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.”

We are full of ambition and aspiration at Chase…

We are full of ambition and aspiration at Chase Terrace Academy!

We are relentless in our hopes and ambition for all pupils at Chase Terrace Academy, at this very important stage of their education journey.

Pupils are regularly encouraged to dream big; set goals and take action to help them succeed in their long-term future. Whether that is becoming a car mechanic or an astronaut, a nurse or a musician, a teacher or a builder, we are passionate about raising the aspiration of all pupils within our school community.

We have an inclusive ethos and recongise that all of our young adults have talent and unlimited potential! Tomorrow depends and what we do today, our main motivation to support pupils to have faith and belief in themselves, to work to show the world what they are made of!

Health and Social Care Careers Event at Chase Terrace…

We are proud of the relationships we have with employers, professionals and our wider partners within the community. They support us to embed careers into our curriculum and bring to life what pupils learn in the classroom and enable them to understand how this transfers into the world of work.

Last week, our dedicated Health and Social care teachers and careers team arranged for our Year 10 pupils to engage with a range of different organisations and professionals working within this sector. They spoke with our pupils about careers available to them and the paths and routes they can take to get there.

Pupils listened to presentations delivered by:  

• Esther Allen Founder and CEO from the Spark Children’s Centre
• Rhiannon Hughes an NHS Speech and Language Therapist
• Caroline Green and Sonia Cooper from the Workforce Development Team with the Midlands Partnership NHS Trust
• Tiegan Norris and Alison Norris Home Instead Residential Care Home.

All pupils were also invited to attend a careers carousel to speak with the professionals to gain some further information.

Miss Turner, Health and Social Care Teacher, said: ‘I believe this opportunity was incredibly beneficial for our students. Embedding careers into lessons helps students to see the relevance of why they are learning certain skills and focusing on certain topics.’

Mrs Poppleton, Director of Careers, said: ‘Pupils clearly gained a huge amount from this careers event. It was incredibly valuable and it raised their awareness of the huge amount of Health and Social Care opportunities available to them. A huge thankyou to the providers who came to support us ’

We are tenacious at Chase Terrace Academy!

The willpower to work hard, even when things are tough, is an incredibly important value in school life and the wider world. We believe that pupils should understand that to be tenacious, means to build resilience and determination to succeed in the future.

Tenacity involves participation and commitment! It is about working hard and working smart for a long time. Pupils are mentored about the positive mindset and skills they need to look beyond short-term concerns and to focus on longer-term goals. Tenacity is the ability to withstand challenges and setbacks with perseverance. 

We model this daily at Chase Terrace Academy with our continual dedication to go beyond what is convenient and strive to exceed. We are positive and do what it takes to complete our work:  we never give up, we know success comes from failure, we learn from our mistakes and we celebrate effort.