It was excellent to be a part of the South and City Birmingham (SCCB) Impact Project 2026-another fantastic year of collaborative work that brought together three schools to develop core employability skills for the future.
This year’s event was truly inspirational, and our pupils gained so much from the experience. Alongside our school, pupils from Ark Victoria and Bishop Chandler also took part.
Students were placed into mixed‑school groups and worked on one of three project areas:
- Future Ready Careers
- Healthy Living & Mental Wellbeing
- Environment & Sustainability
Each group was challenged to design a campaign, website, or app addressing their chosen theme and later presented their ideas to the SCCB Senior Leadership Team and a panel of employers.
Award Winners
Three prizes were awarded on the day:
- Best Presenter – Sony Headphones
Winner: Asia (Ark St Alban’s Academy) - Most Engaged – Earbuds
Winner: Salma (Ark St Alban’s Academy) - Group Prize – Large Box of Sweets
Winners: Haydar and Younus (Ark St Alban’s Academy), alongside a pupil from Ark Victoria
We are also incredibly proud of Maria, who delivered an outstanding presentation, demonstrating strong knowledge and confidence in her Marketing topic. As a result, she has been offered a Work Experience placement with Jess, the Assistant Director of Marketing at SCCB-a remarkable achievement and opportunity for her.
A Day of Growth and Confidence
When pupils first arrived, they were so shy you could hear a pin drop. By lunchtime, however, they were chatting, collaborating, and growing noticeably in confidence. It was wonderful to see them step out of their comfort zones, develop new skills, and show genuine enthusiasm throughout the day. It truly felt as though we had planted a powerful and promising seed for their future development.
Every pupil who participated received a certificate, and our school also received a recognition certificate. Pupils were additionally treated to a tour of the college, which they thoroughly enjoyed.
A Note of Thanks
We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to Jess, Chloe, Roma, the whole SCCB team, and all the employers who supported and contributed to making this event such a tremendous success.
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