At Walsall College, we pride ourselves on our partnerships with local schools as well as institutions within Birmingham and the Black Country.
We recognise how important it is to connect with the future generation of professionals and academics, but are aware that not everyone knows what steps they need to take to succeed. That is why our School Liaison team are determined to provide teachers and careers advisors with the help and support they need to ensure they meet their Gatsby Benchmarks with our Services for Schools. We aim to inspire young people by providing them with unbiased information, advice, and guidance so they can have a solid foundation of knowledge about their post-16 options and future ambitions.
Our Services for Schools offer:
Careers Assemblies: Discover the experience of college life at Walsall College through our engaging presentations. From large assemblies to small classes, our informative discussions encompass a wide range of topics such as: Apprenticeships, T-Levels, Vocational Technical Qualifications, Higher Education, Enrichment opportunities, and much more.
Careers Fairs: Our team can attend your school careers fairs, parents’ evenings, and more, providing students and guardians with the opportunity to explore the range of courses and progression pathways available at Walsall College. We offer impartial advice and guidance, answer questions about college life, and help students make informed decisions about their future education and career options.
Apprenticeship Presentations: Introduce your students to the exciting opportunities available through apprenticeships with our engaging presentations. We provide clear information on how apprenticeships work, the application processes, employer expectations, and progression opportunities across a range of sectors.
Technical Education Awareness Sessions: We help students to discover the benefits of technical and vocational education pathways, including T Levels and VTQs. These sessions showcase the practical, industry-focused learning opportunities that are available to take and demonstrates how these pathways help to develop the skills, knowledge, and experience valued by employers.
Higher Education Progression Talks: Our talks explore the full range of post-18 opportunities through our Higher Education progression talks. We provide guidance on Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs), Higher National Certificates (HNCs), Higher National Diplomas (HNDs), Foundation Degrees, and Degree programmes, alongside information on student finance, university-level study, and progression opportunities available through Walsall College.
STEAM Fair: Inspire students through our interactive STEAM Fair, designed to showcase the exciting opportunities within Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. Through hands-on activities and demonstrations, students can explore future careers, develop problem-solving skills, and discover how classroom learning connects to real-world industries.
Media Workshops: Encourage creativity and digital skills through our engaging Media Workshops. Students can gain experience in areas such as photography, film, graphic design, content creation, and digital media, while exploring the career opportunities available within the fast-growing creative industries.
Painting and Decorating Workshops: Introduce your students to the practical skills and techniques used within the construction industry through our Painting and Decorating Workshops. Led by experienced staff, these sessions provide a valuable insight into the trade, helping students develop new skills while exploring progression routes into technical education, apprenticeships, and employment.
Hospitality Workshops: Bring the hospitality industry to life with practical workshops delivered by our specialist teaching team. Students can experience activities linked to professional cookery, developing transferable skills while discovering the diverse range of careers available within this dynamic sector.
Travel and Tourism Workshops: Our interactive workshops are designed to take students into the world of travel, tourism, and aviation, highlighting the knowledge and skills required within this exciting industry. Students will gain an understanding of career opportunities, customer service, event planning, and the global nature of this industry.
Public Services Workshops: We can provide your students with an insight into careers that make a difference, covering areas such as the emergency services, uniformed protective services, and public sector careers. These sessions develop teamwork, leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills while raising awareness of the opportunities available.
Industry-based Masterclasses: Enhance your curriculum with specialist masterclasses delivered by our expert teaching staff and industry professionals. These sessions are tailored to support learning and broaden students' experiences and provide practical, hands-on activities linked to current industry practices. Students will develop valuable skills while gaining a deeper understanding of career pathways within their chosen subject area.
Mock Interviews: Prepare students for future recruitment processes through realistic mock interview experiences. Delivered by our School Liaison Team, these sessions help students build confidence, receive constructive feedback, and gain a greater understanding of employer expectations.
Stereotype Busting Workshops: Challenge perceptions and broaden aspirations through engaging workshops that encourage students to explore careers without the limitations of stereotypes. These interactive sessions promote equality, diversity, and inclusion, helping students recognise the wide range of opportunities available to them regardless of gender, background, or preconceived ideas about different industries.
Work Experience: We can support your students with developing valuable workplace skills through offering meaningful work experience opportunities at our college. Work experience can take place in teams such as Marketing, Hair and Beauty, and Hospitality.
Labour Market Information Workshops: These workshops help students to make informed career choices through the exploration of current and future labour market trends. Using up-to-date local, regional, and national labour market information, we highlight growth industries, in-demand skills, and emerging career opportunities so that your students can better understand the pathways available and the qualifications needed to achieve their ambitions.
Employability Skills: Equip students with the essential skills needed to succeed in their chosen pathway. Our interactive sessions focus on developing skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, resilience, professionalism, and workplace behaviours. Students will work on building confidence and preparing for their next steps while meeting the expectations of modern employers.
Guided Application Sessions: Embark on a guided journey through our application process as we bring our expertise directly to your school. We will assist your classes with submitting their applications, ensuring a smooth and efficient process. Additionally, students can expect valuable interview tips and guidance on what to expect from college life.
Take a Tour: Sometimes, the best way for students to understand what college is about is to have them see it first-hand. Whether you spend a couple of hours at our Wisemore Campus or would prefer to use a full morning to discover our construction and engineering campuses, we can tailor a tour based on your students’ interests.
Taster Events: We can provide fun and interactive taster workshops to give students a delightful insight into our popular vocational courses. Subjects include Media, Hospitality, Music, Fashion, Marketing, Dance, Games Art, Construction, Business, Health and Social Care, Photography, Early Years, and Sport.
Try Before You Apply: Students can have the opportunity to make confident, informed progression choices while easing the transition from school to college through practical, subject-specific activities. Students will meet our expert teaching staff and gain a real insight into their chosen course areas.
Year 11 Taster Evenings: Our taster evenings are designed specifically to support Year 11s and their families during the transition to post-16 education. These events provide students with an opportunity to participate in interactive curriculum activities, explore industry-standard facilities, and for families to speak with teaching staff about courses, progression routes, and future career opportunities.
CV Writing Sessions: We can help students to develop one of the key skills required for employment and further progression through our practical CV Writing Sessions. Students will learn how to create a professional CV that highlights their strengths, skills, and achievements, while receiving guidance on tailoring CVs for different opportunities.
Careers Adviser Coffee Mornings: Stay connected with us through our regular Careers Adviser Coffee Mornings. These informal networking events provide careers advisers and school staff with updates on curriculum developments, post-16 pathways, admissions, apprenticeships, and higher education opportunities, while offering a valuable space to share best practice and discuss local priorities.
School Newsletters: Keep informed with our regular school newsletter updates where we can provide your school with timely information on upcoming events, open days, application deadlines, curriculum developments, employer partnerships, and student opportunities, making it easy to share the latest Walsall College news with your wider school community.
CPD Opportunities: Support your school's staff through our Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities. Designed to enhance knowledge of technical education, post-16 progression pathways, labour market information, and employer engagement, our CPD sessions ensure staff remain up to date with the evolving education landscape, enabling you to provide informed, high-quality guidance to students.