Careers - latest bulletin
If you or your business would like to get involved with any of our future events, please contact Mrs Shute, Careers Advisor at anna.shute@olympustrust.co.uk
2023-204 Term 6
Y10 work experience in Gauting, Germany
8 lucky Patchway students had a fantastic time exploring a different country and culture and also taking part in work placements over 3 days in Gauting Germany. This opportunity was organised and funded by the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Patchway and the twinning department at the council. We had students working in a hotel, a tourist office and a variety of schools. You can read students’ own reflections on their week HERE
Ablaze business mentoring programme for Y10
12 students from Year 10 are taking part in the Ablaze programme this term. The first event was a visit to the offices of Speed Communications in Clifton, Bristol. We were able to tour the offices of a PR and communications agency, learn about the work that is done there (including finding out about which influencers they work with!) and hear about the career paths of the people who work there. Students considered who and what influences them in their lives and whether this is always positive. They also thought about the skills they have and how they show them and the skills they would need to use in the workplace. We were also able to have a quick game of ping pong as they have a table in the middle of the office!
Y10 Hospitality and Catering visit to Aztec Hotel
All students of Hospitality and Catering in Year 10 were very fortunate to be invited to the Aztec Hotel and Spa to find out more about being a professional chef. Andy the Head Chef and Eliza the Sous Chef told us about their career paths, their work at the hotel and the realities of working in the kitchen. We toured the kitchens, and Andy demonstrated how to cook and plate up a restaurant-standard dish of turbot with boulangère potatoes. Eliza introduced us to micro herbs and edible flowers and showed us techniques to make plates of desserts look beautiful.
Midwife talk from UWE
Year 10 Health and Social Care students had a fascinating and thought provoking visit from 2 midwives. Although many students said they had not considered midwifery as a career before, they showed impressive knowledge and maturity as they took part in the session and asked great questions. It was particularly nice to welcome midwife Victoria, an ex-Patchway student herself!
Careers pop up shops
Every Thursday this term we are inviting local colleges, employers and training providers to speak to students in all years over lunch times in the main hall. Students have really embraced this opportunity and have shown self confidence and great communication skills in speaking to the visitors, who have been really impressed with our students. Please get in touch if you would like us to invite any particular industries into school.
Post 16 study pathway options
It is a government requirement that young people stay in some form of education or training until they are 18. THIS PRESENTATION explains the different pathways available to students after GCSE.
Careers with CrossCountry Rail
Please follow this link to find out more about apprenticeships and opportunities for school leavers with CrossCountry Rail
Tasty Careers
If you or your child would like to find out in working in the food and drink industry, this website provides lots of useful and engaging information about the roles on offer Tasty Careers
2023-2024 Term 5
Equinox STEAM event for Y7 and 8
25 students who had been nominated by their teachers of Science, DT and Maths took part in a 2 hour session with Equinox, a partner of DE&S. The presenters delivered 4 activities where students were able to deepen their understanding of how communication, problem solving, logistics and budgeting are used in technical careers. Students were engaged and well behaved throughout, asked interesting and thoughtful questions and took part in all the activities with enthusiasm. The survey they did at the end of the session showed how much their learning had developed during the 2 hours, whilst having lots of fun. The presenters said ‘Patchway has been one of our most enjoyable and successful events so far, so please pass on our thanks and congrats to the students’.
Y9 Assembly from Berkeley Green UTC
As part of our commitment to meeting the Provider Access Legislation, Year 9 had an assembly this term from Berkeley Green UTC, a specialist cyber and engineering college (also a part of SGS college) which they could join from Year 10. The headteacher of Berkeley Green delivered an informative session, helped by ex-Patchway student Ruby who is currently studying there.
Work experience for Y10
Work experience placements are still happening as companies offer their own week long programmes. At the end of term 4, placements were undertaken with Aztec Hotel and Spa, Shine Sports and the British Army. 5 students experienced life as a soldier at the training facility at Crickhowell in the Brecon Beacons. They had a fully catered 4-day residential experience which they said was so good they didn’t want to leave! More placements will happen over the rest of the year.
Envision Programme for Year 10
The second Envision team of the year are finishing off their preparation for the final challenge event taking place on 20th May at the Wills Conference Centre at the University of Bristol. We wish them well as they compete against other schools in the area to showcase the skills of creativity, determination and teamwork that they have been developing throughout the programme.
