YOUNG people are being inspired to achieve not just inside the classroom but during their life after school.

While good quality careers advice for schoolchildren becomes a manifesto pledge after criticisms that "careers advice is on life support", Harper Green School says it crucial that young people get the best careers guidance is provided to all pupils — with the programme starting in year seven.

Assistant headteacher Dawn Russell said: "At Harper Green we feel that it is essential that our students are provided with high quality careers education, information, advice and guidance.

"In an ever changing labour market it becomes more essential than ever that our students think clearly and carefully about the career and educational choices they make and what in the future these may lead to. We are living in changing and challenging times. Some jobs are disappearing whilst other jobs are being created.

"This is why we aim to provide the best careers advice and guidance available so that our students make career pathways and choices that give them the flexibility and skills that employers are looking for.

We provide our students with a comprehensive CEIAG — careers education, information, advice and guidance — programme, from Year 7 toYear 11, which allows them to find out about different careers, set goals and develop knowledge and skills to achieve their future plans.

"This helps them to see how what they do at school and the skills they gain in their own time are all part of their career development."

The programme includes investigating the world of work and what employers are looking for as well providing students with the opportunity to as participate in mock interview days, college and university taster days and work experience.

Miss Russell said: "Our school’s aim is to help our students to achieve their potential and make successful transitions to adult life by preparing them for the opportunities and challenges of adult and working life. CEIAG is seen as playing an important role in motivating our students, promoting equality of opportunity and maximising their academic and personal achievement whilst at school and beyond."

Career highlights of the programme include a World of Work Day for Year 9 pupils.

The event was attended by over 16 organisations and provided a wide range of taster sessions including in public services, media make-up, hair and barbering, photography, beauty therapy, outdoor sports, performing arts, army careers, hotel and catering, art and design, health and social care/childcare, animal care, music, forensic science, web and game development and fashion design.

Shannon Edge, aged 14 said: “It was a brilliant day.

"I learnt so much.

"I sampled six different activities. I am looking towards a future in animal care so I chose to take part in the animal care work shop.

" I learnt how to give an animal CPR and how to bandage a dog.

"I was able to ask about what courses are available at college and find out what they involve as well as learning what GCSE subjects and grades I would need to get onto an animal care course. I really enjoyed it and wished we could do it again.”

Nathan Bibby, aged 13, added: “I’ve learnt lots of different things today that I wouldn’t usually learn in school.

"I enjoyed the Catering taster session.

"I made crepes.

"I’m really looking forward to going to college. I didn’t know that there were so many different courses to choose from.

"It’s been really useful.

"It has helped me to learn about different careers and helped me to find out about what job I might want to do when I leave school and what subjects will help me in my future career.

"I have also learnt about work ethics and how work is different to school."

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