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Employability Year 10 Careers Workshops at Chase Terrace Academy!

As part of our Raising Aspirations Programme, we were delighted to welcome a range of different professionals into CTA to meet with some of our Year 10 pupils.

This included one of Staffordshire’s largest employers Staffordshire County Council. CTA are one of 85 Schools and Colleges who are in the Stoke and Staffs Careers and Enterprise Hub. We have our own Enterprise Advisor, Vicky Perry, from Staffordshire County Council who are a Cornerstone Employer. Vicky supports us with facilitating some of the vital employer and educator encounters.

Pupils were given advice about employability skills and what employers look for when they are recruiting. Pupils were shown examples of what to include on a CV, applications and during interviews. Pupils had the opportunity to talk through their own career ideas and what research and preparation had they already done ahead of making applications in just a few months’ time.

Mrs Poppleton, Director of Careers, said: ‘It is crucial that pupils learn about what employers are looking for and therefore, this was an incredibly valuable opportunity. We want to extend a huge thank you all who shared their professional time and expertise with us today.’

Forensic Psychology Careers Workshop at Chase Terrace Academy!  

Our impressive careers education programme is almost complete for this academic year. This week, we have had our penultimate careers workshop, joined by another wonderful CTA pupil alumni, Lucy Reeves. Pupils from Year 7 up to Year 12, were given this incredible opportunity to listen to Lucy’s journey.

Lucy shared her educational experiences working her way through her GCSES and early career aspirations. She continued her education with us in the Sixth Form to study 3 A levels including A level psychology which really piqued her interest in pursuing this subject as a career. Lucy joined the University of Exeter to study her Bachelors in Psychology and then she completed a Masters at the University of Gloucester. Lucy spent some time working as a Crisis Counsellor and a Probation Officer before landing her dream career working as a Trainee Forensic Psychologist in a Prison. Lucy’s studies will continue for a while yet, as she is currently studying a PGdip in ‘Forensic Psychology Practice’ at Manchester Met University.

As a school community, we are very proud of Lucy’s achievements and the feedback from the pupils who listened to her presentation was excellent.

Julie Poppleton, Director of Careers, said: ‘Lucy’s insights and expertise into her career and this specialist field were really inspiring and very thought provoking. CTA and pupils were very grateful of her time.’

Jaguar Land Rover Careers in English Workshop

As part of our Raising Aspirations Programme and embedding careers into the curriculum, The English Department were delighted to welcome Rohanna Preece into school. She is currently on a Career break from her role as Global Diversity and Inclusion Management Officer from Jaguar Land Rover. She met with a group of Pupils from Year 9 upwards.

Rohanna gave an insight into Jaguar Land Rover and the range of jobs in the current labour market. Rohanna shared her career trajectory to broaden careers aspirations and inspire our pupils. The advice she would have given to her 16 year old self was very interesting. She encouraged our pupils to get out of their comfort zone, seize every opportunity and have a growth mindset!

The pupils completed a kinaesthetic activity where they had to work out which jobs were relevant to this industry and brand which was very insightful for them.

Mrs Cowley, Head of English, said, ‘We really enjoyed Rohanna’s visit today. She said that she was very impressed with the pupils she met in the session and during her tour of the school. We would like to thank her for her time at our school.’

Plastering Work Experience Workshop

Several Year 11 pupils have completed a 6-week training course delivered in partnership with QTT (Quality Transport Training Ltd) based in Lichfield, as part of our Raising Aspirations Programme. This training programme has supported pupils in achieving a Level 1 award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment qualification along with the opportunity to gain a CSCS Green Card. This will allow access to building and construction sites as an operative.

Following the course, Carl Peters from C.P and sons kindly offered to teach some of the pupils who took part in the CSCS programme, and others interested in this industry, how to plaster and gain some valuable work experience. Carl let pupils shadow him while he plastered some of the walls in the school that were in need of a touch-up. He shared his expertise and pupils were allowed to ‘have a go’ and learn some valuable skills. He was really impressed with our pupils and the questions they asked.  

Mrs Poppleton, Director of Careers, said: ‘It is crucial that pupils learn about the skills gaps and labour market information. Construction as a sector and plastering as a trade, is a career which is highly skilled and highly in demand. This was an incredibly valuable experience and those pupils involved learnt a lot about this career route. We want to extend a huge thank you to Carl for sharing his time and expertise with us today.’