Careers Fair 2026 | Sandy Secondary School

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Supporting Student Career Pathways

Sandy Secondary School held a whole school careers fair on Thursday 18th March 2026 in the Sports Hall, attended by students in Years 9, 10, 12 and 13. The event was organised by the careers advisor, supported by senior leadership, human resources and the site team.

The fair brought together training providers, local employers and representatives from apprenticeship, further and higher education institutions. External partners from across a range of sectors attended, providing students with encounters spanning construction, engineering, hospitality, education, healthcare and more.

Delivered in an open market format, students moved freely between exhibitor stalls to engage in direct conversations. Prior to the event, students received a preparation lesson with guidance on questions to ask, alongside a booklet containing a floor plan, exhibitor information and note-taking space.

The event specifically supported Gatsby Benchmark 5 (encounters with employers and employees) and Gatsby Benchmark 7 (encounters with further and higher education providers), while also contributing to Benchmarks 1, 3, 4 and 6.

Benchmark 5

Encounters with employers and employees

Benchmark 7

Encounters with further and higher education

Years 9, 10, 12 & 13

Supporting students at key decision points

March 2026

Whole school careers fair in the Sports Hall

Impact & Outcomes

Strong Student Engagement

Positive feedback from students across all year groups, with many reporting increased confidence in speaking to prospective employers and a better understanding of the world of work.

Diverse Sector Representation

A wide range of exhibitors from construction, engineering, hospitality, education, healthcare and more — giving students exposure to career paths they might not have previously considered.

Informed Decision-Making

Students gained practical knowledge about post-16 and post-18 pathways, strengthening links between the school, employers and education providers for improved destination outcomes.

Impact & Reflections

The careers fair generated strong engagement from students across all year groups, with positive feedback from employers and providers who attended. There was representation from a good range of sectors, giving students exposure to career paths they might not have previously considered.

Increased student confidence and awareness of the variety of career options available were notable short-term outcomes. Long-term, the event strengthened employer and provider partnerships, with the aim of improving destination outcomes for students.

As the Head of School reflected: “The careers fair had a hugely positive impact on a wide variety of different students, of all abilities and with a full range of aspirations. Student feedback was very positive, with students reporting that they found the experience really useful — helping them to build confidence in talking to prospective employers and understanding the steps they needed to take to achieve success.”

This case study was produced for the South Midlands Careers Hub in 2026, documenting the impact of careers fair activities at Sandy Secondary School.

The people working at the stalls were very kind and easy to talk to. They were also very encouraging and asked questions about my future and what I wanted to pursue.

James Year 9 Student

I thought this year’s careers fair was one of the best since I joined Sandy. Whilst both visiting stalls and working the Sixth Form stand, I noticed in particular that the booklets given out to students worked fantastically, helping younger students to be more engaged than in previous years.

Jen Year 13 Sixth Form Student

Explore Careers at Sandy

Discover more about our careers programme, employer partnerships and how we prepare students for the world of work.

Back to Careers

Careers Fair 2026 South Midlands Careers Hub — Sandy Secondary School Supporting Student Career Pathways Sandy Secondary School held a whole school careers fair on Thursday 18th March 2026 in the Sports Hall, attended by students in Years 9, 10, 12 and 13. The event was organised by the careers advisor, supported by senior leadership, human resources and the site team. The fair brought together training providers, local employers and representatives from apprenticeship, further and higher education institutions. External partners from across a range of sectors attended, providing students with encounters spanning construction, engineering, hospitality, education, healthcare and more. Delivered in an open market format, students moved freely between exhibitor stalls to engage in direct conversations. Prior to the event, students received a preparation lesson with guidance on questions to ask, alongside a booklet containing a floor plan, exhibitor information and note-taking space. The event specifically supported Gatsby Benchmark 5 (encounters with employers and employees) and Gatsby Benchmark 7 (encounters with further and higher education providers), while also contributing to Benchmarks 1, 3, 4 and 6. Impact & Outcomes What Our Community Said “The event was incredibly well-organized in all respects. Communication both before and during the day was excellent, ensuring everything ran smoothly. The students themselves were a credit to the school: engaged, polite, and fully involved throughout the event.” — Chrispen Edmonds, University of Hertfordshire “Overall, for our first time we thought it was a great set up and we will hopefully be attending again next year.” — Kelly, G & H Seamers Funeral Directors “The careers fair had a hugely positive impact on a wide variety of different students, of all abilities and with a full range of aspirations. Student feedback was very positive, with students reporting that they found the experience really useful.” — Andrew Rutter, Head of School