From courtrooms to chocolate: Project Week brings students’ futures to life

...in Crown Court (Credit: DCG)

Derby College Group has wrapped up an extraordinary final week of term for its A-level students, with a packed programme of employer visits, cultural experiences, higher education tasters and community activities that brought classroom learning to life.

Project Week ran across a week in July and involved all 434 year one A-level students. Rather than winding down for summer, students headed out across the region, and further afield, for a series of hands-on experiences spanning arts, science, humanities, social science, languages and careers.

Highlights included visits to Twycross Zoo with an animal behaviour talk, a trip to the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford upon Avon, a criminology and forensic science taster day at the University of Derby, and a site visit to global medical technology company Getinge.

Students also visited the National Justice Museum in Nottingham, Hardwick Hall, RAF Cosford and the National Archives in Derbyshire. Two groups attended Crown Court sessions during the week, while others took part in French and Spanish teaching placements at local primary schools.

In Stratford upon Avon, students brought literature to life through a hands on workshop based on Othello, alongside a visit to Shakespeare’s final resting place and time exploring the town, gift shop included.

One of the most varied days of the week came with a careers morning featuring talks from UHDB Imaging, Socotec, the Police Apprenticeship programme and the RAF, alongside a Green Careers presentation, a powerful lived experience session on schizophrenia, and a knife crime awareness session.

Running throughout the week was a programme of Work Ready Interviews, giving students the chance to practise and develop their professional communication skills ahead of university applications and future employment.

Sally Archer, head of A levels at Derby College Group, said: “I am so thankful to everyone who made this week possible, our staff, our employer partners, our cultural and university partners, and above all our students, who threw themselves into every single experience with such enthusiasm.“Seeing over 430 young people step outside the classroom and into courtrooms, workshops, zoos and interview rooms has been genuinely elating. You could see their confidence growing by the day.

“This is exactly what we hoped Project Week would be, and it has exceeded every expectation. I could not be prouder of what our students and staff have achieved together this week.”

The week culminated in July with Year 1 Celebrations and Progress Day, recognising the achievements of students completing their first year of A-level study.

Derby College Group works with a wide range of regional and national partners to give students access to experiences that go far beyond the classroom. Project Week stands as one of the most visible expressions of that commitment, and plans are already underway to build on its success next year.