A huge range of work experience placements were completed successfully by students aged 14 and 15 and many have been offered further training and employment opportunities.

Michael Thompson, Head of Careers at the Sir John Colfox Academy, said: “Thank you to all employers who gave our students such fantastic opportunies to explore the world of work and gain valuable experience in a wide range of areas.

“Employers praised our students' enthusiasm, willingness to learn, creativity, initiative, reliability, time keeping and much more – it made me very proud to read the overwhelmingly positive feedback, well done to all students!

“And thank you again to all the employers of Bridport and West Dorset who provided opportunities for our young people. We are very lucky to have a fantastically supportive community – it makes a big difference.”

Students reported a range of highlights following the week in March, including ‘taking blood samples from calves for TB testing’, ‘I enjoyed having the responsibility of looking after children and helping them with work’, ‘I enjoyed every single part of my work experience and I hope that when I am older I can go back and get a job working in the office’, ‘learning about wires and what each tool is and how to correctly use them’ and ‘I really enjoyed meeting new people and helping out’.

Gift vouchers were awarded to some of the students who achieved full marks from employers, but so many qualified that the winners had to be randomly selected! However, everyone’s achievements were recognised and celebrated at the special assembly!

The high quality of careers education at the Sir John Colfox Academy was recognised recently when it won the Dorset Careers Hub 2022/23 Mainstream Secondary Schools and Colleges Category. The hub congratulated the school’s careers service for attaining all eight of the Gatsby Benchmarks for Careers Education – a government framework for providing the best careers provision in education.