Despite the creative industries being one of the most vibrant sectors in the UK economy, there are often barriers to entry for students across the country, particularly those outside mainstream settings.

Indeed, at our alternative provision (AP) school, we often found that students found the idea of accessing the creative industries an unattainable dream. I know from my own professional networks that this sentiment is felt by many people working in and attending AP schools.

However, over the last year, we have changed this narrative by helping students gain access to a raft of specialist post-16 providers, including BOA Academy - a creative, digital and performing arts academy, Nova Training - and SLC College in pursuit of careers in the creative sectors.

This has been transformative for our students and has been driven in large part by engaging with a government-backed initiative called Discover! Creative Careers, a free-to-access programme that works with schools to help students gain insights into the creative sector via industry-led online resources, workshops and career encounters with employers, colleges and training providers.

Hands-on experiences

Last year, the programme worked with AP schools across the country, helping them connect with post-16 providers that deliver creative courses, as well as with creative professional employers.

We got involved after realising we wanted to provide our learners with a broader range of experiences, including the opportunity for hands-on experiences with professionals in our community so they understand where education could take them.

As such, we used the Discover! Creative Careers programme’s Careers Week, which takes place each November, to find out what could be possible for students in our area.

For us, this meant taking students to post-16 training providers and helping them understand the links between the national curriculum and the creative industries through seminars demonstrating the real application of post-16 courses.

This year, we will be taking part in the programme again and will meet with the Wolverhampton City Archives for an opportunity to tour the archives themselves, meet archiving professionals and gain insight into chronicling the art and culture of our city.

Such experiences offer valuable insights into routes into the creative industries, including animation, film, photography, music and crafts, among other fields, deepening students’ understanding of these sectors and the realisation of how many creative careers they could work in.

Showing students what is achievable

While it was clear many of our students were excited - and we certainly were as a school - we also could tell we needed help to convince them they could achieve what was necessary to go on for further study and gain the skills necessary to work in such environments.

We then made sure to offer practical information and support about what the expectations would be in a post-16 provider environment.

We also engaged parents in what we were doing so they could understand more. We provided regular email updates about our careers programme, including information about local job fairs, so they could get involved, too.

We also kept them updated on all educational visits linked to careers and, as the careers lead, parents can contact me to discuss all career-related topics.

This support helped reassure parents who may be hesitant about how their child might progress in education and a career, and it means they can take on a sense of ownership, too - something many find empowering.

Keeping focus

It didn’t all go smoothly, of course, as some students struggled with focus; our trip to one provider involved a lot of sitting during the seminar, which the pupils found quite challenging.

As such, in the future, we will address this by ensuring experiences incorporate more hands-on, dynamic activities to better engage those who struggle to focus in more traditional settings.

Overall, though, our engagements with Discover! Creative Careers have been hugely positive and have helped us give our students a huge new sense of potential in themselves and the world beyond school, which in turn has brought about a commitment to reengage with education.

Tools to survive beyond school

As demand for AP provision soars, because more students are struggling in mainstream settings, it’s more crucial than ever to ensure we provide our students with the tools to thrive beyond school.

It is not just about offering them a career path, but also showing them their talents and perspectives are valued and, at the same time, empowering them to be a part of our rich cultural and creative sectors.

To take part in this year’s Discover! Creative Careers week (18 to 22 November), schools can click here.

Jemma Kelly is head of English and student pathways at Sandwell Valley School

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