This week, Hereford Sixth Form College held its annual IMPACT Week, where we welcomed in guest speakers from a wide variety of industries and professions, allowing students a rare and valuable insight into potential career options. The college also held internal workshops with teachers from various departments, allowing students to experience a taste of subjects beyond their own timetables, along with a set of collaborative workshops held at our neighbouring institutions Hereford College of Arts and Herefordshire College.
One such event was the rugby referee course, where an instructor from the Rugby Football Union first held a short seminar on the skills that are essential to becoming a rugby referee, including effective communication and leadership skills, before taking the group onto the college’s 3G pitch, giving those in attendance a hands-on practise run at applying all the skills they’d learnt during the session!
Another popular event was the Social Media Marketing and Advertising seminar held by Sophie Sheriff, focusing on the ever-expanding world of social media and utilising it as a tool for the growth and expansion of a professional brand. Here, Sophie spoke on how she managed to evolve her businesses and grow as a businesswoman, showcasing skills of perseverance and dedication that are essential to maintaining a roster of clients within the industry.
Alongside seminars and speeches, more vocational activities have also been held around our sister sites, including a music tech workshop held at Herefordshire College, where students first were given a tour of their expansive facilities, before being allowed into control rooms where they could get a feel for the incredible equipment used with a variety of preset projects, including tracks from the indie, rock and drum & bass genres. Students here were very enthusiastic to take part, showcasing just how captivating the art of music production can be!
Meanwhile, at Hereford College of Arts, a ring making workshop was held in the college’s Small Metals department, with students getting to create their very own copper rings to take home, carrying skills of design and craftsmanship, perfect for those who may be looking to enter those fields in higher education, or to transfer these skills into personal hobbies.
Our own Biology department also held a session on the practical application of gene technology, with participants from a variety of subjects coming together for a unique hands-on experiment!
Of course, for this week some students instead chose to partake in work experience placements around their local area, including one student who chose to get experience at Henryka Jewellery in Hereford. They said, “She is hardworking, enthusiastic, and eager to learn. She takes the initiative to research ideas independently, actively looks for new approaches, and shows a genuine interest in developing her knowledge and skills. Always keen to get involved and has a very positive attitude!” Thank you to Henryka Jewellery for hosting our student, and a special thanks to Evelyn for representing the college so spectacularly!
However, for some placements, students instead chose to stay a bit closer to home, taking part in activities and experience right here on-site! One such case was a handful of students from the Rock and Pop academy, who chose to work with their instructor Oscar Featherstone. In these sessions, they continued to deepen their pre-existing learning and understanding of music production and its technicalities.
Another instance was within the Marketing department, where student Charlie Wilde got to learn about the marketing industry, taking photos and documenting some of the spectacular events being held across all 3 sites. He found the experience enjoyable and enlightening, stating, “Being able to have this experience directly at college has been such an incredible and valuable opportunity to me. I’m extremely grateful to everyone who made me feel welcome and made it such a joy for my time here.”
With the success of this year’s event, this continues to showcase the support Hereford Sixth Form College offers to students in their pursuit of a variety of career pathways, as future years will seek to continue championing students to follow their aspirations.
