Year 7 Trip to Aerozone

Last Friday, 30 of our Year 7 students visited the ‘Aerozone’, Stansted Airport’s dedicated on-site education centre.

The facility provides an immersive look into airport operations focussing on aviation careers, STEM, and Stansted Airport’s history as a WWII U.S. Air Force base.

The group enjoyed interactive exhibits – such as trying on official airport uniforms, magnetic destination maps, science sets, and exploring a scale model built by engineering apprentices – before heading to the viewing platform for a unique look at the runway. The students also learned that Stansted was the first major UK airport to open its own purpose-built college on the premises.

The day concluded with an engaging talk from a volunteer baggage handler who provided first-hand insight into the vital logistics of airport life.

Our Year 7s were fantastic ambassadors for the school, displaying exemplary behaviour and asking highly thoughtful questions throughout the day.

Careers Assemblies

This week, we were delighted to host two of our former students as well as an ex-BBC politics journalist for a series of insightful careers talks.

On Monday, Hollie Watson returned to lead a Lower School Careers Assembly. Drawing on her current role at Domino’s Pizza, she provided a comprehensive look at life in the food industry, covering everything from career pathways and essential modern workplace skills to personal tips for success.

On Wednesday, we welcomed back former Deputy Head Girl, Jess Ward. Jess attended our Year 13 Apprenticeship Academy while at school and is now an apprentice at VolkerHighways Ltd. Jess spoke to Years 9 and 10 about her decision to pursue an apprenticeship. She offered valuable clarity on what her employers look for in candidates and helped debunk common misconceptions about the construction industry. Jess was joined by her colleague, Lucy Davies, a fellow Presdales alumnus who successfully completed an apprenticeship program with VolkerHighways.

A huge thank you to Keith Macdougall for delivering a captivating talk on ‘Why Politics Matters’ to our Year 11 and Sixth Form students this morning. Drawing on an impressive 30-year career in journalism – including 21 years at Westminster for the BBC – Keith provided a real insight into the modern political landscape and the necessity of political leadership in an ever-changing world.

It was an inspiring, deeply informative session that left our students with a much deeper grasp of our political system and the exciting world of journalism.

A huge thank you to our incredible guest speakers!

HOP and Herts Careers Hub Parent/Carer Careers, Work Experience and Apprenticeships Survey

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Online Work Experience and Career Days

CareerDays.co.uk offers a series of online work experience and Career Days designed specifically for students aged 13–18. These live, interactive days give students a chance to:

• Learn about a specific career from industry professionals
• Understand day-to-day life, entry requirements, and pathways
• Complete practical work experience tasks
• Ask questions in live Q&A sessions
• Receive a personalised certificate for UCAS or CV use

They have got a range of upcoming Career Days that might suit different interests — all taking place online and accessible from anywhere:

Vet Work Experience & Careers Day – Saturday 21st March 2026
Computer Science Work Experience & Careers Day – Saturday 28th March 2026
Medicine Work Experience & Careers Day – Saturday 4th April 2026
Law Work Experience & Careers Day – Saturday 11th April 2026
Midwifery Work Experience & Careers Day – Saturday 18th April 2026
Dentistry Work Experience & Careers Day – Sunday 19th April 2026
Psychology Work Experience & Careers Day – Saturday 25th April 2026
Architect Work Experience & Careers Day – Saturday 2nd May 2026
Engineering Work Experience & Careers Day – Saturday 9th May 2026
Business Work Experience & Careers Day – Saturday 16th May 2026
Performing Arts Work Experience & Careers Day – Sunday 18th October 2026

Details, dates & registration: www.careerdays.co.uk

Why this might benefit students:

✔ Career insight – live expert input and real-world context
✔ Work experience evidence for UCAS & applications
✔ Accessible for students anywhere – no travel required
✔ Suitable across Years 9–13