Can you interview?

~ Stoke-on-Trent school to hold careers education day ~

Preparing for the future

Birches Head Academy is preparing its students for the working-world by organising a careers education day for Year 9 pupils on February 12, 2015. The high school would like to invite local businesses to get involved by conducting mock interviews on the day.

The careers day will comprise of students applying to mock job advertisements followed by interviews with prospective local businesses.

Interviews will last approximately 10 to 15 minutes per student and participating companies must be willing to donate two hours of their time. In addition, volunteers should be ready to give students useful and constructive feedback.

"We hope our careers education day will engage the students in thinking about their future," comments Josephine Bailey, responsible for 14 - 19 Pathways at Birches Head Academy.

"We currently organise two weeks work experience placements for our Year 10 pupils. We hope that conducting the careers day for Year 9 pupils will act as preparation for this, as well as providing them with an excellent opportunity to learn about the world of work and gain much-needed skills for the job market."

Birches Head Academy has held careers days in the past involving Stoke-on-Trent colleges and work-based training providers, E.Quality Training and PM Training.

"We want to help build communication skills by offering our pupils the chance to take part in something a little bit different," continues Bailey. "Our goal is to be as forward thinking as possible to ensure students gain useful knowledge that will help prepare them for working life."

Any businesses willing to donate a couple of hours of their time to help the local community should contact Josephine Bailey on 01782 233595 or e-mail at jbailey@bircheshead.org.uk.

Skills to pay the bills

~ Birches Head Academy equips pupils with life skills ~

The latest personal, social, cooperative, health and economic education (PSCHE) day at Stoke-on-Trent school Birches Head Academy focussed on equipping pupils with the knowledge and skills to live healthy, happy and safe lives. Pupils from each year discussed a specific topic and participated in practical activities to help them manage their lives now and in the future.

The range of activities and topics transformed the school into a buzzing discussion hub for a day. Students had a chance to increase their knowledge of personal finances, career opportunities, health and safety, sexual health, citizenship and human rights. They also participated in practical activities designed to build confidence and self-esteem and help them make better personal and professional decisions.

Intrigued by the prospect of managing their own finances, year eleven students were particularly interested in the financial capability activities organised on the day. They discussed the economics of leaving home and managing their first income, as well as the risks of gambling and debt.

“The issue of financial capability is particularly important for students in their last year,” explained Sarah Wright, director of Continuing Professional Development (CPD). “Some students have never had the chance to manage money, so we want them to be ready for it when they leave school, whether they decide to go into further education or enter the professional world.”

Year ten students were divided in two groups. The first group focussed on preparing for their upcoming work experience. Activities included health and safety training and a test. Successful pupils received a certificate confirming their knowledge of basic health and safety procedures. The second group discussed issues concerning sexual health and staying safe in relationships.

Year nine focussed on gaining a better understanding of the concepts of citizenship, cultural difference and human rights, while year eight worked with Simon Smallman, the careers adviser based in Birches Head Academy.

“Equipping students with future-proof skills is very important to Birches Head Academy,” commented Smallman. “We want to make sure that by the time they leave school our pupils are confident, ambitious and prepared for the current, very tough, job market. Each and every one of our students has something they feel passionate about; our job is to help them discover what that is and how to build a profession from it.”

Birches Head Academy organises five PSCHE days every school year and dedicates six days to similar topics of discussion during Out and about week, which takes place every summer. The next PSCHE day is set for the last week of term, on July 16.