The highlight of the week was welcoming back three ex-Carrensians (albeit virtually) who once sat in the very same seats as our current Year 12s. Their first-hand accounts provided a powerful bridge between school life and the professional world. Edward shared the rigours of securing a Level 7 apprenticeship with Collins Aerospace, pulling back the curtain on the intense application process and the challenges of the assessment centre. Hari offered a "day-in-the-life" perspective of his first year as an Audit Associate with Grant Thornton, balancing professional responsibilities with his Level 7 studies. Conor rounded off the session by showcasing where this path could lead. Having fully concluded his apprenticeship with KPMG, he now serves as a Manager in Deal Advisory Tax.

This session was the culmination of weeks of targeted guidance. Students have explored everything from finding vacancies to understanding the "directed learning" model, where university study is integrated directly into employment.

While Year 12 are beginning their exploration, our Year 13 students are already seeing their hard work pay off. We are delighted to hear that several students are now receiving apprenticeship offers from employers. Their perseverance through the demanding recruitment cycles is a testament to their ambition.

Last year, we were incredibly proud to be identified by Amazing Apprenticeships as one of the top 50 post-18 providers in the country for apprenticeship support. Seeing our current students follow in the footsteps of successful alumni like Edward, Hari, and Conor reinforces that our commitment to diverse career aspirations continues to yield fantastic results. We encourage all students to continue exploring the opportunities available. Whether their interest lies in engineering, finance, or beyond, the apprenticeship route offers a unique head start in the professional world.