Careers Events

Inspirational Careers Week 2022” “Pupils in school participated in a wide range of careers activities during January, please follow this link to read all about our week of activities.

The week starting the 17th January was an exciting time for Careers at St Margaret’s Academy. With the help and support of our parent body, Elevate EBP and Young Enterprise, we have held a careers week dedicated to enriching our students’ education and helping them along their journey towards further education or employment.

After October half term, Learning for Life was dedicated to Careers Support for all years 7-11 and this week, we have endeavoured to embed the messages and lessons taught before Christmas.

Year 11

Year 11 spent their time looking into post 16 options including apprenticeship options, ‘A’ levels and getting ready for the world of work. They started to create CVs and cover letters and to give it all some purpose, they had mock interviews for a job in a well-known Carvery establishment who have recently advertised for waiting staff. So, armed with a job description, students prepared themselves for the whole process.

A team of parents and volunteers from Hope University and Job Centre Plus gave up their time to come into school and run the interviews. Without it, the invaluable process would have not been possible. Interviewers were keen to tell us how polite and well-mannered Year 11 were. Some even said that they would hire certain members of the year group in a heartbeat!

Before Christmas, we also invited the Army Elite Team to work with Year 11 on team building activities. Again, the students were a credit to our school, showing how well they were able to work together and negotiate through all their ideas for the best outcome!

They showed resilience and encouraged each other well during the carousel of activities. We hope it gave them an insight into how important and essential these transferable skills are in the outside world.

Year 10

Year 10 spent several hours on Thursday20th January having a whistle stop tour of employability skills. They were introduced to CV writing and how to answer questions fully for a successful interview all with the help of Young Enterprise.

With work experience week not so far in the distant future, their careers guidance this year has been devoted to the local job market (LMI), the workplace for young people aged 16+ as well as their skills and strengths and how to market these attributes. They have also had several guest speakers to enhance their development including a guest from the Navy who talked about the myriad of career options and a speaker from ‘Push’ on the topic of ‘Do what you love, love what you do’.

Year 9

Year 9 have had a real diverse careers education since October. Having had limited guidance on Careers since their arrival at SMA, because of COVID, they have had sessions about LMI (Local Labour Market Information) and stereotypes in the workplace where a selection of male businessmen volunteered their time through Elevate EBP to talk to them about their ‘non-stereotypical’ roles at work.

They learned about Careers in the NHS (did you know there are over 300?) and had an introduction to apprenticeships and the different levels available. They were also given an overview to the different areas of engineering available and a guest speaker from the Army talked to them about his career path and the roles available from medics to chefs.

This week they had a carousel of employers, hosted by Elevate EBP, come to talk to them about their careers paths. People from Lidl, Amey, Regenda and Cadent to name but a few, joined us. Students were able to listen to their story and ask questions about entry routes and qualifications that would be needed.

Year 8

This year the careers programme for Year 8 has been about trying to focus on their skills and strengths and trying to see what areas they need to develop to make them well- rounded individuals and the type of person employer would want in their workplace.

They too have had an introduction to careers in STEM, the current LMI trends and stereotypes. They completed work on creative careers and the Visitor Economy- one of the huge employers in the city of Liverpool.

On Tuesday, Year 8 spent the day looking at finances our dreams and expectations and reality!

Despite being in the cold of a COVID safe room, they did activities on budgeting and what payments we cannot escape, they adjusted what they thought were essentials and looked at the careers they had picked. They also took part in some interviewing games. They all appeared to have a thoroughly interesting time and some loved the power of being the interviewer! Thank you to Young Enterprise for delivering the event. They were very impressed with Year 8 and how they were willing to join in all the activities.

Year 7

For Year 7 careers education has been about introducing them to the main areas- STEM, local Economy, Challenging Stereotypes in the workplace, The difference between qualities and strengths, followed by a session on Challenges brought to us by Career Connect.

Students had to work together, using only foil, to build the biggest tower and that was able to stand without support! Career Connect were very pleased with the co -operation of Year 7 and their team spirit!

This week they have had a session to complement this series of lessons. ‘What’s My Brand’, provided by Elevate EBP has looked at marketing in the workplace and how we market ourselves to employers.

LFC and NHS marketing departments, visited students, to help them develop their ideas. We hope it helps them realise the importance of making the most of their skills and attributes and ‘marketing’ them in a positive way in school and in later life.

Careers Events