Year 10 students recently took part in an enriching 5 day work experience programme with the University Schools Trust, offering them a valuable insight into a range of professional roles across the organisation. The experience gave students the opportunity to explore different departments, build new skills and begin thinking more seriously about their future career pathways.

Across the week, students rotated through four key areas including marketing, partnerships and fundraising, data, and finance. Each day provided a different focus, allowing students to understand how each department contributes to the wider work of the Trust.

Here’s a few topics they were able to learn:

• In marketing, they explored how communication and branding are used to engage school communities.
• In partnerships and fundraising, they learned how relationships with external organisations help support educational opportunities.
• In data, they saw how information is used to inform decisions.
• In finance they gained an understanding of budgeting and resource management.

On the fifth day, students came together to deliver PowerPoint presentations reflecting on what they had learned throughout the week. They shared insights into the skills they developed, including creativity, communication and adaptability.

Many students explained that the experience helped them understand how important these human skills are, especially when preparing for interviews and future employment.

The programme also encouraged students to reflect on their aspirations. Some expressed interest in pursuing careers in teaching, others in areas such as office environments, and a few even shared ambitions to become astronauts and explore very different professional pathways.

Overall, students reported that the experience was enjoyable, eye opening and helped them consider what they might want to do in the future.

This experience strongly links to one of our school values of Aspiration. By exposing students to a range of career pathways and professional environments, the programme encouraged them to think ambitiously about their futures and to recognise the importance of developing skills that will help them succeed in whatever path they choose.