As the academic year drew to a close, 120 Year 10 pupils took part in the newly reimagined What's My Line? Careers Networking Event, the final careers event of the year and part of their Sixth Form experience week.

Held in the Wortley Sixth Form Centre, the afternoon gave pupils direct access to Old Tridents working across a diverse range of professions and industries, providing first-hand insight into the world of work and the many different pathways available beyond school.

Pupils were divided into two groups, alternating between a business marketing challenge with their tutors and dedicated careers networking with delegates (our Old Trident volunteers). During the networking sessions, small groups of pupils spent time with delegates, giving every student the opportunity to ask questions, hear personal career journeys and explore professions they may not previously have considered, or even heard of!

"So much of the path I've taken since leaving school was shaped by my time at Trent and the opportunities I had here. It's wonderful to come back, share that experience and hopefully give something back to the next generation."

The breadth of careers represented was considerable, including policing, commercial aviation and aviation training, entrepreneurship and e-commerce, accountancy and financial planning, law, data analytics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, computer science research and data science.

Pupils also heard about alternative routes to professional qualifications and international study opportunities, including the experience of studying Economics and Business Management in the USA on a hockey scholarship, before progressing to postgraduate study in Data Science.

"The best PSHE session we've ever had!"

The refreshed format formed part of Trent College's PSHE programme, helping pupils develop their understanding of life and work beyond school. The opportunity to speak directly with professionals, particularly Old Tridents who once shared the same school experience, makes career journeys more relatable and provides a valuable context for pupils beginning to consider their own future choices.

Feedback from pupils and tutors was extremely positive, with one Year 10 pupil describing the afternoon as "the best PSHE session we've ever had!"

The Wortley Sixth Form Centre also provided an appropriate setting for the event. As Year 10 pupils begin to look ahead to post-GCSE choices, the afternoon gave them time in an environment that will become increasingly relevant as they consider Sixth Form, A Level and BTEC pathways.

Following the Year 10 event, Year 12 students were invited to an informal careers drop-in session. Those attending were able to have more focused conversations with delegates around their own areas of interest, including Computer Science, Aviation, Psychology and studying abroad, as they continue to research and prepare for their post-18 pathways.

The event concluded another busy year for the school's dedicated Careers Department, whose programme provides pupils across all year groups with opportunities to explore careers, develop employability awareness and make informed choices about their next steps.

Our sincere thanks go to the Old Tridents who gave their time, experience, energy and enthusiasm to support the event. As former pupils, they are uniquely placed to bring the world of work to life for current students and provide inspiring and relatable role models.


LtoR: R Goddard (class of 1985), F Budden (clas of 2022), P Craciun (class of 2021), E Glover (class of 2019), R Purewal (class of 2014),
C Triggs (class of 2020), T Singleton (class of 2012), L Hands (class of 2015), Capt. I Norman (clas of 1981)

Following the success of the new format, What's My Line? will return next academic year alongside further careers activities and stand-alone alumni speaker events.  If you would like to find out more about how you can get involved, please email alumni@trentcollege.net