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St Margaret Ward
Catholic Academy
St Margaret Ward
Catholic Academy
St Margaret Ward has been alive with ambition, aspirations, and future-focused learning as we celebrated our first termly Careers Week of this academic year. Across the school, students from Year 7 to Year 13 have embraced a rich programme of activities designed to broaden horizons, develop essential skills and connect learning in the classroom to real-life pathways beyond school.
Throughout the week, teachers incorporated careers-related learning into their lessons, helping students understand how subjects link to a wide range of professions. From exploring careers competencies in Touching Hearts, job roles in Music and MFL, to analysing the ‘Teaching Personal, Social and Responsibility’ model where students develop transferable skills such as teamwork and problem solving through team building and outdoor adventurous activities in PE. Students engaged in meaningful conversations about their futures, an approach that continues to strengthen our commitment to the Gatsby Benchmarks, particularly:
A major highlight of the week was our Mock Interview Programme, which saw well over 400 students in Years 10, 11, 12 and 13 take part in formal interviews with visiting employers. We were delighted to welcome representatives from a wide range of local organisations and industries, including local businesses, public-sector partners, parents, and members of our governing body.
These interviews offered students a valuable opportunity to practise presenting themselves professionally, receive personalised feedback, and gain confidence, developing essential employability skills aligned with Gatsby Benchmark 5: Encounters with Employers and Employees and Benchmark 3: Addressing the needs of each young person.
Staff and interviewers alike expressed how impressed they were with the maturity, enthusiasm and potential shown throughout the sessions. Many guests commented on how well-prepared students were and praised their thoughtful responses and aspirations for the future.
The continued development of careers education at St Margaret Ward reflects our mission to ensure that every student is knowledgeable, confident and ready to make informed decisions about their next steps. Over recent years, the academy has strengthened partnerships with local employers, expanded work-related learning opportunities, and embedded an ambitious, inclusive careers programme that supports all learners.
As Careers Week draws to a close, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all staff, parents, governors, and employer volunteers who helped make this week such a success. Most importantly, we celebrate our students, whose curiosity, resilience and ambition continue to inspire us.
St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy remains committed to guiding our young people towards bright and purposeful futures and this Careers Week has been a shining example of that mission in action.
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