Whilst younger pupils were taking part in Enrichment Week 2018, our (new) Year 11 year group embraced the challenge and opportunity of their Work Experience Week with anticipation and excitement. 

Through the heat and sunshine of the week commencing 2 July 2018, pupils donned the appropriate wear of their chosen professions. From a variety of early years’ settings, car garages, hairdressers, ICT and marketing companies, garden centres, photography studios, watersports centres, cafes and shops (to name but a few), our oldest year group were ‘let loose’ on Cirencester, the surrounding area, Manchester, Birmingham and London. Whilst some pupils were challenged, they all adapted to their new environments, thought on their feet and improvised to synthesise the new information and overcome the challenges facing them.

The members of staff who had the pleasure of spending their week visiting our young people (Mrs Burfoot, Mr Johnson, Mrs McPherson, Mrs Gordon, Mrs Davies, Dr Tipping, Mrs Lloyd and Mrs Dobson), were overwhelmed by the positivity and professionalism our pupils impressed upon their employers. Many companies commented on how pleased they were with our pupils and, in many cases, how they were the best they had ever had on work experience.

We would like to take this opportunity to offer our thanks and appreciation to the employers and companies that accommodated our pupils during Work Experience Week. Our pupils had such a rewarding and exciting experience because of the commitment of those people that spent their time with them.

“It was impressive to see our pupils engaged in a wide range of work placements. Pupils worked successfully in places as diverse as business parks in Swindon to home run businesses making artisanal chocolate in Stroud. It was clear that they and the host employers were learning much from the experience. The pupils did themselves and the school proud!” Assistant Head, James Johnson