Lesley Pike, Sixth Form Administrator, Career and Pastoral Support and Make Happen Co-ordinator at The Billericay School, Billericay, Essex.
What kind of work have you been doing this week?
Coordinating the future pathways year 9 mentoring scheme and coordinating my tutor sessions with year 12.
What notable events have happened this week?
We’ve had a workplace visit to Salesforce in London with 23 excited year 12 students. Plus, CV writing group sessions with year 12, and a careers convention, where many employers and universities attended to support students in years 9 to 13.
How do you work with the Make Happen team?
We have regular contact with our awesome Make Happen outreach officer Lucy Moir, we arrange funding for motivational speakers, university visits, various support workshops, mentoring, students’ financial support with university, as well as workplace insight events, and subject-related school trips.
What kind of feedback from staff, students, and parents do you get?
Students gain huge benefits from mentoring programmes and outside speakers, and there is great support for this work at parent’s evenings. Financial support for school visits encourages good attendance and Make Happen’s university days mean our Year 9 students gain perfectly pitched insights into Higher Education.
Name three things you love about your job…
Supporting students with their career plans, sharing the celebrating with students with university and apprenticeship offers, and the variety of it – every day is different.
…and one you don’t!
Chasing students and staff for Make Happen evaluations! (Fortunately, not too often!)
What would you say to a teacher (or school) who has yet work with Make Happen?
Sign up NOW! It does require some time and effort to start off with, but students benefit hugely. Take up every opportunity if you can, meet with your outreach contact regularly, and invite them in to support you. Be enthusiastic to other staff about Make Happen too, and be prepared to encourage, chase and badger them!
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