Apprenticeships
Patchway students are increasingly interested in getting apprenticeships and the range of roles available is developing fast. Have a look at this video to hear some young people’s real life experiences Meet the apprentice (wtpn.org.uk)
Shape My City - for students who will be aged 15 by July 2025
A monthly programme of after school workshops in central Bristol for students interested in Architecture - Interior Design - Masterplanning - Structural Engineering - Urban Design - Heritage Landscape Architecture - Transport Engineering - Sustainable Design - Renewable Energy and more. This opportunity is free to attend, with a £5 travel bursary and an evening meal provided. Details on the website Shape My City | Design West
Free online courses to develop career skills and confidencefor students aged 14-16
Preparing For Your Future - Free Online Course - Youth Employment UK
2023-2024 Term 4
Year 7 the Future of Law and Finance
All tutor groups year 7 walked over to St James’ Place in Aztec West to discover more about careers in Law and Finance. They met a volunteer from the business who explained about their job role and students used this information to record a short film and design a Top Trumps style playing card about them. Students enjoyed seeing the office and meeting the staff and were extremely busy and focussed throughout their 1 hour session.
Year 8 PSHE Programme
This term it has been Year 8’s turn to look at careers learning in PSHE. They have been using the site Careerpilot, an engaging and user friendly site with a real wealth of up to date, reliable local information. Investigate this with your child at https://careerpilot.org.uk/
Year 10 Envision Programme
The second Envision team have been working on their social action project with their Envision coach Sabrina every Friday in school this term. Their chosen issue is raising awareness of discrimination in school and how to tackle it. The team enjoyed their visit to business mentors Womble Bond Dickenson where they practised their public speaking skills, further developed their project into a poster campaign and enjoyed the juice and biscuits!
Year 10 Work Experience
Although the first week of WEx is behind us, students are still able to go on placements where providers offer a different week. 5 students will be taking part in a residential Army placement in Crickhowell, Wales during the week of 25 - 29th March and we wish them well.
Year 10 Scientists Space Academy session
We welcomed a representative from the Space Academy who delivered an engaging and interactive session to our triple science students. He explained about careers in the space sector and how scientists and astronauts find out more about asteroids. Using their knowledge of chemistry and physics, students also performed experiments to launch oxygen-hydrogen rockets in the lab!
Year 11 ASK apprenticeships
We were pleased to welcome Vanessa from ASK (an ex-Patchway student herself) to offer specialist guidance to our Y11s who are looking for apprenticeships for next year. Apprenticeships are advertised on Find an apprenticeship - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) where students can create an account and set up alerts to be notified when suitable apprenticeships come in.
2023-2024 Term 3
Work Experience
The main event careers-wise in term 3 has been Year 10 work experience which took place in the week of 5-9 February. 70% of students have been able to find a placement, in a wide variety of industries including engineering, hairdressing, funeral care, retail, education, childcare, elderly care, healthcare, motor vehicle mechanics, marketing, PR and construction. We have received some glowing reviews from employers about our students and the contributions they have made during the week. Some students will attend placements later in the year with the British Army and 8 will be doing placements in our twin town of Gauting in Germany.
Students who were on the school site during the week were able to volunteer to attend sessions with some outside providers. We were also able to take a minibus full of students to Womble Bond Dickenson, a Law firm in central Bristol to learn about careers paths into Law and take part in some teamwork activities.
National Apprenticeships Week
5-9 February was also National Apprenticeships week. Curriculum areas have been showing students how their subject can be relevant to apprenticeships and all our presenters to Year 10 this week have been outlining their apprenticeship routes.
Year 11 Personal Guidance Meetings
All students in Year 11 are entitled to an hour of 1:1 guidance as they make their post-16 plans. This is underway but if students are keen for a meeting sooner rather than later they should please tell their tutor or Mrs Shute. The guide to Post-16 open events can be found on the school website under Curriculum>Careers>Useful links
Year 10 Envision
The first cohort of Envision took part in the final event competing against other schools to present their social action project to a panel of judges. Although they did not win overall, students all demonstrated just how far their key skills of teamwork, creativity and communication have developed over the 12 week programme. The team was also commended for how they interacted and identified each other's strengths and contributions. Cohort 2 will be starting early in term 4.
Year 7 the Future of Law and Finance
4 tutor groups from year 7 walked over to St James’ Place in Aztec West to discover more about careers in Law and Finance. They met a volunteer from the business who explained about their job role and students used this information to record a short film and design a Top Trumps style playing card about them. Students enjoyed seeing the office and meeting the staff and were extremely busy and focussed throughout their 1 hour session. The remaining 2 groups will have this experience on Friday 1st March
2023-2024 Term 2
Y8 BAE Systems STEM Roadshow
We kicked off this term with Year 8 finding out about engineering careers at a STEM Roadshow delivered in school by BAE Systems, The RAF and The Royal Navy.
