Year 10 progression conference
Each year the whole of year 10 is invited to a progression conference at Christ the King college which aims to expose them to all the routes available to them after they have taken their GCSEs.
This year's conference, which took place last week, gave them the opportunity to listen to a panel of professionals whose careers had started in different ways and had taken different paths.Some had gone the academic route of A-levels, degree, job, whereas others had taken a vocational path. Still others had opted out of study early, but gone back to it later.
The students also heard from speakers from higher and further education institutions, to give them the pros and cons of each route.
'The day helped me understand how college works and what courses I might want to follow,' says Sanica.
Marie agrees: 'They gave me a lot of advice I didn't know, such as the content of A-level courses, and what I need to do now to get where I want to be. It has made me realise that I am responsible for my own progress, and I'd better get my head down!'