How Rye College's Career Week Ignites Student Ambitions with Real-World Experiences

Students at Rye College, part of Aquinas CE Education Trust, gained first-hand insight into the world of work during a week of activities celebrating National Careers Week.

Employers, alumni, and staff came together to deliver assemblies, careers lessons, and a careers fair designed to help students explore future pathways.

Throughout the week, students also took part in:

• Mentor sessions
• Skills Passport activities where they reflected on and recorded skills such as teamwork, communication, and leadership
• Interactive tasks that helped them identify their strengths and consider the opportunities available to them

Careers learning was also embedded across the curriculum, with teachers highlighting the real-world applications of their subjects and the career pathways linked to them. A whole-school staff careers quiz highlighted the diverse professional backgrounds and experiences within the Rye team.

One of the highlights of the week was a visit from former student Ellie Hill, now a Cardiac Physiologist, who delivered science sessions using real medical equipment and spoke about her journey into a career in the NHS and STEM.

Two additional alumni also returned to share their experiences: Brad from Eastbourne Borough Football Club and Hobie from engineering company Hoare Lea, offering students relatable insights into different career pathways.

The school’s annual Key Stage 3 careers fair was another standout event, welcoming employers from sectors including healthcare, engineering, policing, higher education, and the arts. The event gave students the opportunity to speak directly with professionals and learn more about different industries and career pathways.

The week highlighted the strength of Rye College’s partnerships with employers, staff, and alumni, all working together to help young people build confidence, explore opportunities, and consider their future pathways. The activities also reflect the school’s commitment to nurturing students’ talents and ambitions while supporting its mission to deliver life-transforming learning and create bright futures for all.

Donna Starkey, Careers Lead at Rye College, said: “I’m incredibly proud of everything our students, staff, and employer partners achieved throughout National Careers Week. Our students approached every activity – from assemblies and mentor sessions to curriculum-based careers lessons and our careers fair – with real enthusiasm and maturity.

We’re grateful to all the employers who gave their time to inspire our young people, and to our staff who worked so hard to embed meaningful careers learning across the week. National Careers Week is truly a team effort, and I’m proud of the community we’ve built here at Rye.”

Dom Downes, Headteacher at Rye College, said: “National Careers Week gave our students a fantastic opportunity to hear directly from employers and former students about their career journeys and the many paths available to them. We’re incredibly grateful to the partners and alumni who gave their time to support the week and inspire our students to think about their futures.”