Assessing our talent
Mock Assessment centre gives Year 12 a taste of the requirements of the workplace
Our Careers programme strives to inform our pupils on the different options in their future world of work. We give them opportunities to hear about different careers and roles and how their interests and skills fit them. We also look to provide them with experiences in the workplace with shadowing and Work Experience weeks. An extra facet to our careers journey is to develop skills to give them an advantage in the competitive workplace – and to help them practice key skills. Our Mock Assessment Centre is one such opportunity
Our Corporate partner Computacenter came in this term to deliver a simulated assessment centre to put our Year 12 through their paces! The format was timed, group work requiring creative output. Our Year 12s were expected to come up with an innovative IT solution to the theme park market – apps for queuing, selling and enjoying the day out activities.
The groups were competing for prizes and were expected to present and persuade our visiting panel of employers of their ideas. This exercise developed and assessed skills of teamwork, creativity, presentation and communication, adaptability and time keeping. As well as producing creative business output, each team was assessed against key criteria – much as they would be at an employment assessment day. The full gambit of activities on an Assessment centre was also explained to them, from interview to data and in tray exercises and presentations. Our Corporate partner Futures Manager Renee Ramsay-Nicol commented: ” The Bishop’s sixth formers were creative and supportive in their group work – a great combination” This event will be complemented later in the term with a Mock Interview session – to shine a light on the skills and experience our Year 12s are developing – watch this space!