Year 10 pupils from St Cuthbert’s have begun the first of a series of work experience visits designed to give them valuable insight into future careers. The first event took place at the Vermont Hotel, where pupils attended an Allied Health Professions careers insight session organised by NE1 CAN.
The event brought together a range of healthcare professionals who shared their experiences and explained the many career pathways available within the NHS and wider healthcare sector. Pupils heard directly from professionals working in areas such as physiotherapy, radiography, occupational therapy and other allied health roles, gaining a clearer understanding of the different ways they could contribute to improving people’s health and wellbeing.
For many pupils, the session was both eye-opening and inspiring.
“I didn’t realise there were so many different jobs in healthcare,” said one Year 10 pupil. “It was really interesting hearing from people who work in these roles every day and learning about how they got there.”
Another pupil reflected on how the visit helped them think about their own future:
“I’ve always thought about working in healthcare, but this showed me there are lots of different routes into helping people. It’s made me want to look into these careers more.”
The visit also reflects the strong tradition at St Cuthbert’s of pupils going on to successful careers in medicine and healthcare. Over many years, the school has proudly seen former Sixth Form students become doctors, nurses, paramedics, therapists and other health professionals, making an important contribution to their communities.
Mrs Garay, Progression Coach at St Cuthbert’s, highlighted the importance of opportunities like this for helping pupils make informed decisions about their futures.
“Experiences such as this are invaluable for our pupils. They allow young people to meet professionals, ask questions and gain a real understanding of what different careers involve. St Cuthbert’s has a long history of pupils progressing into medicine and healthcare, and events like this help inspire the next generation to follow those pathways.”
She added:
“We are very grateful to NE1 CAN and the professionals who gave up their time to speak to our pupils. It was a fantastic opportunity and a brilliant start to our Year 10 work experience programme.”
The visit marks the first of many career-focused experiences planned for Year 10 pupils this year. Through these visits, the school aims to ensure that every pupil has the chance to explore different industries, develop their aspirations and begin thinking about the steps they might take after school.
St Cuthbert’s looks forward to continuing its partnership with organisations across the region to provide meaningful opportunities that help pupils develop competence, conscience, compassion and commitment as they consider their future careers.
