Sixth Form Students Explore Careers at KPMG!

3rd March 2025Mr B Clayton

Our Sixth Form students recently had an incredible opportunity to visit KPMG’s Birmingham offices as part of the Opening Doors to Opportunities programme. Designed to equip students with the insight, skills, and confidence needed to thrive in the world of work, the visit provided a hands-on experience of life at KPMG.

During the workshop, students:

  • Developed essential workplace skills, including communication, problem-solving, creativity, confidence, and leadership
  • Engaged with KPMG professionals from different areas of the business
  • Explored emerging and innovative technologies shaping the industry
  • Enjoyed a guided office tour, gaining a first-hand look at the professional environment

A fantastic experience, inspiring our students and broadening their horizons for future careers!

#CareersEducation #KPMG #SkillsForSuccess #OpeningDoors #FutureReady

Spring Careers Newsletter – National Careers Week Special!

26th February 2025Mr B Clayton

National Careers Week (NCW) is just around the corner, running from 3rd to 8th March! At John Henry Newman Catholic College, we’re celebrating with a range of exciting events and activities designed to inspire students about their future pathways.

What’s happening during NCW?

  • Interactive career workshops including a Repair Lab and Nursing Q&A.
  • Employer-led sessions from Jaguar Land Rover and other industry leaders.
  • Apprenticeship Fair & Virtual Careers Fair to explore post-school options.
  • Year 11 Parents’ Evening & Options Guidance to support subject choices.

Plus, student highlights! Our recent Midwifery Experience Day and JLR Vehicle Design Workshop have given students incredible insights into different career paths.

Read the full newsletter here

Encourage your child to get involved and explore their future!

#NCW2025 #CareersWeek #FutureReady

Inspiring the Next Generation of Automotive Designers

14th February 2025Mr B Clayton

Our Year 10 and 12 students had an amazing opportunity to participate in an exciting vehicle design workshop led by Jaguar Land Rover. This hands-on experience gave them a behind-the-scenes look at the design and development process of some of the world’s most iconic vehicles.

Throughout the day, students explored the creative and technical aspects of automotive design while discovering the diverse career opportunities within the industry.

As proud members of the JLR Schools Partnership, we are dedicated to offering innovative learning experiences that inspire and help shape our students’ future pathways.

A massive thank you to the Jaguar Land Rover team for sharing their expertise and passion – it was truly an inspiring day!

#JLRPartnership #STEMEducation #FutureDesigners #AutomotiveInnovation #InspiringYoungMinds

M&G plc Enterprise Challenge – Bringing Maths to Life!

14th February 2025Mr B Clayton

Our Year 7 and 8 students recently participated in the M&G plc Enterprise Challenge, an inspiring numeracy-focused STEM workshop that showcased how Maths can be applied to real-life problem-solving.

During the session, students stepped into the shoes of large-scale event organisers, tasked with the exciting challenge of planning a music concert for 10,000 young people. They worked through budgeting, logistics, and key decision-making, all while applying essential numeracy skills in a dynamic and engaging way.

It was incredible to witness our students collaborating, thinking critically, and building their confidence in Maths. A huge thank you to M&G plc for delivering such an interactive and inspiring experience!

#STEM #Numeracy #EnterpriseChallenge #FutureLeaders #RealWorldLearning

Exciting News: Slipstream Qualifies for F1 in Schools National Finals

10th February 2025Mr B Clayton

We’re thrilled to announce that our F1 in Schools team, Slipstream, has secured a spot in the National Finals after an outstanding performance at the West Midlands Regional Competition!

Awards Won:

Fastest Car – Completing the 20m track in an incredible 1.194 seconds, just edging out the competition.
Best Sponsorship & Marketing – Recognising their exceptional branding and fundraising efforts.

Our second team, RSC, also performed admirably, achieving the 7th fastest time and building on their success from last year. Great job, team RSC!

What’s Next?

Slipstream is now gearing up for the National Finals, where they will compete against the top teams in the country. Let’s cheer them on as they take on this exciting challenge!

A Huge Thank You to Our Sponsors:

We couldn’t do this without your invaluable support:

  • CT Security
  • ILS: International Lifting & Shipping
  • Pastos Co LTD

Congratulations to All Involved!

We are incredibly proud of your achievements and can’t wait to see what’s next.

Stay tuned for updates as Slipstream prepares to take the National Finals by storm!

Year 10 Students Visit Heartlands Hospital for ‘A Day in the Life of a Midwife’

31st January 2025Mr B Clayton

A group of our Year 10 students had the incredible opportunity to visit Heartlands Hospital for their ‘A Day in the Life of a Midwife’ event.

