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
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.
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.
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 and are there to answer pupils' questions regarding applications, and ensuring they find the right course that aligns with their aspirations. If there is a particular curriculum area, you would like to exhibit at your school then let us know and we can bring the teaching team along with us.
Or, why not turn it into a curriculum carousel? We can bring along several curriculum areas and your pupils can move around different curriculum pop up activities and ask any questions they may have directly to the experts!
Student Q&A
Do you have students interested in specific subject areas? Why not have our Student Q&A panel in to speak with your students and answer any questions they may have surrounding the courses.
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.
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.
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 apprenticeships@blackburn.ac.uk. One of our Apprenticeship Team will help you arrange everything.
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:
- Information and Advice Sessions: We provide tailored sessions to explore educational pathways that best suit young people with SEND.
- College Visits and Taster Sessions: We arrange visits to the college, giving students firsthand experience and a taste of what's to come.
- Interactive Q&A Sessions: We host informative sessions right in schools, allowing students and families to ask questions and clarify doubts.
- EHCP Annual Reviews: We actively engage in the EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) annual review process to ensure continued support.
Support outside schools
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 01254 292531.
Guy Fawkes Night
Date: Tuesday 5th November 2024
Remember, Remember the 5th of November! This day commemorates the day of the attempted Gunpowder plot. We are inviting pupils to join us on Campus to learn all about what happened on November 5th and take part in a variety of activities, with the Science department, with live demonstrations!
Remembrance Day Event
Date: Friday 8th November 2024
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.
National STEM Day
Date: Tuesday 12th November 2024
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.
British Science Week
Date: Thursday 13th March 2025
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!
International Women's Day
Date: Friday 3rd March 2025
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
World Engineering Day
Date: Tuesday 4th March 2025
This day celebrates the Engineering Culture alongside a need for sustainable development. Got a passion for Engineering and want to find out more about it? Join us as we celebrate World Engineering Day on March 4th! We are inviting cohorts of Year 9 students into college for the day to complete a variety of carousel activities around Engineering with curriculum to assist. It’s time to release the creative engineering flair, take part in interactive activities going head-to-head with your classmates using basic resources to think out of the box. It’s a battle of trades, even working with students!
World Art Day
Date: Friday 25th April 2025
This day celebrates the Creative and Artistic Culture reinforcing the links between creations and society, encouraging greater awareness of diversity and difference. This is a celebration day dedicated to encouraging creativity and share a love for art all over the world. Want to be the next Picasso? We are inviting cohorts of Year 9 students to the campus to tour around our amazing art facilities and take part in a variety of interactive activities done by curriculum, including the history of art, the future and even a creative competition against classmates!
Blackburn College Taster Days
Tuesday 1st - Friday 4th July 2025
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!
Discovery Days
Date: TBC
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.
