News

Student Success Story – Stuart Bathurst

CT, a Year 11 student at Stuart Bathurst, has shown incredible resilience and determination in planning her future.

Like many young people, CT has faced challenges — particularly around anxiety when attending school and going into lessons. Despite these difficulties, she has remained focused on her ambitions and what she wants to achieve beyond Year 11.

With the ongoing support and encouragement of a Sandwell Careers Service, Careers Adviser, CT has explored her options carefully and confidently. Through guidance sessions, she has been able to look at different post-16 pathways, compare college offers, and identify what would best suit her aspirations.

Now, CT has successfully applied to several colleges and is pursuing her dream of studying Criminology and Law — an exciting step toward a future career in the legal or criminal justice field.

CT shared:

“Emma has been absolutely amazing, she always makes a great effort to support and talk me through what different colleges offer and what would be best suited for me. I really appreciate everything that she does for me and other students.”

This is a wonderful example of how personalised careers guidance, encouragement, and belief in a young person’s potential can make a real difference. We are incredibly proud of CT’s progress and look forward to seeing her continue to grow and succeed in her post-16 journey.

New Year, New Start – Supporting Lucy’s Next Steps

As a Sandwell Careers Service Careers Advisor, I have the opportunity to work with young people across a range of school and post-16 settings. However, it is always particularly rewarding to be involved in our annual New Year New Start Careers Event, where so many young people and families come seeking clarity and direction.

This year, I had the pleasure of meeting Lucy and her mom at what is always a busy and vibrant event. It was clear from the outset that they needed some guidance to navigate the wide range of post-16 opportunities available.

Lucy is a home-educated young person who has experienced health challenges but was keen to engage in post-16 provision. Both Lucy and her mom felt understandably anxious about the next steps and wanted reassurance that the right support would be in place.

I was able to guide them towards providers best suited to Lucy’s needs and aspirations. They had a particularly positive discussion with SCL Education, exploring the post-16 programmes available and learning how the organisation has successfully supported young people facing similar challenges.

Following the event:

• Lucy has agreed to attend an interview next week to begin the enrolment process.

• She has also signed up as a volunteer with St John Ambulance, demonstrating her growing confidence and commitment to developing new skills.

Lucy’s mom was extremely appreciative of the support provided by Sandwell Careers Service. She shared that she had previously brought her son, who faced similar challenges, to the New Year New Start event four years ago. He is now proudly serving in the Army — a powerful testament to the long-term impact of early guidance and support.

It was wonderful to see Lucy and her mom leave the event smiling, reassured, and with a clear and achievable plan for the future.

Student Testimonial

“I am truly grateful for the guidance and support I have received from Emma throughout Year 11. Her advice about my career path and the next steps in my education has been incredibly helpful.

During a time when I felt uncertain about my future, Emma took the time to listen carefully, ask thoughtful questions, and offer practical advice tailored to my interests and strengths. She helped me understand the different options available to me and introduced me to a range of sixth forms and colleges that I may not have considered before.

What stood out most was her genuine desire to see me succeed — not just academically, but in planning confidently for my future. She encouraged me to explore different opportunities and clearly explained how each step could shape my journey ahead.

Thanks to Emma’s support, I now feel more confident, prepared, and motivated to take on the challenges ahead in both my education and my future career.”