Y10 Work Experience
PSHE lessons this term have been guiding students through searching and applying for work experience placements. Please see the attached Work experience booklet 2023-4 for more information and guidance, including opportunities to apply for.
Please note that Work Experience week will be 5-9 February 2024. If students find opportunities outside these dates they may be able to attend and should speak to Mrs Shute. Any student not on a work placement from 5-9 February will be expected to attend school as usual. It is the student’s responsibility to find their own placement, we are not able to source these. If you work for a company that might be able to host a work experience student, please do get in touch.
Careers Fair for Years 10 and 11
The hall was filled with colleges, local employers, apprenticeship providers and Universities on 20th November as we hosted our careers fair for Years 10 and 11. This was a hugely successful event enjoyed by students, staff and presenters alike. We received some wonderful feedback on the conduct of our students and look forward to hosting another careers fair next year.
Year 11 Personal Guidance Meetings
All students in Year 11 are entitled to an hour of 1:1 guidance as they make their post-16 plans. This is underway but if students are keen for a meeting sooner rather than later they should please tell their tutor or Mrs Shute. The guide to Post-16 open events can be found on the school website under Curriculum>Careers>Useful links
Year 10 Envision Programme
Working with their coach Sabrina and their business mentors from Womble Bond Dickenson, the Year 10 Envision group have made a great start on their social action project. They are all also developing their skills of teamwork, creativity and communication and did their first bit of public speaking during our visit to the WBD offices last week. Well done team!
Parent & Carer Apprenticeship Information Evening
If you are unsure how to support your child in applying for an apprenticeship, this event is for you. We will have a panel of employers, apprentices, and training providers all on hand to answer questions and share their experiences.
👉 Tuesday 27th February, Abbeywood Community School, 5.30 - 7pm
https://www.wtpn.org.uk/events/parents-carers-apprenticeship-information-evening-south-glos
2023-2024 Term 1
Preparing for Post 16 study
Year 11 students have been looking at Post 16 options in their PSHE lessons this term. As well as considering the different courses they could take at school or college they have looked at apprenticeship options. The best way to decide where to study is to visit the provider. A list of open events is available on google classroom, the Careers section of the school website and can also be accessed HERE. Any further information I receive about courses and apprenticeships will also be posted on google classroom. All students in Year 11 will be offered a guidance meeting with me, Mrs Shute, Careers Advisor and CIEAG Lead for PCS, in the coming months.
Visit to UWE
On 12th September, 38 Year 11s had a chance to visit UWE to find out more about the realities of University study. They took part in activities and quizzes run by FutureQuest, a charity which aims to encourage students from under-represented backgrounds to consider Higher Education. They also toured the Frenchay campus with UWE student ambassadors who shared their learning journeys with our students. For many of the Patchway students this was the first time they had been inside a University and some felt that, after taking part in the day, they might consider University as a possible pathway. All students participated really well in the day and were excellent representatives of PCS.
 In the lecture theatre with the student ambassadors |
 Winning prizes from the quiz |
Mock Interview Day 13th October 2023
Last week, Year 11 students took part in the first Mock Interview Day to be held at Patchway for several years. Students prepared a set of questions in PSHE and tutor time and learned about the attitude, body language and clothing needed for interview situations. Over 35 volunteers from the world of work came in and sat with them in the hall for the interviews. Despite some initial nerves, students performed extremely well and really impressed the volunteers. Comments from interviewers included:
‘Everybody was interested, engaged and polite, with a story to tell’
‘... a wonderful indication of how bright, talented, and motivated these young people are’
‘Every student spoke with clarity, confidence and were clearly well prepared’
We very much hope that this experience will help students feel more confident when they come to have real interviews for college courses, apprenticeships and jobs in the future.
The Parent Perspective Podcast
Amazing Apprenticeships has created this podcast for parents and carers, helping you to support your children with careers advice and guidance. Follow this link to access the recordings: The Parent Perspective Podcast - Amazing Apprenticeships
Fresh ideas for new careers - Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair
When: 1st of November 2023 - 12pm to 3pm
Where: Cabot Circus, Bristol BS1 3BD
Who: All ages welcome and free to attend
35+ employers from a variety of sectors at Cabot Circus (on the ground floor) to talk to you about the jobs and apprenticeships they have available.Speak with potential employers face-to-face as you have the opportunity to collect information on employers, register your interest in any jobs advertised, ask the employers questions or even have a mini-interview on the day.
If you need more information please contact One Front Door - free advice and support to people looking for work or another job.
onefrontdoor@bristol.gov.uk - 0117 922 3440 www.onefrontdoor.org.uk
