Our Post 16 students have been keen and eager to get on board with the Post 16 Professional Placement Programme to ensure they gain experience of the 'world of work'.

Post 16 students at Macmillan Academy have been keen and eager to get on board with the Post 16 Professional Placement Programme, an initiative which has been launched exclusively for post 16 students in a bid to ensure they gain a real experience of the 'world of work'. The programme has been designed to provide students with an opportunity for career exploration within one of the growth employment sectors as well as providing students with a platform to gain a place at university or within employment.

Careers adviser and programme co-ordinator Cath Cook explains that it is crucial that students increase their employability skills in such a competitive market. "Career exploration helps a young person to clarify their occupational pathway. The Professional Placement Programme gives post 16 students a unique competitive edge in the current labour market."

Due to the success of the initial pilot of the scheme the programme has grown from strength to strength. The Academy is delighted to be working in partnership with Jackson's Law Firm, James Cook University Hospital and Lucite International who are giving post 16 students a real insight into these occupational areas. Atos UK are the latest organisation to join the programme and the opportunities within the international IT services company were recently launched to students.

Students on the programme also have the opportunity to undertake a psychometric profile test and take part in an assessment centre. Senior Leader, David Exeter, who runs this element of the programme, feels it is important to prepare students for the future. "By providing students with the chance to take part in an assessment centre, we are giving students the opportunity to experience, and learn how to cope with, the challenges and pressures they could encounter." Ella Henderson who has successfully gained a place on the law phase of the programme supports this view. "I now know what to expect if I was going through the experience as part of a job interview, it really taught me how to work with others."

For anyone interested in the programme and the employer/university links the academy has please come along to the Post 16 Open Evening on Thursday 6 February, 4.30pm - 8.00pm.