Year 9s attend careers fair at Pleasure Beach

Schools careers event at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Karen Gordon from Blackpool and the Fylde College talks to pupils from Baines Endowed Primary School.

Schoolchildren from across the Fylde coast enjoyed a trip to Blackpool Pleasure Beach '“ but they didn't brave the Big One, get soaked on Valhalla, or win a massive teddy at the coconut shy.

Instead, they talked about pursuing careers in the Armed Forces or the NHS, chatted about the benefits of studying for an apprenticeship, and found out more about college courses at the Casino Building.

Some 1,500 Year 9 pupils from every secondary school in the area were expected to attend the two-day convention, which finished yesterday.

The event, held by the Blackpool Guidance Community Network, was aimed at planning for the youngsters’ futures, raising their aspirations, and helping them map their career paths.

A spokesman for the network told The Gazette: “The core aims are to ensure our young people understand the link between success in school and future careers, and the importance of developing key employability skills valued by employers and educational institutions alike.

“It provided guidance on potential employment sectors and their related careers, and promoted the importance of personal skills and attributes, alongside formal qualifications, in an increasingly competitive job market.”

The convention was divided into different zones, each representing a different sector of learning and employment.

The zones included activities designed to get the pupils talking, with each group of students spending around 30 minutes in each sector to learn about all their options.