4. Strengthening Community and School Partnerships Across North Northamptonshire

The Bedford College Group has hosted a successful ‘Schools Day’ event, bringing together careers advice professionals, school representatives, local authorities, and College staff from across North Northamptonshire.

Now in its third year, this event was developed by the dedicated Schools Engagement team and is designed to strengthen relationships, provide practical insight into college life, and support career planning for students across the region. Staff representatives from a wide range of schools were in attendance, including Manor School in Raunds, Wrenn in Wellingborough, and Welland Park in Market Harborough.

These events aim to provide those who support young people – whether in schools, the council, or community groups – with first-hand experience of the opportunities available at the College. In turn, these advisors gain a deeper understanding of College campuses, courses and gain direct contact with staff. Following these sessions, visitors will then share this information with young people and adults trying to take their next step towards their chosen career.

In addition to practical sessions, the day included a welcome and presentation from Robin Webber-Jones, Executive Director of Curriculum, as well as a discussion to gather feedback on how the Group can provide further support and engagement in future.

Julie Carter from the Group’s Apprenticeships team also spoke about recruitment pathways and how the College can support schools in helping young people access local apprenticeship opportunities with local employers.

Beyond the sessions, community links were a core focus of the day. Sally, a representative from Wellingborough council, discussed collaborative opportunities for students to gain practical experience through town-led projects such as public mural painting and event planning. Last year, an Art and Design student from Kettering contributed to the design for a local beach event. Due to the success of this, the partnership will continue with a new student-led design this year.

These relationships are a key tool to ensure that local young people are supported with a range of post-school options. Many of the attendees already had students in mind for courses and were able to signpost individuals directly. For those students who may not follow a traditional academic route, events like Schools Day help to ensure no young person is overlooked.

The event will return in the summer, with another Schools Day planned at Shuttleworth College in Bedfordshire. This style of ongoing feedback and collaboration are key to ensuring every young person has the opportunity to thrive and every local community has the chance to work more closely with The Bedford College Group.

To find out more about how your school can get involved with the next Schools Day event, contact our Schools and Engagement team on ttebbutt@bedford.ac.uk.