SIXTH form students have been inspired to reflect on the future at a conference to help broaden their thinking on the next steps towards a career.
Representatives from a host of universities and businesses, joined college alumni, for a Future Inspirations conference hosted by Richmond School and Sixth Form College.
The event, which aims to help students make the best possible decisions about their future, saw more than 150 sixth formers attend workshops and seek advice from education specialists and employability experts.
Richmond School and Sixth Form College careers and employment manger Liz Mannion said: “The careers event is designed to help raise the aspirations of our Year 12 students when thinking about applying for higher education courses, apprenticeships, or employment, to help them gain an understanding of the next steps available to them.
“It is really important that students finishing their exams start to think about their career plan as early as possible and this event not only helps them to be inspired but also gets them to think creatively about what they want to do and possibly learn about careers that they may not even know existed.”
Workshops included interview techniques, CV preparation, future proofing employment prospects, choosing a university, personal statement writing, the UCAS process, choosing the right course and student finance, talks on careers in physics, apprenticeships in construction, degrees in football and business, careers in leadership in the RAF and courses in secondary and primary education.
Teesside University representative and senior lecturer in operation department practice Peter Brown said: “This is a great opportunity for universities to come along and meet what could potentially be their future students.”
Future First, an education charity that works with a network of schools across the country also gave students the opportunity to learn about a range of roles.
Former Richmond Sixth Form student Katie Hodgson, 19, of Stapleton, who is studying primary education early years at Leeds Trinity University, returned to speak to current students on her experiences of university life so far.
“This event really helped me last year when I was thinking about applying for university, so it’s great to be asked back to help.”