Our Year 12 students took part in a highly successful Academy Day on the last day of Autumn 1, focused on developing essential life and employability skills. The day provided valuable opportunities for students to prepare for the world beyond school, with engaging sessions designed to build confidence, independence, and practical life-saving skills.

The day ran as a carousel which included a first aid workshop where they learned vital basic life-saving skills, including how to respond in an emergency and provide support until professional help arrives. The hands-on approach gave everyone the chance to practise techniques and understand the importance of staying calm and prepared in real-life situations. In the first session, students were taught how to perform effective CPR, use a defibrillator and complete the primary survey. During the second session, students learnt how to deal with more common medical emergencies such as how to bandage a range of injuries, administer an epi-pen and what to do if someone is choking.

As part of their carousel, students turned their attention to employability and personal development, exploring how to apply for work experience placements and how to present themselves effectively to future employers. Workshops on CV writing and communicating transferable skills helped students reflect on their strengths and the experiences that make them stand out and appear to be the best candidate for employers.

The Academy Day was both enjoyable and purposeful, giving Year 12s the tools to take the next steps in their personal and professional journeys. A huge thank you to the staff who delivered such engaging sessions and to our students, whose enthusiasm and participation made the day such a success!