This week, a cohort of ambitious students from Years 9, 10, and 11 traded their desks for the high-tech environment of BAE Systems. The visit was designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and the world of work, providing a first-hand look at the incredible career opportunities within the UK’s aerospace and defence sector.
A Morning of Discovery
The first half of the day focused entirely on exploration and opportunity. For many of our younger students in Years 9 and 10, this was an eye-opening introduction to the vast landscape of modern engineering.
The "Market Stall" room was a hive of activity, featuring dedicated stands for every apprenticeship scheme BAE offers. Students were encouraged to ask questions and speak directly with current apprentices. Whether their interests lie in software development, mechanical engineering, or business logistics, the morning proved that there is a pathway for every talent. This was further brought to life during the hangar overview, where students saw the sheer scale of the projects they could one day be working on.
Vital Support for Year 11 Transitions
While the morning was about broadening horizons, the afternoon shifted focus to provide essential, practical support for our Year 11 students.
As they stand on the cusp of completing their GCSEs, BAE hosted a dedicated Application & Interview Workshop. Students were given expert tips and advice on how to navigate the competitive recruitment process. A key focus was the STAR technique, a structured method used to answer "competency-based" questions by breaking down examples into:
- Situation: Setting the scene.
- Task: Describing what needed to be done.
- Action: Explaining the specific steps they took.
- Result: Highlighting the positive outcome.
By mastering this technique, our Year 11s now have a powerful tool to help their skills and experiences shine during interviews and on application forms.
Perspectives on the Day
Paula Askew, Careers Adviser, commented:
"Providing our students with direct access to industry leaders like BAE Systems is a vital part of our careers programme. Seeing the students engage so confidently with the apprenticeship teams was fantastic. It’s about showing them that these high-level careers are well within their reach if they have the right tools and information."
A Year 11 Student added:
"I now know what I want to do when I leave school, it's been really useful. I've written down lots of notes from the employability session that will help me with the application process.”
Looking Forward
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the team at BAE Systems for providing such a high-quality and welcoming experience. Visits like these are essential in helping our students connect their current academic studies with tangible, high-value career paths. We look forward to seeing our students put their new skills into practice as they begin their own application journeys.