Careers Leaders Blog

Careers Blog Term 1B

Published 09/01/26

The final week of last half-term was a busy one for our Year 11 students, who took part in a range of workshops and presentations during the Year 11 Careers Week. Building on the Year 10 Careers Week held in the summer, this event focused on key areas such as CV writing, exploring post-16 options including T-Levels and Apprenticeships, application support and interview preparation. We also welcomed a range of employers from diverse sectors, who shared insights into their roles and highlighted future career opportunities. These sessions covered areas such as Hair & Beauty, Early Years, Engineering, Computer Science, Healthcare Science, Physics, Horseracing industry and the Armed Forces. In addition, the NHS provided valuable information about their Humber Health Champions volunteering programme, which many of our former students have joined. The week offered plenty of valuable information and ideas for students to consider as they headed into the Christmas break.

BCD Travel delivered an engaging workshop on interview techniques, guiding students through different interview scenarios and sharing top tips for success. This session was excellent preparation for their upcoming Mock Interviews, scheduled for the end of January. During Careers Week, each student received a job profile for the role they will be interviewed for, based on the ‘Top 3 Jobs’ form they completed in tutor time, and we match students to roles that align with their interests. There’s always a real buzz during this session, with students excited about the opportunity to be interviewed by a real employer! We also reflected on last year’s successes, where several students secured apprenticeships and weekend jobs through networking at the event. To help them prepare, students are encouraged to research the company they’ll be interviewing with and practice answering potential questions. As part of the process, employers receive copies of the students’ CVs, which they have been developing during Careers Week.

All CVs must be submitted via email to cv@hessleacademy.com by Friday 23 January 2026. Lunchtime support sessions are available in G19, with specific days shared during tutor time and varying each week.

Before Careers Week, 59% of students had completed their post-16 applications, and following a recent tutor survey, it’s fantastic to see that this figure has now risen to 80%, with many already receiving offers based on predicted grades. These offers provide students with a clear focus and motivation as they continue working hard in lessons and revision to achieve their goals. I strongly encourage all students to complete their applications by February half-term wherever possible. This allows us to identify and support anyone who hasn’t yet applied and helps ensure students don’t miss out on securing a place at their preferred destination. Apprenticeship vacancies for September 2026 typically start to appear from February/March, so being prepared early is key. Please email hayley.lawes@hessleacademy.com if your child requires any additional support with their post-16 applications.

The deadline for submitting Year 10 Work Experience Parental Consent forms has now passed, and we are now working towards the next deadline: Friday 27 February for Placement Forms. If any student has misplaced their form, spare copies are available from their tutor. It’s important to return forms as soon as possible so that safeguarding and health & safety checks can be completed in time. If you are experiencing any difficulties, please speak to your Tutor, Head of Year, or Miss Lawes, who can offer support and may be able to provide potential contacts from previous years.

Year 7 All About Me Day is a long-standing annual event that continues to play a key role in helping our new students settle into secondary school life. Throughout the day, students take part in a series of workshops covering important topics such as personal safety, as well as exploring post-16 pathways and future career opportunities. They reflect on their strengths, interests, and personality traits, and discover how these link to different job roles, helping them start to think about the possibilities ahead.

We’ve had several visits recently, including the annual Hull and East Riding Apprenticeship Event at Bishop Burton! A group of Year 11 students attended alongside our Year 12 cohort. Through networking, students made valuable new connections and discovered the wide range of opportunities available locally once they complete their GCSEs and A-Levels.

Linking the curriculum to careers is something we’ve worked hard to develop over the years, and it’s fantastic to see subject areas now embedding this into their trips. Recently, several visits have taken place with a strong career's focus. For example, during the Physics trip to London, students explored the Science Museum, which featured exhibits showcasing careers in sectors such as architecture, finance, and IT. A dedicated display allowed students to trial technician roles in programming, creative arts, medical fields, and engineering through hands-on activities and a quiz that matched them to potential technician careers. They also visited the Royal Institution, learning about its history of supporting researchers, speaking with staff about their roles, and touring the building, before heading to the Imperial College to experience the campus environment. In Art & Photography, students visited the Salt Mills Museum, gaining insight into creative careers and the wide range of roles within the art industry. They explored how the sector operates and gathered inspiration for their portfolios. Additionally, ‘on-location’ shoots provided unique settings and subjects for external photography, giving students high-quality images to enhance their portfolios, valuable for college applications, job interviews, or freelance opportunities.

As Year 9 students prepare to choose their KS4 options this half-term, those who need extra support will have the opportunity to discuss their choices with a professional and sign up for a careers meeting with our External Careers Advisor. Further details will be shared during tutor time. Meanwhile, we continue to work through the initial careers meetings with Year 10 students, which will run through to the summer.

Upcoming careers events this half-term:  