Stantonbury School Careers Team was delighted to recently accompany 60 students from Years 8 and 9 to an action-packed Careers in Construction Gala Event, hosted at the major HS2 infrastructure site in Bicester.
Hands-On Experience with Real-World Industry
Throughout the day, students were given rare, hands-on access to heavy machinery and cutting-edge equipment. Under expert supervision, our young learners had the opportunity to:
- Operate 600-tonne cranes and industrial drones
- Drive diggers and tarmac trucks
- Try their hand at bricklaying and wall building
- Paint road lines and fit highway cats' eyes
Beyond the machinery, the event provided an in-depth look at the huge range of professional and technical pathways within the sector. Students explored careers in environmental sciences, architecture, civil engineering, and quantity surveying, as well as a wide variety of skilled trades.
Learning from the Next Generation of Professionals
A highlight of the visit was the opportunity for students to meet and speak with current apprentices ranging from Level 1 right through to Degree Level. Hearing firsthand about real-world training, career growth, and university-alternative routes gave our students a clear picture of what their future careers could look like.
The enthusiasm on the bus home was undeniable, with many attendees declaring it "the best careers event ever!"
Exemplary Ambassadors for Stantonbury School
Our Careers Team praised the Year 8 and Year 9 students for representing Stantonbury School with distinction. Throughout the day, the site organizers and industry professionals noted our students' outstanding behavior, courtesy, good manners, and high level of engagement.
It was an extraordinarily rewarding trip that broadened horizons and sparked new ambitions for our future engineers, architects, and industry leaders. A huge thank you to the Stantonbury Careers Team and the event hosts at HS2 for making this opportunity possible!
