Year 10 students have enjoyed a week-long period of work experience with local businesses and organisations from a wide variety of sectors.

Animal lovers got the opportunity to work in their ideal environment thanks to Castle Vets and The Barkery Dog Kennels, whilst others enjoyed placements in a wide variety of sectors from retail, hospitality and administration to commercial trades and service industries.

A number of students requested placements in local primary schools to explore their ambition to teach as a career, and as a result, pupils spent the week at Oakley Cross, Etherley Lane, Cockton Hill, Thornhill, Hunwick, Sunnybrow, Timothy Hackworth, Evergreen, St Helen's, St Andrew's and Victoria Lane Primary Schools. Others were keen to work with younger children in a childcare environment and we are extremely grateful to York House, Acklet Close, Tudhoe Moor and Yellow Wellies nurseries who kindly offered placements.

Students also enjoyed customer-facing placements at Breaking Bad Cafe, Senses charity shop, Holly Lodge Care Home, Cockton Hill News, Time for Tearooms, Specsavers and Archers Ice Cream; and some with a passion for beauty and personal care spent the week at Locks & Looks, Locks & Lashes, Lox & Lux, Bella Beauty, Ethos Beauty and Enhance.

A group of students also spent the week at The Auckland Project where they experienced a variety of roles including tour guide and visitor adviser, and learned about the many opportunities for careers in archaeology, restoration and curation.

We would like to thank all of the businesses who have supported us during this week by providing our students with an excellent experience including George Smith Electricals, Durham Works, Garnetts, Innovations, Livin, Tri-tech Surveys, Dalecare, Ineos, Velocity UK, Homes by Esh, Fab Deals, AJM Construction Ltd, Ramsey Joinery, T Manners, Holly Lodge Care Home, Garden Alliance, Inkheart Tattoo, Leisure Vehicle Services Cannock, Gestamp, Durham Box, Trimdon Farm, 4 Clocks, Franks, Lee Brown, Elite Decor and C&C Aldred.