Many of our students come to us naturally unsure about post-16. Our students are not lacking in ambition but they are ambiguous about what really interests them – they have yet to find that destination on the horizon that they want to aim for.
Our Enrichment & Vocational curriculum really helps ‘wet the appetite’ for students by offering a real mix of creative subjects (Art, Ceramics, Graphics) alongside more practically-orientated subjects (Outdoor Construction, 3D Printing, Bike Repair). Added to that we also have our sports programme that offers a wide range of activities from football to BMX to martial arts.
One of our Year 11 Leavers from 2025 developed a real passion for Outdoor Construction at Highfields College – and over time established a strong ambition to train to be a builder / construction worker at post-16. This created a ‘motivation loop’ which led to them also working harder at their core subjects, recognising this was needed alongside bricklaying skills to get them to where they wanted to be. Their parents actively supported them along the way.
From there, the student went the extra mile and joined a Local Authority programme for aspiring apprentices that took place during the summer, after they had finished their exams.
It is brilliant to see them in this video fulfilling their ambitions: https://video.stockport.gov.uk/secret/122627021/131feabbcb53fef34c1b59730f9b2f61
