Callington Community College hosts annual Careers Fair

Inside the Callington Careers Fair That Opened Year 9 Eyes

A Year 9 student walked into her school hall last week expecting the usual. She walked out knowing exactly which universities could help her become an architect.

Callington Community College hosted its annual Careers Fair last week, bringing together Further and Higher Education providers alongside local employers to give students in Years 7 to 9 a closer look at what comes after school.

A wide spread of employers and providers

The line-up reflected the range of pathways now open to young people in Cornwall and beyond. Babcock, the NHS and Plymouth Argyle Football Club were among those in attendance, alongside Cornwall Bakery, Princess Yachts and RAF St Mawgan.

Representatives spoke to students about university courses, apprenticeships, vocational routes and local employment opportunities, covering options inside Cornwall and further afield.

Students asking the right questions

Staff reported that students engaged confidently with visitors, putting forward thoughtful questions and considering how their own interests might shape their next steps.

Rosen, a Year 9 student, said: “I didn’t know there were this many opportunities and that they were so near me.”

Charlie, also in Year 9, said the event had helped him think about his future. “The Careers Fair helped me understand what I want to do in the future and gave me the chance to ask any questions I wanted.”

For Beth, another Year 9 student, the conversations with universities were the standout moment. “I want to be an architect and it was great to talk to Plymouth and Falmouth Universities about what courses would help me to achieve my goal.”

Praise from visiting employers

Katie Williams-Connell, Business Service and Compliance Manager at Cornwall-based independent training provider Step Into Learning, said the day had been well run.

“We were very impressed with the organisation and delivery of the Careers Fair. The event was well structured, well supported by College staff, and provided meaningful engagement with learners. The students were polite, engaged, and a real credit to the College. We would be very happy to take part in future events and would highly recommend the experience to other employers,” Katie said.

Wendy Ainsworth, Principal at Callington Community College, thanked the visiting organisations for giving up their time.

“We are incredibly proud of how our students represented the College and grateful to all the organisations who gave their time to support and inspire the next generation. Events like this play a vital role in helping our young people make informed choices about their futures and feel confident about the pathways ahead,” Wendy said.

The College has indicated it intends to run the event again next year.