Year 13 Apprenticeship Academy – Presdales School
June 5, 2025
The Year 13 Apprenticeship Academy was launched to support Year 13 students in exploring and securing apprenticeships. The key objectives were to:
- Increase awareness and understanding of apprenticeships.
- Equip students with the knowledge and skills to find, apply for, and succeed in securing an apprenticeship.
- Provide structured, practical support through workshops, digital resources, and 1:1 guidance.
To ensure parents were fully informed, we hosted a dedicated presentation evening.
Session 1: Is an Apprenticeship Right for Me?
- Their career interests and preferred learning styles.
- Key differences between university and apprenticeships.
Session 2: Researching and Finding Apprenticeships
- Key platforms.
- Shortlisting opportunities based on personal goals and values.
Session 3: Applying for Apprenticeships
- The typical application process, including online forms, assessments, and interviews.
- The importance of covering letters, CVs and demonstrating motivation.
- Avoiding common mistakes and standing out in competitive fields.
Session 4: Interview & Assessment Centre Preparation
- Reviewing common skills sought by apprenticeship employers.
- Reflecting on their own experiences – both academic and extracurricular – that demonstrated these skills and creating a bank of examples to draw from in interviews.
- Students were introduced to the STAR model, a proven framework for answering competency-based interview questions.
- Students engaged in team-based tasks, presentations, and problem-solving exercises.
- Individual feedback was provided to each student.