STUDENTS at the Gateway Academy recently put their thinking caps on to look into the future! All students took part in specialised sessions aimed at stretching their imaginations, team building and looking into their future as far as the year 2030!
Students from Year 7-11 were treated to a careers fair which was attended by local colleges, companies and university providers, and heard inspirational speakers from Industry. Many professionals visited the students throughout the day including: Transformation Trust working with Year 8 & 9 students on their people skills, Career Ready working with all students on Employability skills and Major Motivator working with Year 10 & 11 students delivering the message about the importance of their futures.
Year 10 & 11 students were encouraged to come into school in ‘business dress’ and were given guidance and mock interviews to assist them when they attend work experience and job interviews next year. Students took part in team building activities that helped their confidence and encouraged them to work together to win the task. They also mapped out their future as far as 2030 with the help of careers package ‘Fast Tomato’ which was influenced by their honest answers to questions about themselves.
The visitors were incredibly impressed by the Gateway Academy students and their willingness to get on board and listen to the useful information that they were given. Amongst the many positive comments were ‘…once again your students really impressed me with their high energy and enthusiasm. They demonstrated a genuine passion to better themselves and a real desire to succeed. ‘Do today what others don’t, to have tomorrow what others won’t’ is the quote that always comes to mind when I come to the Gateway Academy…”
Miss Roisin Boyle, Lead Practitioner for STEM and DLD coordinator, said “The students really engaged with the whole day. The feedback from both the students, staff and our visitors was very encouraging and it seems that they all gained something useful from the activities. We look forward to the next DLD in March which will be a STEM Challenge Day.”
