Work Experience Convention encourages Sixth Formers to share career ideas and inspiration

In a Work Experience Convention led by students in Year 13, plenty of inspiring ideas for work experience options were shared, providing much food for thought for students in Year 12 as they plan their upcoming placements.

At The Sixth, all Year 12 students undertake at least one work placement to gain valuable skills and to inform decision-making about future university and career choices.

During the Convention, Year 13 students shared their experiences, which spanned a huge range of possibilities, from volunteering for charities and museums, to performing in a musical production, working in a veterinary practice, getting hands-on in laboratories, and working with local businesses. Not only did Year 12 benefit from hearing this advice, Year 13 students found it helped them in building their presentation skills.

All presentations were interesting, with students providing a rich variety of subjects and career possibilities. Highlights included performing on stage in a production of Hairspray, volunteering with Oxfam and working at the Musuem of Zoology in Cambridge.

Kate Mead, Head of Careers at St Mary's comments: "Work experience is a pivotal aspect of our Sixth Form careers programme. The students enjoy gaining new experiences and employers often comment on the impressive focus and 'can-do' attitude of our students. In the past, students have even gained open invitations to return, offers of work, or made long-lasting contributions to products or services."

At The Sixth, we are fortunate that our Cambridge location allows us to forge connections with many employers, across the East, as well as in London. We offer placements in dynamic small businesses through to world-leading organisations. Examples of past placement employers include Mott MacDonald, the Babraham Institute, Purcell Architects, Cheffins Fine Art, SOS Children's Villages,  Microsoft Research, the University of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin University.

More about our Careers Programme