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Our School Engagement Team will ensure students receive high quality careers education, information, advice and guidance whilst also introducing and promoting the range of fantastic courses and facilities available to them at Blackburn College.

Our dedicated team is here to collaborate with Schools, Sixth Forms, and Colleges throughout Lancashire, offering a range of exciting activities for students in Years 8 to 13. We can support your staff in giving your students the skills and confidence to progress into Further Education, Higher Education or employment.

We offer a variety of workshops and events throughout the academic year, as well as tailored work with Schools, Sixth Forms, and Colleges to enrich curriculum and students.

Meet the team

The School and College Liaison Team have a wealth of experience working in schools and can help your students along their journey.

Please contact the team on schoolliaison@blackburn.ac.uk

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Support inside Schools

Blackburn College provides a range of engaging presentations and workshops for students in Years 8 to 13. Take a look below to find out what's available for each year group.

Presentations

The Blackburn College Presentation

Target Audience: Year 11 Pupils

Size: Individual classes or year group assembly

Time: 20 minutes

This informative presentation is designed to guide Year 11 students in discovering the different routes they can take after finishing their GCSEs. We will explore A-Levels, Technical and Vocational Courses, Apprenticeships, and Degrees, giving students a clear picture of the excellent choices available to them. This engaging session serves as a roadmap, guiding students towards  making informed decisions about their educational journey.

T-Level Presentation

Target Audience: Year 9 & 10 Pupils

Size: Year Group Assembly

Time: 20 minutes

T-Levels are a new and exciting pathway for young people leaving school. These presentations will explore the range of Apprenticeships available and explain the new T-Level Curriculum. 

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Year 10 Pathways

Target Audience: Year 10

Size: Form Time Group or Assembly

Time: 20 Minutes

We are aware that exploring different career and course choices can be a daunting task to face when leaving school. Our 'Pathways' presentation explores the different routes available to young people once they leave school. When students reach Year 10, it's a good time to start thinking about what happens after school and our team can help support and guide them to make the right choice.

University Centre Blackburn College Presentation

Target Audience: Years 12 & 13 Pupils

Size: Individual classes or Year Group assembly

Time 20 Minutes

This information presentation will help year 12 & 13 students understand the options available to them at the University Centre after their A-Levels or Vocational/Technical Course.

This presentation provides an insight into the range of degrees we have on offer validated our partners Lancaster University, UCLAN, and the University of South Wales.

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Career Support

Mock interviews

Target Audience: Years 10-13 Pupils

Time: 20 Minutes per pupil

Mastering the art of a successful interview can be the key to securing that dream job, application, college or university spot. 

Our staff will be delighted to support your school or college in delivering these mock interviews. It will offer your students an invaluable chance to refine their interview skills while receiving constructive feedback to enhance their performance and gain insightful feedback on how to improve and deliver the perfect interview.

Curriculum Pop-Up

We are available over lunch time to answer students' questions regarding applications, and ensuring they find the right course that aligns with their aspirations. If there is a particular curriculum area to focus upon then we can be contacted prior to the session to cater to their specific needs. Our students' success is our priority, and we're here to ensure they have a smooth journey towards achieving their goals.

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Get into...Our Curriculum

Our 'Get into' Sessions are designed for selected students in Year 11-13 who have an interest, passion and potential to explore different fields. take advantage of the sessions below which have been designed by our experts to enhance your pupils' knowledge and aspirations.

Get Into Oxbridge

Target Audience: Year 11-13

Number of students: Classroom Group

Time Hour: 1 Hour

Do you have high-flying pupils dreaming of Cambridge or Oxford? David Jones, our High-Achievers Coordinator, will cover the application process, including personal statements and preparing for admission testS and interviews in this workshop.

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Get Into Law

Target Audience: Year 11-13

Number: Classroom Group

Time: 1 Hour

If your students have expressed an interest in pursuing a career in law then our sessions cover the variety of careers in the legal profession as well as the qualifications they'll require.

Get Into Teaching

Target Audience: Year 11-13

Number: Classroom Group

Time: 1 Hour

If your students have any aspirations to go into teaching then this workshop will explain the routes they can take into the career. We will detail the skills, qualifications and experience required as well as how to make the strongest application possible in order to become a teacher.

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Initial Assessments

As part of the Apprenticeship application process, every student needs to do a first assessment. These sessions are set up in a similar way to an interview and can happen after school.

