EDUCATION
Convention – More than 45 businesses and organisations supported Teesside High School ’ s annual careers event .
CAREERS CONVENTION
Leading businesses support Teesside High School annual event
Teesside High School opened its doors to more than 45 of the region ’ s leading local businesses and training providers in January as the school hosted its annual Careers Convention .
Current pupils and their families , as well as students at schools in the local community , were invited to learn more about the wealth of educational and professional opportunities available in Teesside .
The Careers Convention , now in its 18th year , welcomed admissions advisers from leading universities as well as business representatives from a range of sectors including medicine , financial services , law , media , sport , engineering and the armed forces .
It also had support of organisations such as Baines Jewitt Chartered Accountants , Punch Robson Solicitors , High Tide Foundation , Teesside International Airport , James Cook University Hospital and more .
Kirsty Mackenzie , head at Teesside High School , said : “ It was wonderful to see so many leading local organisations visit school to speak to our families .
“ This long-running event is the perfect opportunity to shout about the incredible opportunities available to young people here on our doorstep .
“ For our pupils , to have the chance to network and gather contacts , secure work experience placements or receive advice and guidance on their personal statements , we recognise the significant effect this could have on their futures .
“ Further , we are keen to show local businesses our commitment to bridging the skills gap and helping to solve future recruitment challenges – by ensuring our young people leave Teesside High School with not only good qualifications , but the skills and attributes required to really set themselves apart and succeed in the world of work .
“ Our curriculum delivery is built with this in mind – we are proud to engage all of our pupils from year one upwards in the innovative ‘ Thinking Curriculum ’ – something which helps students go beyond the boundaries of subject knowledge and exclusively develops their critical thinking .”
The Thinking Curriculum is unique to Teesside High School and is built to develop independence and thinking skills .
Each fortnight , students access a onehour Thinking Curriculum lesson , where they are encouraged to tackle problems creatively , using logical reasoning and analytical skills .
Pupils then apply these developed skills across the broader curriculum .
Kirsty continued : “ The Thinking Curriculum is about developing our students ’ teamwork and leadership skills so that they can contribute towards their learning , contribute to their peers ’ learning but also when they leave school , contribute to a global workforce that is rapidly changing .
“ We aim to empower our students to become critical thinkers , problem solvers and lifelong learners – qualities we believe will enable them to become the business leaders and Careers Convention attendees of tomorrow .”
Rebecca Spellman , trainee solicitor at Punch Robson , said : “ It was a fantastic experience attending the THS Careers Convention . The event was structured and organised perfectly .
“ We were extremely impressed with the students ’ communication and enthusiasm and it was really rewarding to be able to answer the questions that may assist them in choosing their career going forward .”
The next Careers Convention is scheduled to take place in January 2025 , and the school is keen to hear from any business leaders interested in coming along via info @ teessidehigh . co . uk
To find out more about Teesside High School , visit teessidehigh . co . uk
The voice of business in the Tees region | 109