We were delighted to welcome Aberystwyth University back into the school to share important advice and guidance with our Year 12 students. University preparation starts early, as the more research students can do, the better prepared they will be. We spread this advice out across Year 12 to help our students gradually manage their career journey. This year we have started with an assembly focusing on how to choose a course and university, and another focusing on how to make the most of Open Days, one of the most crucial parts of choosing the right higher education provider.

Year 13 students who wish to pursue apprenticeships attended the National School and College Leaver Festival. This large careers fair was filled with employers from some of the biggest companies in the country, such as AstraZeneca, BBC, Bupa, Kier Group, KPMG, Mercedes-Benz, Ministry of Justice, NHS, Rolls Royce and TUI. The event allowed students to explore a wider range of next steps options, with the vast majority of students saying they found it very helpful and would recommend others attending in future.

Apprenticeships are a fantastic option for our pupils when they leave us, offering them hands-on learning, with the support of industry leading experts, earning a real wage in the process. They can therefore be very competitive and hard to secure, but ambitious pupils signed up to attend a workshop from BMW with advice on how to succeed. As well as receiving lots of top tips for their applications in January, pupils asked questions about how the apprenticeships work to really get a feel for their possible future career.

At Barr Beacon School we are very proud of our Alumni and the wonderful destinations they progress onto. We are also extremely lucky that so many agree to keep in touch after they leave. Many volunteer their time to visit the school to make a difference. In the past year our students have benefitted greatly from focused mentoring that has not only given them valuable advice, but also inspired them to pursue their dreams.

This has included Oxbridge admissions advice from a former student who succeeded in their application to read Mathematics at Oxford, personal statement support and mock interview guidance for our aspiring vets from a veterinary surgeon, and specialist creative pathway advice from a student who is making his own films and pursing a career in Film and TV.

If you are a former Barr Beacon student and would like to support us, please sign up to our Alumni Network where our latest events will be advertised, or contact postbox@barrbeaconschool.co.uk if you have your own ideas for how you would like to support us.  

Our Annual Careers Fair was a busy and successful event, offering every year group the opportunity to explore a wide range of future career options. Pupils were able to meet directly with education providers, employers, and training organisations to discover the many routes available to them after school.

Responding to pupil feedback, this year’s event featured more employers and apprenticeship providers than ever before. Visitors included representatives from the Department for Business and Trade, Midlands Air Ambulance, RAF, Transport for West Midlands, Wolverhampton Foundation, WPS Home Maintenance, and West Midlands Police.

We were also joined by a variety of local colleges and training providers to support our Year 11 pupils as they make their next steps decisions. In addition, a wide range of universities took part, from popular local choices such as Aston University, the University of Birmingham, and Keele University, to those based further afield including the University of Sheffield, Manchester Metropolitan University, and Cardiff University.

This year, we were especially pleased to welcome parents and carers of Year 11 and Year 13 students, strengthening the partnership between home and school in supporting students’ future ambitions.