Year 9 Students Explore Career Pathways on Careers to Curriculum Day
Our Year 9 students took a significant step toward their futures this week as part of our annual Careers to Curriculum Day. Designed to help Year 9 students prepare for their upcoming GCSE choices, the day offered a hands-on look at various career options and pathways.
With nine career pathways to choose from, students had the opportunity to explore a wide variety of career choices. Each pathway was packed with engaging activities to give students a taste of the possibilities ahead.
Students who chose creative pathways tried their hand at journalism, fashion design, and media marketing, while others explored trades by plumbing a sink and learning how a bike is constructed and how to maintain it—learning valuable life skills.
The digital technology pathway allowed students to dive into game testing and code-cracking. Those passionate about environmental roles, travel, and tourism tackled conservation challenges and disaster management.
In the healthcare-focused pathway, students explored NHS careers, practised dentistry and midwifery, and debated real-world medical ethics. Meanwhile, the social sciences pathway introduced students to criminology, sociology, and political campaigning, even simulating a courtroom session.
The day also featured a special visit from Matt Lord, Regional Executive Chef for Compass Catering, as well as Chef Ashley from a Michelin Starred restaurant. Students attending Chef Matt Lord’s workshop with Compass, who provided all the ingredients, made a pizzetta and chose their own fillings from pepperoni, cheese, tomatoes, mushrooms, and basil. The session with Chef Ashley involved an insight into what working in a Michelin-starred restaurant is really like (very different to the TV portrayal!), as well as lots of practical advice about pathways into a huge range of different chefing careers. Students then tried their hand at food marketing, creating social media campaigns to sell pancake stacks (which they all enjoyed feasting on afterwards!). Chef Matt Lord gave great pathway insight into the catering world and all the opportunities the catering profession provides. The workshops were an invaluable opportunity for the students, who left feeling more inspired.
The day allowed musical students to explore music theatre and technology, experimenting with roles as directors, producers, and performers while producing their own music.
We hope our students left the day inspired and informed, better understanding the exciting possibilities ahead. A huge thank you goes to Matt Lord, Compass Catering and everyone who contributed to making the day such a valuable experience.
