Catcote Academy and Catcote Futures were delighted to host an international visit for 36 visitors from Hong Kong to learn more about our careers provision and employability pathways. The visitors were all from a variety of educational backgrounds, including Teachers, Principles (from 15 different schools) and Professors from Hong Kong University. The visit was arranged by Ryan Gibson, Careers Lead for Lift Schools, which is a Multi Academy Trust, (with 57 schools which span the length and breadth of England) and Careers Hub Lead from North East Combined Authority.
We had a jampacked itinerary for the day, visitors started the day with a presentation from our CEO Lisa Greig, this gave them contextual information and an overview of our pathways, curriculum, and our careers and enterprise programme.
After this, the visitors were split into four groups, each group had the opportunity for a tour of our school, to observe lessons in our Work Related Learning areas, meet our wonderful ‘Catcote Crew, from our yellow and blue pathway and also visit our key stage 3 Enterprise Lessons. Students from our Brierton Sixth Form also delivered a presentation to all regarding their experience of working in North Tees Hospital through NTH Solutions and they spoke with confidence and pride about their experiences of working at the hospital.
On the afternoon, the visitors had lunch in our Vestry Cafe, which is a hospitality and catering training venue for our students. They had the opportunity to speak to students who work there about their job roles and also to speak to our key employers who offer invaluable work placement opportunities.
After lunch, they were split into three groups, they visited three different areas including our retail outlet, Catcote Metro. They had the opportunity to speak to students who work in the shop and also students from our Catcote Futures Provision who were making enterprise items to sell in the shop.
They also had the opportunity to visit our Steps Employability Hub to chat to students about their experience on this employability pathway, in particular regarding their experiences of the world of work and discuss their hopes and dreams for their future careers.
Lastly, they enjoyed a presentation from Nik McDonald and Ally McColl from Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, along with three students from our Brierton Sixth Form. Within this presentation, the students spoke about the variety of jobs they have carried out within the shopping centre and also how they have gained invaluable skills for the World of Work.
All visitors were really impressed with our provision and the difference we make to our students lives, one visitor said that they have not seen such innovative practice anywhere in the world. Another stated our students are absolutely incredible and truly inspirational and we couldn’t agree more!
