Pupils flock to careers event
SNAKES ALIVE: Hundreds of teenagers have been getting the lowdown on future careers and education opportunities at a major two-day event.
Known as SPECS (the schools progression events co-ordinated strategy), it has been targeting 13 to 15-year-olds from schools across North Staffordshire to help them plan their steps after GCSEs. A number of special school and college students have also attended.
Employers, education and training providers manned dozens of stalls at the Stanley Matthews Sports Centre, in Leek Road, Stoke. The Aimhigher Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent event began yesterday and will finish later today.
As well as offering young people information and advice on a range of jobs, it has given them a chance to try activities linked to everything from garden design to healthcare.
An Aimhigher spokesman said most of the 15 schools who booked places at the careers fair still managed to turn up, despite the severe weather conditions.
Pictured is Holden Lane High School pupil Lara Greatbatch, aged 13, with one of the corn snakes from the Reaseheath College stand.
Picture: Cara Edgington
Comments
by Sue, Stoke on Trent
Friday, January 08 2010, 6:52PM
“I was at this event on Thursday. It was rewarding to see so many schools attending despite the bad weather. The young people were enthusiastic and engaged in what they were doing and a credit to themselves and to their schools and teachers. There was such a buzz, it was easy to forget the cold weather outside. Thanks to the organisers for a postiive start to the new year.”