What might the future hold? That was the question year 7 students explored during their next steps day on Wednesday 4 November, as they discovered new careers, tried different activities and began thinking about their own interests and ambitions.
The day brought together local organisations, industry professionals and Walton staff to give students a taste of the opportunities available to them, both now and in the future.
Exploring careers and opportunities
Lincolnshire Police gave students a fascinating insight into the world of cyber crime. They learnt about the work of the Police Cyber Crime Unit, including how officers investigate hacking and phishing, and discovered just how valuable our personal information can be to criminals. The sessions also offered practical advice on keeping safe online.
There was plenty of activity on the tennis courts as Grantham Tennis Club introduced students to the different careers and opportunities available in sport. Alongside developing their tennis skills, students learnt about local opportunities to get involved and the benefits of staying active for their health and wellbeing.
Discover Engineering took students into the world of engineering through the interactive Enspire City platform. From vertical farming to the possibilities of space travel, students explored how engineers are finding creative solutions to real-world challenges. They also discovered more about local employers and the different routes into engineering careers.
Meanwhile, our modern foreign languages department showed students just how useful learning another language can be. Through their language league quest, students took on imaginative challenges, from working as international diplomats to helping travellers as multilingual flight attendants, discovering how French and Spanish could open doors in the future.
Thinking about what comes next
Students also spent time thinking about their own strengths, interests and ambitions through a series of future thinking activities.
From answering questions during a game of Jenga to creating future focus posters and discovering more than 50 different jobs through Panjango Trumps, there were plenty of opportunities to explore careers they may never have considered before.
Next steps day is an important part of careers education at Walton Academy. While Year 7 students have plenty of time before making decisions about their futures, introducing them to different possibilities now helps build confidence, spark interests and raise aspirations.
A big thank you to Lincolnshire Police, Grantham Tennis Club, Discover Engineering and our Walton staff for making the day such a valuable experience for our students.
