From 3rd – 6th March 2025, Swanlea School proudly hosted Aspire Week, a transformative series of workshops and events designed to equip our students with the skills and confidence they need to succeed in their future careers.
This year’s programme, in partnership with The Switch, featured engaging sessions tailored to each year group, ensuring that students gained invaluable insights into the world of work, financial literacy, and career pathways.
Our Year 9 students had the privilege of participating in the Skills for Success workshop, where they developed key soft skills essential for thriving in the workplace. Thanks to the expertise of The Switch, students explored:
✅ Effective communication techniques
✅ Interview skills to make a strong impression
✅ Problem-solving strategies used by professionals
With business experts joining remotely via video call, students received real-world insights into how these skills are applied in professional settings. These experiences are crucial in preparing our young learners for their future careers, instilling confidence and knowledge to navigate the working world.
A huge thank you to The Switch for their time and expertise in delivering such a valuable session!
Financial literacy is an essential life skill, and our Year 7 students took part in an exciting and interactive Money Matters workshop to help them build a strong foundation in money management.
Through engaging activities, students learned about:
📊 Budgeting effectively to manage finances wisely
💳 Understanding financial concepts like credit, debit, and mortgages
🎮 Interactive games and exercises that made financial education fun!
By equipping our students with these essential skills early on, we are empowering them to make responsible financial decisions in the future.
Making informed choices about the future can be daunting, but our Year 8 students received expert guidance in the Options & Careers Workshop to help them navigate their next steps.
The session covered:
📚 Choosing the right GCSE subjects based on interests and career goals
🔍 Exploring different career pathways and industries
🎓 Understanding post-16 education options such as A-levels, T-levels, and apprenticeships
By introducing career planning at this stage, students gain a clearer vision of their aspirations, ensuring they are well-prepared for the choices ahead. A massive thank you to The Switch for their support and expertise in shaping the future of our students!
Aspire Week Careers Fair – A Game-Changer!
Aspire Week concluded with an electrifying Careers Fair, where 30+ leading organisations connected with over 400 ambitious students. From industry experts to hands-on learning opportunities, students explored a vast range of career options and took bold steps toward their futures.
The energy in the room was inspiring, as students engaged with professionals, discovered new career paths, and gained valuable advice on achieving their goals. Events like these ignite ambition and help shape the next generation of leaders, innovators, and changemakers.
A huge thank you to all the organisations that participated—you are helping to inspire and guide the future workforce!
Aspire Week 2025 was a phenomenal success, reinforcing Swanlea School’s commitment to preparing students for life beyond education. By engaging with industry professionals and tackling real-world skills, our students are now better equipped to face the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
We look forward to continuing this journey of inspiration, learning, and ambition—see you at Aspire Week 2026! 🚀
