On Thursday 27 March students in Years 7,8,9 and 10 who attend the Ivy League programme after school, had the unique opportunity to hear directly from Fran & Tom at The University of Cambridge. Students listened to information about the different amazing degree courses on offer and what student life could be like with the chance to ask questions about the best GCSEs and A level subjects they need to study should they wish to attend Cambridge in the future.

Monday 10 February saw the launch of Careers Week. The week was an exciting opportunity for students to explore a wide range of career paths and gain insights into various industries. On Thursday, we hosted an on site Careers Fair for the students featuring numerous stands from local employers, educational institutions, and apprenticeship providers. It was a fantastic chance to speak directly with professionals, ask questions, and discover the different pathways available after school or college. Whether our students were interested in higher education, apprenticeships, or entering the workforce, the event offered valuable information and guidance for their potential future careers - thank you to Mrs Swan for organising!

On Friday 15 November students in Year 13 were invited to attend a University and Apprenticeship Fair at Chelmsford Racecourse. This exciting and informative event provided students with the opportunity to speak to a wide range of exhibiting universities and degree apprenticeship providers as they consider their next steps after Thurstable Sixth Form. For those students who missed out they can now access the different seminars which were on offer on the day and watch their live streams in their own time via this link: https://www.studentstream.co.uk/events-2024

On Wednesday 20th November students studying Health & Social Care in Years 10 and 13 and A-Level Biology students attended an NHS Careers Fair at Colchester Stadium, which was organised by ESNEFT (East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust). The students were able to talk to a wide variety of medical professionals about their roles within the NHS, including midwives, radiographers, clinical coders and doctors. Students were able to visit different stands with demonstrations about using clinical machines and how to do CPR on babies. It was a great way to learn about different roles within the NHS. Many of the students came away from the day having a better knowledge and understanding of the type of career they want to do.

Year 13 students have been considering their Post 18 choices for when they leave Thurstable Sixth Form either applying to University or Degree Apprenticeships in a whole range of subject areas. So far applications for University include:

Accounting & Finance, Biomedical Science, Business Management, Clinical Psychology, Equine Behaviour and Anatomy, Forensic Psychology, Marine Biology and Oceanography, Media, Motorsport Engineering, Pharmacy, Politics, Primary School Teaching, Sports Coaching.

Other students are considering Degree Apprenticeships offered by companies such as the BBC, Lloyds of London and SP Jain and support is offered by the Sixth Form team including the School Careers Adviser.

Students in Years 7-10 have actively been completing Careers Lessons and assignments during tutor time using the online Careers programme called Xello.  It puts the student at the centre of their career planning experience where students build self-knowledge, explore post-secondary options, create career plans, add their interests and experiences to be able to create a CV and continually reassess as they take in new knowledge, skills, and experiences exploring different career pathways and learning about the labour market.

This year we arranged for several colleges to come into school on Wednesday 18 September during Periods 1 and 2. The information sessions provided students with the opportunity to speak to Colleges and Sixth Forms directly to find out more about their Post 16 study programmes, open evenings, obtain copies of their latest prospectuses and provided them with the chance to ask questions and make informed choices about their future. 

On Thursday 12 September, Year 13 students were taken off timetable to participate in a series of academic writing workshops. The workshops were part of the Royal Literary Fund’s esteemed Bridge programme. This initiative offered our students a unique opportunity to enhance their academic writing skills under the guidance of expert literary professionals. The workshops were designed to build on the excellent knowledge and skills that the majority of our students have already demonstrated, helping them to further refine their writing techniques and elevate their work to their highest potential. The workshops covered various aspects of writing, including structure, clarity, and argument development, all of which are crucial for achieving their best results. These key skills will be transferable across the spectrum of level 3 qualifications being studied here at Thurstable.