School Careers Day: A springboard to promising futures

Hoping for dry weather, Erskine Waterfront Campus was spoilt with glorious sunshine as they hosted their first outdoor Careers Fair this week! Open also to local mainstream and independent schools the day focussed on positive post school destinations for pupils in both work and further education. Fifteen local businesses and agencies exhibited at the event including Skills Development Scotland, Police Scotland and Invest in Renfrewshire, to name a few.

Now in its fourth year, the school, based in Renfrewshire, has a roll of 23 children and young people aged from 8 – 16 years with Complex Additional Support Needs. Pupils from across Scotland attend both on a day & residential basis.

A BBC Children in Need grant has provided Erskine Waterfront Campus a year’s project funding to improve the future prospects and pathways to employability for children and young people (C&YP).

The enhanced Education & Employability programme focusses on ‘reimbursing’ pupils for disrupted learning experiences during school closures as a result of Covid19. The project targets the developing & improving of 21st Century Skills, such as critical thinking, collaboration, communication and leadership. Wednesday’s successful event in particular brought pupils together to learn about pathways to higher education and employment.

The Careers Day began as an idea to help widen the pupils’ career choices and knowledge of the world of work. However as the number of participating businesses and agencies increased, so did the prospect of inviting other schools and CrossReach services along. 

On the day, Erskine Waterfront Campus was pleased to welcome pupils from local schools Park Mains High School and Trinity High School as well as young people from our Springburn service Go2 (a day care service supporting young people with disabilities). Local nursery Little Pandas came along too and the children had a great time.

What the young people had to say:
“I liked the police van the best because you got to see what’s inside the van, and the police are actually all right when you get to know them.”
 

“I got different ideas for what I can do as my job.”

“I loved putting on the equipment with the fire guys, I didn’t realise how heavy it was. It was really cool pretending like I was a hero for the day.”

The school aims to develop existing and new positive relationships further, with the goal of securing work experience placements, visits and volunteering opportunities in the months to come.

 “At our first careers day I have been so impressed with the interest in the community and the willingness to spark ideas and make connections. I hope that this will become a staple in the school calendar for years to come.” Kyle Fleming, Head of Education

The Education & Employability Programme is one of a number of initiatives the school is undertaking in its commitment to the Independent Care Review’s findings: The Promise by focussing on raising attainment and demonstrating that looked after children have a place in the workforce alongside their wider peer group.

Erskine Waterfront Campus

Children's houses