We're also thrilled to unveil our newest school service: Where our Apprenticeship team can be booked in to come and complete initial assessments in a group in school. This will streamline the application process for pupils, meaning they can secure an interview with an employer at an earlier date.

To set this up, just send an email to Hannah.Baker@blackburn.ac.uk. She'll help you arrange everything.

SEND Pupils taster event activity

Support for Special Schools

Our SEND Transition Coordinator, Jill Phillips, has over 25 years experience working alongside young people with SEND.

Navigating the transition phase for young people with SEND can be a source of concern. However, our team is here to make this process seamless for both the students and their families. We understand the unique challenges, and our primary goal is to facilitate a smooth transition.

To achieve this, we offer a range of valuable services:

  1. Information and Advice Sessions: We provide tailored sessions to explore educational pathways that best suit young people with SEND.
  2. College Visits and Taster Sessions: We arrange visits to the college, giving students firsthand experience and a taste of what's to come.
  3. Interactive Q&A Sessions: We host informative sessions right in schools, allowing students and families to ask questions and clarify doubts.
  4. EHCP Annual Reviews: We actively engage in the EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) annual review process to ensure continued support.

Support outside schools

Blackburn College Tasters
Tuesday 2nd - Friday 5th July

Every year, Blackburn College invites Year 10 students from local schools to visit our amazing campus and experience a real day of college life.

As part of the taster event, students will get to try out different subjects that they've picked beforehand. It's a bit like a merry-go-round of learning! This helps them get a real sense of what studying at Blackburn College is like and what subjects they might enjoy when they finish school. Students will even have a chance to chat with the teachers who lead the courses and learn more about what they teach and the jobs they're connected to.

Process for the school:

We advise booking your preferred date for the College Taster Day as soon as you can. To book your date please contact one of the School Engagement Team and we will be start to get the ball rolling. In February and March our Student Engagement Team will deliver an assembly to the full year group about the event and how to choose their options.

Take a look at our gallery of our most recent Taster Events!

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Discovery Days

Our Discovery Days are targeted towards Year 7 and Year 8  pupils to give them a taste of what college life is like. Our fantastic staff will put on a  carousel of subjects  showing students what their favourite subjects may look like at a HE Curriculum Level.

Take a look at some pictures below from our most recent Discovery Day.

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National STEM Day

Date - Wednesday 8th November 

An exciting event at our brand new HEAT Centre as part of National STEM Day suitable for year 9 groups. This event is aimed at pupils who are interested in working in the automotive industry and want an insight into working on the new technologies that run low carbon and electric vehicles. 

They will be toured around our new HEAT facility and get to test the batteries that the cars are ran on, they will then do a practical task in electrical workshop looking at the diagnostics of a car.

Note: Spaces are limited on each session so will be reserved on a first-come-first basis. Please contact us on schoolliasion@blackburn.ac.uk in advance if you are interested or ring us on 012545 292531.

Remembrance Event

Date - Friday 10th November

Blackburn College's Public Services department organizes a yearly Remembrance Event that's open to Year 9 students. This event offers a glimpse into the roles and duties of the Uniformed Services.

During this special occasion, students get the chance to participate in a variety of activities led by the Royal British Legion, Lancashire Constabulary, Armed Forces, and Royal Navy.

The event is perfect for students who are interested in potentially working in the uniformed services down the road. It's a great opportunity to learn more about these important roles and explore their potential career paths.

Note: Spaces are limited on each session so will be reserved on a first-come-first basis. Please contact us on schoolliasion@blackburn.ac.uk in advance if you are interested or ring us on 012545 292531.

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British Science Week

Date - Thursday 14th March

As part of our British Science Week celebrations, we are inviting Year 9 pupils to join us for an exciting day on campus. During this event, they have the opportunity to explore our three outstanding science labs and engage in a diverse range of interactive activities. Get ready for a carousel of fun!

Note: Spaces are limited on each session so will be reserved on a first-come-first basis. Please contact us on schoolliasion@blackburn.ac.uk in advance if you are interested or ring us on 012545 292531.

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International Women's Day

Date - Friday 8th March 

In honour of International Women's Day, we will be hosting a series of 'Women into...' sessions for the female students in Year 9.

These include:

  • Women into Science
  • Women into Engineering
  • Women into Finance
  • Women into Digital - In partnership with The Making Rooms
  • Women into Construction

Note: Spaces are limited on each session so will be reserved on a first-come-first basis. Please contact us on schoolliasion@blackburn.ac.uk in advance if you are interested or ring us on 012545 292531.