel motivated to start improving today.” Another said, “I have understood now how I can do better in life and who to speak to if I need help” which in my view, in today’s world, also shows the valuable skill of being able to ask for help.
If your school would like to find out more about how to organise a day similar to this one, please talk to your Make Happen collaborative outreach officer.