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.’

Working in Partnership with Specsavers to inspire pupils!

As part of our Raising Aspirations Programme, our dedicated Health and Social care teachers and Mrs Poppleton, our Director of Careers, arranged for some of our Year 10 pupils to engage with an employer so they could learn what it’s like to work in the field of audiology.

Natalie Hawker is employed by Specsavers as an Early Careers Manager in the audiology industry.  Natalie spoke to pupils about the wider roles within this global company who operate across the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia and Canada. Many pupils were not very familiar with audiology so Natalie gave them some important information about this career and the paths, opportunities and routes available to them, including apprenticeships, higher education and owning their own franchise as a business.

Miss Turner, Health and Social Care Teacher, said:  ‘The session was fantastic and a virtual interaction was a different way of engaging with our pupils. They were able to ask questions directly to a professional and hear about aspects of the course first hand. Pupils learnt how this career helps and changes people’s lives – physically (able to hear), intellectually (able to learn new things, have conversations), emotionally (increase in self-image and self-esteem) and socially (the abilities to have sufficient communication skills where the individuals may feel they are able to socialise more). This workshop helped to link what we teach in lessons to the world of work.’

Mrs Poppleton, Director of Careers, added: ‘Pupils asked some insightful questions and they clearly gained a huge amount from this careers workshop. It was incredibly valuable and it raised their awareness of audiology as a career. A huge thank you to Natalie for speaking with them.’

Sixth Form pupils praised for being ambassadors of our…

We champion that, to share, is to contribute to the community’s greater worth; promoting that we are all part of something greater than ourselves.

Pictured is Gurjuv L, Georgie H, Grace B, Jack P, Ben G and Jackson M who are exceptional ambassadors within our community and were invited to meet with Mr M Newman, Deputy Headteacher as part of our ‘Feel Good Friday’ programme last week.

All pupils were praised for their community involvement in: running the CATCH hub, supporting our Parental Engagement Evening and writing ‘Postcards of Kindness’ to local care homes.

Mr M Newman, Deputy Headteacher, said “Our Sixth Form pupils can always be relied upon to speak to external guests and visitors in an eloquent and articulate way. They are fantastic role models for our younger pupils and we are so proud of how they represent our school and embody all of our school values.”

Exciting work experience opportunity for our Year 10 pupils…

We are thrilled to announce an exclusive work experience opportunity for our Year 10 pupils with KPMG, one of the world’s leading professional services firms!

KPMG is offering a prestigious, one-week work experience program that will take pupils behind the scenes of the dynamic world of business, finance, and professional services. This is their chance to gain real-world insights, develop essential skills, and interact with industry experts.

As a global organisation, KPMG’s work experience program provides a unique opportunity to explore various departments, witness the inner workings of a renowned firm, and understand how different functions collaborate to achieve success. This exposure will raise pupils’ aspirations and assist in them understanding the business landscape and open doors to diverse industries.

By participating in this program, pupils will develop invaluable skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and time management. These skills are not only valuable in school life, they are essential in the workplace and academic endeavours.

We recognise that networking is key at Chase Terrace Academy and by building strong networks at this stage, pupils can be set on the right path to success! During a work experience placement, pupils will have the chance to connect with professionals from various fields, establishing valuable relationships that could lead to mentorship, advice, and future career opportunities.

All Year 10 pupils are welcome to apply and we encourage all parents/carers to discuss this exciting opportunity with their children at home. To be considered for this prestigious opportunity, pupils should submit their impressive cover letter and curriculum vitae (CV) by Monday, 17 July 9am. All application should be addressed to Peter Workman, KPMG Partner and handed in to Mrs R Cowley, Associate Assistant Headteacher or Mrs J Poppleton, Director of Careers.

Pupils are encouraged to let their passion, aspirations, and eagerness to learn shine through in their application. Following the initial application review, selected pupils will be invited for interviews that will take place in school. Final interviews will be conducted by Peter Workman, KPMG Partner.

We are eager to support pupils to show their potential and readiness for this life changing experience! Please support us to not let your child miss out on this incredible opportunity to kickstart their journey towards a successful career.

Success is celebrated as part of ‘Feel Good Friday’…

We have had a fantastic start to the school day. Our Year 12 pupils were invited to celebrate the completion of their Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), as part of our ‘Feel Good Friday’ programme with Ms N Mason, Headteacher.

The EPQ is an A-level standard standalone qualification, designed to extend and develop pupils’ abilities beyond the A-level syllabus and prepare for university or their future career.

• it can be taken as an extension of other Level 3 qualifications or vocational qualifications;
• it’s worth half an A-level (28 UCAS points);
• it’s widely recognised and valued by universities and employers;
• many universities make lower A-level offers to students undertaking an EPQ.

Pictured is Yaseen A, Scarlett D, Phoebe G, Mia P, Sienna M, Emily W, Callum C, Joe S, Jamie Y, Heidi W, Erun C, Hannah J, Nathan W and Evie J.

These pupils have demonstrated tenacity and determination, completing their EPQ on top of their existing academic studies. We would like to thank all of the staff that have supported pupils to achieve this qualification, in particular, Mrs G Penzer-Adams, EPQ Supervisor.

Ms N Mason, Headteacher, said “We wanted to celebrate how much effort these pupils have put into achieving the additional qualification. The EPQ raises aspirations and develops essential skills to prepare pupils for their future. It was pleasing to meet with pupils this morning and hear how this opportunity has supported them to grow, mature and develop as individuals.”