Hosted by the Midwifery Department in collaboration with the Work Experience Team, the event gave students an immersive insight into the rewarding career of midwifery.

Students at Heartlands Hospital

Exploring the World of Midwifery

Throughout the day, students engaged in interactive sessions with midwives, consultants, midwifery students, and support assistants, who shared their expertise on:

The daily responsibilities of a midwife
Career pathways and required qualifications
The different roles within the midwifery department

Students engaging in a session

A Hands-On Look at Midwifery Specialties

Students had the chance to explore various aspects of midwifery, including:

Home births – Providing care for mothers in a familiar setting
Surgical births – Learning operating theatre roles
Community midwifery – The role of midwives outside the hospital
Neonatal care – Supporting babies needing extra medical attention
Infant feeding – Understanding breastfeeding and nutritional guidance

Students participating in an activity

A Truly Inspiring Experience!

This experience provided our students with a fantastic insight into midwifery as a career, sparking new aspirations and broadening their understanding of the healthcare profession.

A Huge Thank You to the team at Heartlands Hospital for their warm welcome, support, and guidance in making this visit so inspiring!

Could this be the start of a future career for some of our students? Stay tuned for more exciting work experience opportunities!

Spring 2025 Careers Newsletter Now Available!

21st January 2025Mr B Clayton

We’re thrilled to share our latest Careers Newsletter with exciting updates, inspiring events, and valuable resources to support students on their career journeys.

What’s inside this edition?

  • Highlights from our successful ‘Meet Your Future’ Careers Fair, where students explored career pathways and connected with employers.
  • Plans for National Apprenticeship Week (10th–16th February), including:
    • Workshops like the JLR Vehicle Design Workshop and M&G Enterprise Challenge.
    • Assemblies and lessons focused on apprenticeship pathways.
    • Virtual and in-person careers fairs.
  • Upcoming events such as the Unifrog Apprenticeship Fair and the Birmingham Careers Fair.

Discover a range of opportunities and resources designed to help students achieve their aspirations.

Read the newsletter here

Let’s continue to work together to prepare our students for a bright and successful future!

Meet Your Future Careers Fair

11th December 2024Mr B Clayton

Our recent Meet Your Future Careers Fair was a fantastic opportunity for students to explore a wide range of career paths and further education options. The event brought together providers, employers, and industry professionals, giving students the chance to ask questions, gain insights, and be inspired about their futures.

With engaging discussions and valuable advice, the day highlighted the incredible support available to help our students achieve their ambitions. Thank you to all the organisations and representatives who attended and contributed to such a successful and impactful event!

Check out some highlights from the day!

HS2 EPIC Engineers STEM Workshop

11th December 2024Mr B Clayton

Our year 8 students had an incredible opportunity to participate in the EPIC Engineers STEM Workshop, where they developed essential skills for success in STEM careers. Through a series of engaging, hands on design and build team challenges, students explored what it takes to become EPIC engineers.

The activities were enriched with real-world examples from the field of transport infrastructure, allowing students to step into various professional roles and gain valuable insights into the diverse career paths available in STEM. The workshop not only honed their technical and teamwork skills but also inspired them to envision their future as innovators and change makers in the engineering world.

This experience was a fantastic blend of learning, creativity, and career exploration, leaving our students excited and motivated about their potential in STEM!

 Chemistry in Action at Warwick University! 

10th December 2024Mr B Clayton

 Chemistry in Action at Warwick University!  Students explored 5 sessions with science pros from academia & industry, connecting classroom knowledge to cutting-edge research, from AI to scents! They also picked up top exam tips to excel in A-Level Chemistry.  #STEMCareers #FutureScientists

Year 11 parents evening December 2024

28th November 2024Mr B Clayton

Unifrog – The Complete Destinations Platform

26th November 2024Mr B Clayton

West Midlands Police Conduct Safety Operation at John Henry Newman Catholic College to Promote Student Safety

13th November 2024Mr B Clayton

This morning officers from West Midlands Police carried out an operation in school, whereby students entered the school building through a knife arch. The Police are very concerned with the safety of young people in Solihull and Birmingham and are carrying out random operations like this in schools across the city.

 

John Henry Newman Catholic College remains committed to supporting our students and raising awareness about the dangers of carrying knives and knife crime and ensuring this community remains safe.

 

This was the first of several visits that will happen throughout the school year. The Police officers praised the maturity and patience of the students, displayed this morning whilst engaging in this exercise.