Fifteen excited Year 9 pupils visited the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) this week for an inspiring Creative Careers Day, giving them a real taste of what future pathways in the creative industries could look like.

The day began with a panel of industry professionals who shared their journeys, experiences and advice. Students were fascinated to hear from Aimee Broughton, who works for Chorley and South Ribble Council, about the range of creative roles involved in local government and community projects. They were equally captivated by Sarah-Ann Kennedy, best known as the voice of Miss Rabbit from Peppa Pig and Nanny Plum in Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom. Her stories about her career journey including animation and television production were a definite highlight. Rounding off the panel was Tony Rigg, a respected Music Industry and Cultural & Creative Industries Advisor, who spoke about the ever-evolving world of music, events and entertainment.

Following the panel, students took part in a set of creative carousel workshops, each led by talented students from Newman College, Preston. These hands-on sessions gave pupils the chance to try out a range of skills across the creative field, including:

• Photography – experimenting with camera angles and composition
• Sound Engineering – learning how to record, mix and balance audio
• Lighting – exploring how lighting affects mood, staging and production
• Journalism – developing headlines and crafting engaging stories
• Graphics – designing visuals for advertisement

The activities allowed our students to step into different professional roles, collaborate with others and discover new strengths and interests.

The day was an invaluable opportunity for our students to explore the wide variety of careers within the creative sector and to see how their passions can become future professions. We are incredibly proud of how confidently they represented the school and the enthusiasm they brought to every session.

A huge thank you to UCLan, Newman College and the visiting professionals for such an inspiring experience!

Mrs Cattanach

Associate Assistant Headteacher

On Wednesday 9th October 2024, Penwortham Girls’ hosted a careers fair involving 38 employers, training providers, and colleges, aimed at raising students’ aspirations. The event attracted over 250 students from Years 9-11, offering valuable insights into various industries, local labour market information (LMI), and the wide range of apprenticeships available.Students are often influenced by the role models and experiences they are exposed to, and for those with limited guidance, their understanding of career options and industries can be limited. This event was designed to address this gap, helping students explore career opportunities they may not have previously considered. As part of our career’s strategy, we focused on meeting the Gatsby Benchmark 3—addressing the individual needs of students—and Benchmark 2, which addresses knowledge of LMI. The event successfully aligned with these goals, as reflected in the excellent feedback we received from employers, students, and parents on social media and LinkedIn. Looking ahead, we plan to expand the event next year. This year we will look at incorporating workplace visits, work experience placements, and projects linking curriculum to careers. These efforts will cater to different student cohorts and further support their career development. 

J Ramsdale (Careers Leader) & S Gul (Careers Adviser) 

We’re delighted to be able to celebrate the success of Lauren I in Year 11, who has attended Preston’s College one afternoon a week to study Hair and Beauty for the last two years and was recently given two awards in recognition of her achievement.  Lauren has also secured an apprenticeship with a local hairdressers and we’re sure she has a great career ahead of her.

Here’s what was said about Lauren at the Awards Ceremony last week:

The Innovation Award has been given to an individual who has excelled throughout their 2 years at college.  They give great thought to their work and put forward their own ideas with confidence and enthusiasm. It is worth noting that they also worked well during lockdown and independently produced a hair design booklet in one afternoon, sending it to the tutor at 7pm that evening. Lauren I

The Overall Award for Hair.  This award has been given to a learner who over the 2 years of being at college has been consistent in her approach to her work.  She has worked independently but also works well as part of a team. She has shown maturity and professionalism and has blossomed into an exceptional young lady. We wish her well on her chosen career path after recently securing an apprenticeship with Carmen Smith who owns Images in Penwortham and lectures at Preston College. Lauren I

Preston’s College