Teacher Externships

Our Teacher Externship Programme ran for its third year this summer providing our teachers with yet another opportunity to get out into industry to explore recent changes and to further deepen our understanding of the subjects we teach. We have returned with a wealth of information regarding technical expertise, careers advice, new technologies, new project-based learning ideas and a wealth of work experience opportunities for our students.

Examples include our A Level Media Studies teachers who worked with the creators and owners of the Northern Insight Magazine to experience the level of time, work and creativity that goes into the creation of their beautiful magazine. They have kindly agreed to help us run a competition next year by which our students will write and design an article with the winner being published in the Northern Insight magazine; a phenomenal opportunity.

Our Health & Social Care and Medical Science teachers visited Spire Hospital in Washington where they met with Director, Andrew Johnson, to learn about his career path, the organisation of this private hospital and the facilities available. We look forward to inviting Andrew and his team into our Sixth Form to meet our students and share their experience and expertise.

Our Economics and Business teachers worked with wealth management consultants at Raymond James in Newcastle gaining a wonderful insight into a complex element of their specifications. They have inspired us to create a new range of student projects and fictional client mandates which will bring the topic to life. As a result, we have revisited the value of networking skills within this field and, as such, we intend to set up an in-house networking event to push our students to evolve their communication and entrepreneurial skills.

The Computing and IT department have undertaken two externships this year; one was with Broadway Travel, a national travel company who shared an insight as to how they utilise technology and data analysis to provide the best service to their clients. The second externship was with Unipres, a global automotive manufacturer who produce high strength steel parts for organisations including Nissan. Both externships have encouraged our students to consider a wider range of career paths in IT services and to understand the wide range of additional people skills and creativity required alongside technical digital skills.

Our Physics teachers visited Kromek, a technology company who specialise in radiation detection solutions. They worked with Innovation Director, Ben Cantwell, who shared his career path from Durham University to leading a global firm. They toured the premises and gained a real world perspective as to how their subject can empower innovation and employment within the North East.

Other externship providers this year include Richard Reed Solicitors, Newcastle Crown and Magistrates Courts, Northumbria University, North East Counselling and Therapy and Biffa Polymers.

We are grateful to all of the employers who have taken the time to work with us because they understand just how important it is that young people forge these connections, gain first-hand experience within specific industries and hone their skills ready to carve out their future career.