News

Harris City Academy Crystal Palace kindly hosted our annual Next Steps event. With the support from their staff and senior leadership team, as well as sixth form staff from around the federation and our whole careers team, the 2019 event was arguably the best ever.  We were proud to have received exceptionally positive feedback from all stakeholders.

More than 1,100 students had the opportunity to talk to universities, training providers and employers about future opportunities that may be available to them. The event started in the afternoon with Year 10 students from some of our academies attending early, before the official sixth form event. As Harris Crystal Palace hosted the event, all of their Year 10 and Year 11 students had the opportunity to enjoy networking with all of our volunteers. Our enthusiastic volunteers from businesses and universities helped make this event such a positive experience for our young people.  

Later, for the main Year 12 and 13 event, we were able to put on a wide range of talks delivered by our varied exhibitors. Students also had the opportunity to attend workshops of their choice which were delivered by universities and employers on a wide range of subjects including ‘Applying to Medicine’, ‘FM Conway Apprenticeships’ and ‘Opportunities in Investment Management’.

Harris Experience were also on hand to discuss the Harris Experienced Advanced programme with our students. This programme supports selected students through a wide enrichment programme to support their applications to competitive Russell Group universities.

We were very proud to read all of the positive feedback from our exhibitors.  Laura McMorran, from the University of Newcastle, summed up the evening with her comment:  ‘Thanks for having us at such a fantastic event.  We are very much looking forward to the next event and supporting you and your students further’.

Thank you to all of the volunteers, careers team, Harris Experience, staff, students and Harris Crystal Palace staff for making this event such a success.  We are looking forward to running other similar events for other academy hubs in the following academic year.