Apprenticeships Experience Day – Carre’s Grammar School

November 14, 2025

Carre’s Grammar School, part of The Sleaford Joint Sixth Form, organised its annual Visits Day recently, providing Year 12 students with a crucial, timely deep dive into the world of apprenticeships. The curriculum day is strategically timed toward the end of the academic year, when students are actively considering their post-school options, ensuring they view apprenticeships as a genuine and viable alternative to the traditional university route.

The event focused on equipping students with practical knowledge and dispelling common misconceptions. Key speakers from the National Apprenticeship Service detailed the current range of opportunities, including higher and degree apprenticeships, and clarified the application landscape. Students also benefited from the local insight of careers advisors, who offered tailored advice on regional employment trends and sought-after skills.

The most valuable component of the day was the direct engagement with current apprentices. By hearing first-hand accounts of the ‘earn while you learn’ model, students were able to better contextualise the reality of balancing work and study. This day is about more than just telling students about apprenticeships; it’s about giving them the tools for marketability. Students develop a clearer understanding of where to search for quality vacancies, the desirable soft skills employers value and how to effectively enhance their CVs to stand out in a competitive market.

Our goal is to ensure every student leaves Year 12 with a complete understanding of all their future pathways, and this day cements apprenticeships as a credible, debt-free launchpad for a successful career. The overwhelmingly positive feedback suggests the day has significantly broadened students’ horizons and confidence in exploring all available routes beyond school.

Quote:

“The day was really helpful in confirming my plans to access an apprenticeship in software development and I feel more confident with where to search for vacancies and the skills that they are likely to require as a result”. (Student)