Year 9 students had the exciting opportunity to step into the world of work for a day, shadowing a family member or friend in their workplace.

The placements were diverse, offering students a taste of various industries, including aerospace, hospitality, motor trades, dental practices, hair salons, legal firms, and even the police force.

An impressive 92% of students reported enjoying the experience, with 84% feeling more positive about their future careers.

The day also proved to be a valuable opportunity for pupils to develop essential skills for the workplace. Confidence, communication and adaptability were among the strongest areas of growth observed.

For those who couldn’t secure a placement, a special in-school day was arranged. Employers from Unite Living visited to share insights about their careers and challenge students with a hands-on task. The pupils were tasked with designing and building their own towns, carefully considering local needs, environmental factors and budget constraints. Each student took on a role within the company, such as Site Manager; Subcontractor; or Quantity Surveyor, and quickly discovered the importance of teamwork in completing the project successfully. Our guests were thoroughly impressed with the creativity and attention to detail demonstrated by the students as they met the challenges head-on.