Withernsea High School

Year 10 students have completed a series of college taster visits alongside a dedicated post-16 application support session delivered by Log On Move On.

Over the past fortnight, students have visited Bishop Burton College, Wyke College and Wilberforce College, where they experienced college life, explored potential subject choices and learned more about post-16 opportunities.

As part of the visits, students took part in a wide variety of taster lessons, experiencing both traditional academic subjects and hands-on vocational courses, including construction and public services. One session saw students working with Humberside Police, providing a valuable insight into careers in policing and the wider public services sector.

During an engineering taster session at Wilberforce College, students Olivia F and Lewis G were recognised as Engineering Students of the Day in recognition of their enthusiasm, engagement and effort throughout the session.

The visits were complemented by an application preparation session delivered in school by Log On Move On, an independent and impartial careers platform. The workshop introduced students to the application process ahead of applications opening in October.
The events form part of the school's careers programme, which includes one-to-one guidance interviews for every Year 10 student.

Viki Foster, Careers Leader, said: “Preparing for post-16 early gives students the time to research their options and make informed decisions about their future. Every Year 10 student has been offered a one-to-one careers guidance interview, with any missed appointments and follow-up support continuing into Year 11.

“Over the past two weeks, students have visited local colleges, as well as taking part in an application preparation session with Log On Move On. College taster events give students the opportunity to experience lessons and explore courses they may wish to study after their GCSEs.

“We also moved work experience earlier in the year so students have more time to reflect on what they learned, research future opportunities and take advantage of the taster events, which had previously clashed with placements. Most post-16 applications open in October and we encourage students to submit them by Christmas.”

The recent activities build on careers education already delivered this academic year, including visits to Willerby Ltd and Siemens Mobility for National Manufacturing Day, a Channel 4 Creative Industries workshop, the school's Careers Evening and Futures Fair, work experience placements and evaluation sessions, and ongoing one-to-one careers interviews.

During the summer holidays, students are encouraged to complete their personal statements, update their Log On Move On profiles and use the platform's CV Builder in preparation for applications.

Support will continue into Year 11 with follow-up careers interviews, the East Riding Apprenticeship Expo, college open evenings, interview skills workshops, mock interviews and support throughout the post-16 application process.

A new year-long programme is giving young people in Withernsea and the surrounding area the opportunity to discover new talents, build confidence and gain valuable real-world experience through creativity, culture and human rights education.

'Start Somewhere… in Withernsea' is open to young people aged 11 to 17. Over 12 months, participants will take part in monthly Saturday creative workshops, visits to arts and cultural organisations, a dedicated careers event and two-day work placements with local organisations.

Designed to broaden horizons and raise aspirations, the initiative will encourage young people to step outside their comfort zone, meet new people, develop creative and leadership skills, and gain a greater understanding of future education and career opportunities. They will also work alongside professional artists and creative practitioners while experiencing places and opportunities they may never have considered before.

Alongside developing practical skills and confidence, participants will explore the life and legacy of Mary Wollstonecraft, the pioneering 18th-century writer and philosopher whose work helped lay the foundations for modern ideas of equality and human rights. They will also learn about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, encouraging them to understand their rights, value their voice and become active members of their communities.

The initiative is being delivered by the Mary Wollstonecraft Society, which uses creativity and education to promote equality, inclusion and human rights.

Monthly sessions take place on Saturdays from 11.15am to 3.15pm, beginning on Saturday, 11th July, at the Meridian Centre in Withernsea.

For more information or to sign up, contact the Mary Wollstonecraft Society at admin@wollstonecraftsociety.org.

A record number of students have taken part in a University of Cambridge outreach programme designed to challenge misconceptions about higher education and inspire young people to consider ambitious educational pathways.

This year, 60 Year 10 students, the largest number to date, attended a session led by Ellie Nethaway, Schools Liaison Officer for King’s College. The visit formed part of the university’s College Area Links Scheme, which aims to widen participation in higher education by building relationships between Cambridge colleges and schools across the UK.

During the session, students learned about the university’s unique collegiate system and the wide range of degree courses available. They also explored entry requirements, subject choices and the routes available to students aspiring to study at Cambridge and other Russell Group universities.

A key focus of the session was addressing some of the misconceptions that can discourage young people from pursuing ambitious higher education pathways. Discussions centred on topics including student finance, social barriers, affordability and the belief that institutions such as Cambridge are only accessible to certain groups of students.

For more than twenty years, Cambridge’s College Area Links Scheme has helped schools and colleges access impartial information, guidance and support. Through the university’s commitment to widening participation, outreach work seeks to ensure that students from all backgrounds understand that higher education opportunities are available to them.
Leading the outreach work across Yorkshire and the North East, Ellie regularly visits schools to support students as they begin making decisions about their futures.

Reflecting on the importance of the programme, Ellie said: “There are still a lot of misconceptions about attending Cambridge and other top universities, with some people thinking that they won’t fit in. One of the reasons why I really like working with schools is that I can help students realise that they can actually study anywhere they want. Anyone from any background, regardless of location or status, has the potential to reach their destination of choice.

“Another misconception is that people think it’s more expensive to study at universities such as Cambridge and Oxford. Explaining student finance and how loans work makes a big difference. There is so much support available.”

School Careers Leader, Viki Foster, said: “It was great to have Ellie back at the school for the fifth year working with King’s College. I was really impressed by the engagement of students and the level of questions they were asking, showing that many students are interested in aspirational educational and career pathways.

“Many former students have successfully gone on to study at Oxford, Cambridge and other Russell Group universities. It is encouraging to see some of our current students expressing similar aspirations during their careers interviews, which aligns closely with our school value of Ambition.”

Engagement with the Cambridge outreach programme is part of the school’s wider careers programme, which is designed to ensure students receive impartial information about the full range of education and training opportunities available after Year 11. Encounters with universities and higher education providers are a key element of the Gatsby Benchmarks, the national framework for careers education in schools and colleges.

As Year 10 students continue to explore their post-16 options, the school’s careers programme plays an important role in helping them gain a clearer understanding of the pathways available, enabling them to make informed decisions about their future study and career aspirations while demonstrating that ambitious goals are achievable.