Year 10 pupils visit St Andrews University for a four day residential

Year 10 pupils from Sedgefield Community College recently joined students from across Laidlaw Schools Trust on a four-day residential visit to the University of St Andrews as part of the Trust's Futures Programme.

The programme, delivered in partnership with the London Academy of Excellence (LAE), is designed to help young people explore future education and career pathways while developing the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to achieve their ambitions.

Laidlaw Schools Trust works in partnership with the London Academy of Excellence because of a shared commitment to delivering high-quality opportunities that extend learning beyond the classroom. The Futures Programme brings together the strengths of both organisations to give pupils access to university experiences, expert-led sessions and practical guidance as they begin to consider their future education and career choices.

Over the course of the academic year, pupils have participated in a series of online careers sessions featuring professionals from sectors including Computing, Finance, Law, Engineering, Medicine and the Public Sector.

The residential visit provided an opportunity to build on this learning through a range of academic and personal development activities. Pupils toured the university campus, participated in subject taster sessions and attended workshops focused on higher education, graduate careers and the university application process.

The experience also enabled pupils to hear directly from current university students, helping them gain a realistic understanding of university life and the opportunities that higher education can provide.

"At Sedgefield Community College, we encourage our pupils to explore the opportunities available to them and consider the many routes they can take after school. The Futures Programme has given them valuable insight into higher education while allowing them to experience university life in a really meaningful way."

- Mr McGeary, Careers Lead at Sedgefield Community College

Through opportunities such as the Futures Programme, Sedgefield Community College continues to support pupils in developing ambitious aspirations and preparing for successful futures.