Year 9 creative careers Morning
Last week, our Year 9 pupils enjoyed an inspiring Creative Careers morning, spending the morning exploring the breadth of the creative industries, from film and fashion to ceramics, architecture and fine art. The event combined talks from a wide range of professional creatives with hands-on practical sessions, giving pupils a sense of how creative interests can develop into meaningful pathways.
We were delighted to welcome an inspring group of visiting speakers who brought the creative sector to life through their own career stories. Somerset-based artist and piano technician Marc Hackworthy shared how he transforms unplayable pianos into striking sculptural works. Pupils also heard from Sarah Lea, an independent art historian, curator and writer who has curated major exhibitions at the Royal Academy of Arts.
Ceramicist Jo Taylor spoke about her sculptural practice and the ways in which inspiration, technique and experimentation combine in contemporary making. Our pupils also gained a behind-the-camera view of the industry from filmmaker Matt Milloy.
The morning also highlighted how creativity is expressed in design-led professions. Pupils explored the architectural process with Rob Mitchell, and considered how architecture balances aesthetics, practicality and problem-solving in the built environment. Finally, fashion designer and OE, Johnny Szymanski, who designs and produces menswear from his studio and store in Frome, spoke about his creative career.
Following the talks, our pupils moved into practical workshops, led by the Art department, including tile-making and textiles, where they could experiment with processes and techniques first-hand.
The Creative Careers Day sits within our wider KES Careers programme, which begins in Year 7. Our aim is to give pupils a diverse and fascinating range of insights, making the link between the skills developed at school, including both “soft” and “hard” skills, and the future workplace explicit from the outset. Careers is woven into school life through age-appropriate lessons and activities, with pupils encouraged to think broadly, explore emerging and innovative sectors alongside more traditional pathways, and attend talks and workshops even when they are aimed at older year groups.
In Year 9, that journey becomes especially timely as pupils begin planning for the future and preparing for their GCSE options. Pupils receive guidance and materials through their tutors and an options booklet, and early in the Spring term they are introduced to Morrisby, our external careers provider, to help them explore their interests and provide a useful framework for subject decision-making.
With many thanks to our visiting creatives for their time, generosity and inspiration, and to our Art and Careers teams for organising the morning for Year 9.
To find out more about careers education at KES, visit our Careers Guidance page, HERE.
