The purpose of the careers fair was to raise awareness of post 16 options, raise aspirations and inspire our students to connect with the world of work. We also wanted to give our students direct contact with real world employers, businesses and apprenticeship providers. We wanted all our students to develop positive skills such as eye contact, positive body language and wanted our young people to increase in confidence and self-esteem so are able to ask questions, which will help them make informed decisions.

Students were prepared for the event through form time presentations making them aware of the value of the careers fair and the relevance to their future. Emphasis was also placed on how they need to come across to employers. The Fair was also promoted on the website and parents made aware.

By undertaking the Careers Fair, several of the Gatsby Benchmarks for good CIAG practice have been met, as we continue to provide our students with a variety of careers interventions.

For the Careers Fair, 20 providers turned up on the day. Students had direct contact with employers such as Leeds Welding Company, McDonald’s, the Army, Civil Service, Morgan Sindall & the NHS.  Universities were invited to promote Higher Education.

A variety of colleges attended, such as: Elliott Hudson College, Leeds City College, Kirklees, Leeds College of Building and Wakefield. The Leeds City Council Apprenticeship Hub were also present to speak to our students about accessing apprenticeships. The event was even more significant for Y11 as there were many training providers invited who could offer some of our most vulnerable Year 11’s a post 16 place with lower entry requirements than mainstream colleges and offering pre-apprenticeship programmes.

Students learned about a variety of jobs, some which they had never considered e.g.  from Leeds Welding Company- Welding and Fabricating or from Morgan Sindall – Associate Engineers and Design managers.

Colleges and Universities raised awareness of routes into FE and HE and what they could study further. The event was a whole school approach with all school years being involved, 7-11. Teaching staff supported the students within the event and students were also supported by providing them with worksheet which would help them ask relevant questions and record responses.

The main question asked was:  How useful did you find the careers fair in helping you think about the options you have in the future? Students were supported by the form tutors to complete the reply slips.

Also 90% of students said they would recommend the Careers Fair to other students and 85% said it helped them plan where they can go next.

Below are some of the comments which students had written down in the other comments box on feedback forms.

“I might want to do the music course at Leeds City College” AA (Year 10)

“The roofing stand was good, I liked putting the tiles on” KW (Year 10)

“I took the apprenticeship information for the welding apprenticeship at the Welding Company.” HR (Year 11)

“I might want to do the music course at Leeds City College” AA (Year 10)

“The roofing stand was good, I liked putting the tiles on” KW (Year 10)

“I took the apprenticeship information for the welding apprenticeship at the Welding Company.” HR (Year 11)

Below are feedback comments from the providers:

Robert – Regional Manager:  McDonald’s – “Once again was an excellent event, students engaged and asked appropriate questions.

Sarah Muscas – Morgan Sindall – ” Excellent event, students were prepared with questions and engaged. Some even remembered me from the construction site visit last year.”

Stephen France – Civil Service “Students were positive and most were willing to ask about what we did.”

Student Ambassador Leeds Beckett University – “Some were keen to talk to us and find out more.”

Chris Bradshaw Leeds Apprenticeship Hub “Good to see staff supporting the students to start the initial conversations with us.”

James Hawksworth- Progressions Training provider” Like last year, well organised event with lots of interest from year 11 students…would have been even better if had a few more students.”

Overall the Careers Fair at The TSLA was a great success in raising awareness of post 16 options for students in the school but more importantly helping year 11 focus on their next steps and promoting access to realistic pathways.

There were some areas for development from last year’s event which were taken on board.  Students had mentioned they would have like to have more practical involvement. This was improved by having The Yorkshire Roofing company who offered a hands on activity and also Leeds Welding company stand bringing welded and fabricated items for students to handle. Further work will continue with providers as classroom sessions, assemblies and site visits to inspire students further.