Our pupils in sixth - form were extremely fortunate to hear from an apprenticeship provider called QA which is a very large and well-known organisation that specialises in technology, with a focus on AI, Cloud and Data.
To kick this off, there was an assembly that provided information about apprenticeships QA offer and their levels. We also were fortunate to hear from a current Data Technology apprentice, who shared his experience about completing an apprenticeship. Year 12 pupils participated in a Tech4Futures – Digital Marketing workshop that focuses on learning about the skills required for this sector. They worked in groups of 6 to ‘Create a Social Media Marketing Plan for a New Music Festival’. This encouraged pupils to use their creative thinking skills but also allowed them to demonstrate their teamwork skills. Moreover, pupils exercised their public speaking skills as they all took turns to present their team's ideas.
Year 13 pupils did an ‘Ace Your Interview’ workshop which focused on employability skills, looking at good/bad habits of practice for preparing for an interview. They were able to observe what good practice looks like and gain an understanding of what employers look for in the interviewing process. Moreover, they had the opportunity to do a self-reflective task to examine their character, drawing on positive/negative approaches that they are familiar with about themselves.
This entire experience allowed our pupils to gain insight into the plethora of opportunities available in the sector.
More info on who QA is here: https://www.qa.com/apprenticeships
As part of Character and exploring the big question 'Where am I going next?' pupils are allowed to meaningfully engage with employers and apprenticeship providers so they can make well-informed decisions about their futures.
For more information and guidance about careers education at Ark St Alban's, you can email careers@arkstalbans.org