Thornton College is committed to providing careers events that give business leaders the opportunity to engage with schools and inspire the next generation.
One such upcoming event is a STEM Event on the afternoon of February 4. Thornton places huge importance on community outreach and invites both local schools and businesses to get involved.
Next year, over 100 students from visiting secondary schools will join Thornton students to find out more about a wide range of STEM careers. This event is one of the highlights of Thornton’s award-winning careers programme.
Jo Scott, Careers Leader is proud of the network of contacts who support the school. She said:
“We consider ourselves so lucky that we have so many gold standard companies who partner with us for events.”
Organisations who have signed up to take part in February include KPMG, Sir Robert McAlpine, BP, NetworkRail, NiftyLift, Morgan Sindall, Hollis, Tunnel Skills, Army, Grant Thornton, Savills, Tesla and many more. Each company will host a stand with information about the wide-ranging roles they offer and the different pathways available. Many are keen promote the apprenticeship route and with university tuition fees due to increase in 2025, this will be of interest to many of the students.
Volkswagen is one of the 25 companies joining Thornton in February and Jo is delighted that the company’s Inspire Team will provide a workshop in the morning for younger students. They are also going to bring three state-of-the-art vehicles, which will be located in the school playground for students to explore over lunchtime.
Jo said:
“It is this sort of amazing support that inspires students at an early age to want to find out more about STEM jobs, and any companies or schools that would like to take part in this event are very welcome.”
The breadth of Thornton’s careers programme includes fortnightly Spotlight Careers Talks, delivered remotely to all students from Years 9 to 13. The purpose of these is to showcase a range of different sectors and roles that students may not be familiar with. Recent talks have included Furniture Design, Civil Service, Actuarial Science, Physiotherapy, Animal Sciences and Speech Therapy and other local schools are invited to dial in to the talks should they wish to. Careers trips organised this term have included Law Fest, Aiimi, Nifty Lift, MK Magistrates Court and a fantastic afternoon creating a film pit chat Sky TV and Film Studios. Sixth Form students have also enjoyed a Networking Dinner to start building those all-important employability skills, and visits from NHS teams.
In October, Thornton hosted the first ever MK Schools Lit Fest. Hundreds of students from various infant, primary and secondary schools visited Thornton to meet amazing authors Adam Connors, Bex Hogan, Imogen Robertson and Lizzie Waterworth.
Schools visiting included Thornborough Infant, Swallowfield Primary, St Gregory’s Catholic School, St Monica’s Catholic School, St Paul’s Secondary School and Oakgrove Secondary. It was a great opportunity for local schools to come together, celebrate creative work and be inspired by literature.
Reflecting on the day, Bex Hogan said:
“What an engaged and enthusiastic group of kids that were a delight to talk with. I think it is wonderful to bring in and include so many children from the area of MK who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to hear an author. An incredible experience!”
Following his workshop, author Adam Connors said:
“The MK Schools Lit Fest was a beautiful event at a beautiful school with incredibly engaging and intelligent students”.
Imogen Robertson said:
“I am delighted to meet all the students and excited to be part of such a fun day.”
Following each workshop, students enjoyed meeting the authors, asking lots of questions and, of course, getting books and bookmarks signed. Dr Louise Shaw, Head Teacher at Thornton College, said:
“Wow, what an incredible day. It has been a genuine joy to welcome students and teachers from other schools to Thornton. Having met all the authors at lunchtime and listened to students who have attended workshops I am in no doubt that today will have inspired future writers, editors and authors!”.
After such positive feedback, a date has been fixed for the 2025 MK Schools Lit Fest on Tuesday October 7. Schools who attended this year are keen to bring even more students, and Thornton would welcome pupils from other schools should any wish to join.
For more information about any events at Thornton College email Jo Scott at jscott@thorntoncollege.com or visit www.thorntoncollege.com for more on the school itself.
