As part of the ‘Raising Aspirations’ programme and to celebrate National Careers Week, the Staffordshire University bus visited The Friary School last week. Year 11 and Year 12 students had the chance to experience a virtual campus tour using VR headsets and learn about student finance, university social life, budgeting and the importance of transferable skills.
Furthermore, the second floor of the ‘GreatMindsBus’ is decorated in the style of student accommodation, so pupils were able to see what living at university is really like.
Alice Kirk, a Y12 student, said: “Going on board the careers bus was an educational experience for everybody involved and a great opportunity to gain more knowledge about university life. The student ambassadors were helpful and really friendly and gave us lots of useful advice. One of the highlights was the chance to use the virtual reality headsets which offered an insight into facilities such as science labs and mock law courts. I really enjoyed the interactive sessions and there were lots of opportunities to ask questions. Overall, it was a great conclusion to National Careers Week.”
Carrie Cain, Assistant Headteacher, added: “Since September we have had a real drive on tying education in school to post-school life, whether that be in the world of work or Further Education. We believe that our teaching cannot be viewed in isolation, but rather we have a responsibility to make sure Friary students are well-prepared to take the next steps. Many parents will be well ware of our Raising Aspirations programme and National Careers Week has been another big part of that.”
