An accounting apprentice, who studied at Fairfax Academy, returned to the school to reassure students that university isn’t the only route to a successful career.
Nineteen-year-old James Cassidy, now working at Trust Ford, was one of 18 visitors who took part in the school’s Guess My Job careers event on Wednesday 4 March, held as part of National Careers Week.
The event gave Year 9 students the chance to meet professionals from a wide range of industries and build confidence in exploring their own strengths and aspirations.
Visitors included a nurse, HR director, professional footballer, engineer and even a magician. Moving between small groups, each guest had just a few minutes to answer students’ questions.
The event comes at a challenging time for young people across the UK, with 16.1% of 16–24-year-olds currently unemployed – almost triple the national average of 5.1%. Against this backdrop, Fairfax Academy is working to broaden students’ understanding of the many pathways available to them.
James, who left Fairfax in 2024 with A Levels in accounting, maths and business, chose an apprenticeship over university and hopes his story helped students see that there is no single “right” route.
“I wanted to come back to see my teachers and to tell the students that you don’t need to go to university,” he said. “University isn’t for everyone. It’s not realistic for some people, and for many careers you don’t need to go. A lot of them were shocked when I said I hadn’t gone, which shows how expected it is – but hopefully I’ve helped them see another path.”
Also returning was former Head Boy Mark Duffy, who left Fairfax in 1998 and now works as HR Director for Talent at Ryanair, earning a six‑figure salary. He said he was keen to give back to the school that helped shape his early ambitions.
“I thought the event was fantastic,” he said. “The children were so engaged, and they asked some really interesting questions.”
The event was part of a packed programme of activities, at Fairfax, throughout Careers Week which included focussed assemblies led by guest speakers including medical students from the University of Birmingham and female engineer Myriam Thomas – all were either alumni, or parents of students.
Events like these support the school’s work towards the Gatsby Benchmarks, which set out what high‑quality careers guidance should look like. Career coordinator and advisor Pauline Knowles said the presence of alumni is particularly powerful.
“Events like these open up possibilities for our young people,” she said. “Having alumni here shows them that these paths have already been trodden. When they meet someone like the HR director of Ryanair, they can see themselves in that role and realise there’s no reason they can’t achieve the same.”
She added that the school is focused on helping students understand both their soft and hard skills, and on giving them a clear sense of direction by the end of Year 11.
“I always say: are you heading towards the engineering island or the sports island? They don’t need to know the exact job yet, but they should know the direction. Hitting the Gatsby Benchmarks is important for Ofsted, but more importantly, it’s about giving our young people the best possible experience.”
During National Apprenticeship Week and National Careers Week, trust schools delivered a packed programme of careers activities. Here are just a few highlights.
Erdington Academy
- Construction Apprenticeship Careers Fair — Year 10 students visited Millennium Point to meet construction employers, explore apprenticeship routes, and make early industry contacts.
- Truflo Marine Engineering Session — Marine engineering specialists delivered a careers talk, including insight from a former Erdington student now completing a Level 3 Electrical Apprenticeship.
- The Belfry Careers & Apprenticeship Programme — Students took part in photography and hospitality-focused experiences, an apprenticeship workshop, and formal interviews, with five Year 10s set to secure work experience placements.
Smith’s Wood Academy
- Annual Careers Fair – The theatre was a hive of activity as Smith’s Wood hosted 20 exhibitors, including Severn Trent, HS2, the Belfry and BMW, as well as further education providers.
- University of Birmingham visit – Year 10 students had an incredible day which involved a full campus tour and a hands-on seminar
Bournville All-Through School
- Six week programme run by Freedom 2 Dream Clothing (F2D) – Business students had the chance to move from concept to creation by designing their own hoodie. Each design was professionally manufactured, giving students a tangible product to take home and a real sense of achievement. The workshops are designed to empower young people to think like entrepreneurs; learning how ideas become products while exploring key business skills such as marketing, product development and financial management.
What are the Gatsby benchmarks?
- A stable careers programme: Embedded, well-understood, and regularly reviewed.
- 2. Learning from career and labour market information: Access to quality, up-to-date data for students and parents.
- 3. Addressing the needs of each student: Tailored, inclusive advice that addresses equality and diversity.
- 4. Linking curriculum learning to careers: Highlighting the relevance of subject learning to future jobs.
- 5. Encounters with employers and employees: Multiple, diverse opportunities to learn about work.
- 6. Experiences of workplaces: First-hand, meaningful workplace experiences.
- 7. Encounters with further and higher education: Understanding all academic and technical routes.
- 8. Personal guidance: Access to one-to-one, qualified careers advice.
