Welcome to Woodkirk Academy

It's Green Careers Week!

6-11 November 2023 is Green Careers Week, providing students with an insight into careers that specifically protect the environment and will help the UK achieve its pledge of reaching Net Zero by 2050. Young people want to be involved in finding solutions to our environmental challenges, so it's vital that we provide opportunities to show them how they can play an active role within the world of work. Knowing how they can find careers that play a significant part in improving our environmental credentials should contribute towards restoring their confidence in a positive and sustainable future.

Please find attached a fantastic free guide for parents giving plenty of talking points about routes to green careers after GCSE or sixth form - click here to download.

The Parents Perspective Podcast special Green Careers edition can be found here.

Year 8 students visit Leeds Beckett University

Some of our Year 8 students have made their first visit to a university. They had the chance to experience and explore the facilities, accommodation and to see the career options on offer. 

Student feedback stated that they enjoyed seeing the technology, taking part in the activities, and asking the student ambassadors their questions relating to finances and university life. 

All Year 8 students will be given the opportunity to attend a university within Yorkshire over the next few months.

'Destinations Day' Annual Careers Fair

Destinations Day this year was attended by 60 different businesses, public sector services, and educational and apprenticeships providers.

This was an exciting and successful opportunity for pupils from all year groups to interact with a range of people from a broad spectrum of sectors. It provided students the chance to explore and learn more about the day-to-day aspects of working life in each of these areas and to be further inspired to pursue their own individual career passion.

We are pleased to say this event has increased careers knowledge for all students regardless of age, with the aim of challenging stereotypical behaviour to impact the future ‘world of work’.

Morley Chamber of Trade and Commerce

We have recently welcomed members from the Morley Chamber of Trade and Commerce into Woodkirk, to help conduct mock business interviews with our Year 11 students.

The Morley Chamber of Trade and Commerce offer support, education, and networking to our local business community in Morley and surrounding areas.

Linda Saint-partner, who organised the event said, ‘An amazing day at Woodkirk… we managed to conduct around 756 mock interviews.’

DM Communications who attended the event said, ‘I think we all benefited from such a great day. The calibre of students we saw are a credit to the school and the teachers who have inspired them on their journey. I for one enjoyed spending my time with these young students and hoped they took something of value with them. Also, a big thanks to you and your staff for your excellent hospitality’.

Students have celebrated the National Apprenticeship Week from Monday 5th to Friday 9th February 2024.

This themed week brings together businesses and apprentices across the country to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider community.

Students have watched apprenticeship presentations, films and stories, enjoyed quizzes and games, listened to guest speaker talks from industry experts, and taken part in a careers panel hosted by Ahead Partnership. 

The annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships, taking place across England, reflects on how apprenticeships can help individuals to develop the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career, and businesses to develop a talented workforce that is equipped with future-ready skills.

To find out more about National Apprenticeship Week, please visit: NAW2024

Daisy UK Tech celebrates NAW24 with Woodkirk students

As part of our National Apprenticeship Week 2024 celebrations, Kate Slater, Early Careers Manager and Charlie Cheeseman, Service Operations Manager visited Woodkirk Academy in Wakefield, to deliver an assembly to the year 8 students. This was based around who Daisy are, what we do and the various different career opportunities available. The assembly was really well received, and the students also heard from Charlie, who has recently passed his Infrastructure Technician apprenticeship with a Distinction grade!

Daisy Early Careers Initiatives

Sulzer celebrates NAW24 with Woodkirk students

Jay Fowler, Apprentice Supervisor said "This week, I had the pleasure of discussing Sulzer's apprenticeships with students at Woodkirk Academy during National Apprenticeships Week. The local school's commitment to providing career exposure opportunities ensures that students are well-informed as they step into the next chapter of their lives. Additionally, it's particularly rewarding to highlight that Sulzer has taken on several apprentices from Woodkirk Academy, emphasizing the importance of collaborating with local networks for collective growth and success".

Ahead Partnership hosts Year 9 Careers Panel

Ahead partnership and industry guests were invited to host a careers panel with our year 9 students during National Apprenticeship Week. Organisations like DLA Piper, University of Bradford, Sterling Capitol, BAM UK and Quest Consulting Services answered student questions about careers, apprenticeships, training, routes and other areas relating to the world of work.

This year, the National Careers Week (NCW) took place on Monday 4th to Friday 8th March 2024. 

This special week celebrates the careers guidance and resources available in education across the UK, with the aim of providing careers guidance activity to help support young people in schools. 

During the week, career resources were shared with students. Some of our Year 8’s have recently visited Leeds Beckett University and we will continue the momentum by taking the rest of the year group. Over the next month or so, the students will be visiting the University of Hull, University of Huddersfield, University of Bradford and/or Leeds Trinity University. 

For a parent’s guide to National Careers Week please click here.

To find out more about National Careers Week 2024, please visit: 

www.nationalcareersweek.com

To attend the NCW Virtual Fair, please visit: 

www.ncw2024.co.uk

Give Construction a Try

Some of our students took part in a wide range of hands-on construction activities as part of Give Construction a Try – giving them insight into the different career paths available within the sector.

Give Construction a Try, which was held at Castleford College, saw pupils enjoy interactive workshops across the day in bricklaying, building information modelling, carpentry & joinery, clay tiling, electrical, plumbing, roofing surveying and more. 

The event was formally opened by Lord-Lieutenant for West Yorkshire, Ed Anderson, who spoke about why it’s such an exciting time to be a part of the construction industries and the endless opportunities it offers.

To read more about this event, click here.

Former student Latham visits Woodkirk Academy

We were very excited to welcome back one of our previous Woodkirk Academy students into school to help us to celebrate Science Week. Latham is a current PHD student at the University of Sheffield studying Materials Science. He found time in his busy schedule to come and spend the afternoon with some of our chemistry and physic Sixth Form students.

His presentation covered sustainability and clean energy, nuclear fusion and radioactive materials, 3D printing plus new manufacturing and technology methods. The students found it interesting and informative, especially when they were told that materials science was the fastest growing industry in the engineering sector: with 1.6 jobs for every materials scientist available.

The students appreciated being able to handle the different materials and benefitted from Latham’s experience and knowledge when it came to the science experiments that also took place during this valuable STEM session.

Ahead Partnership said "The Growing Talent Morley Pocket Park Project was an incredible example of partnership work between the private and public sector which created a unique opportunity for young people to bring their creative ideas to life and represent themselves at #UKREiiF, the UK’s Real Estate and Investment Forum. Engaging young people in the regeneration of the places and spaces where they live and go to school provides an opportunity for their voice, the youth voice, to be heard and included".

We were delighted to support the project and hear firsthand from young people what they would like to see in their local area. 

Growing Talent Morley Pocket Park     #MorleyTownDeal      #SocialValue      #GrowingTalentMorley