Careers Week at Stromness Academy

Careers Week kicked off with an interactive assembly attended by all S3 pupils.

Pupils at Stromness Academy have been taking part in a careers week to inspire and inform them of the variety of jobs available to them, helping them to imagine their own future.

​The week was targeted at pupils in S3 to support them as they make their subject choices for S4, a process which will start them on the journey to their preferred post-school destination.

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The Stromness Showcase was a chance for pupils to speak to employers who are based right on the school's doorstep.

The week was held from Monday 4 to Friday 8 February 2019, and began with an interactive assembly attended by over 60 S3 pupils.  Those present took part in games which were designed to expose them to a variety of different jobs – some they had heard of and others they may not have.  A quiz to ‘Guess the CV’ of staff within the school also encouraged them to see the different career paths people take before undertaking their current role.

They also heard an inspirational talk from Cameron Stout, who encouraged them to think about what career they may like to do then consider what they knew about those jobs and what they needed to get into them.  He highlighted the three essentials they would all need to achieve their chosen career:  knowledge, hard work and a good attitude.

Throughout the week, individual subject areas provided a careers focused input to classes which included talks from local employers, careers quizzes and visits to workplaces.  This included a visit to the site of the new Stromness care home for pupils interested in careers in construction, care or related industries, which was provided by Orkney Builders.

Displays around the school also encouraged pupils to start thinking about how their skills, interests and the subjects they studied could help them in their future career.

The week concluded with a mini-careers fair which was organised by Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Orkney.  This event was a ‘Stromness Showcase’ and included a range of businesses who are based in Stromness or who have offices located there.  Those present included Northvet, Wilson’s Wholesalers. Xodus, NHS Orkney and the OIC.  This event was open to pupils in S3-S6.

Rachel Scarth, Project Manager with Developing the Young Workforce Orkney, said, “We were delighted to support Stromness Academy in their first Careers Week and help pupils in S3 to start thinking about how what they do in school can influence their ultimate career destination.

The Stromness Showcase event was developed to help them think differently about businesses that are literally on the school’s doorstep, getting them to see the range of jobs available locally and understand more about the variety of jobs ‘behind the scenes’ of familiar businesses.

“We were delighted so many employers supported the week, either by coming along to the showcase event, or by supporting other activities across the week.  We hope this week has informed pupils of the variety of jobs available in a business, and inspired them to find out more.”

Mark Berry, Guidance Teacher at Stromness Academy said, “This Careers Week was designed to inspire and inform pupils and we were keen to embed it across all of the subjects across the school.  It is important that pupils start to make the connection between the subjects they study now and the world of work.  We hope that by hosting this week we have encouraged them to explore different careers to identify one which best suits their skills, abilities and aspirations.

​“We’d also like to thank all of the employers who participated throughout the week and the pupils who took part in the activities with such enthusiasm.”

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