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What is a career academy?
Career Academies are an optional extra you can join at enrolment. They give you a deeper dive into a career field with:
- Weekly sessions focused on your chosen industry
- Guest speakers, employer visits, and university links
- Work experience and volunteering opportunities
- Projects, competitions, and enrichment activities
- Support with CVs, personal statements, and applications
You’ll also graduate from your Career Academy at a special celebration event.
Who are they for?All Level 3 students can apply to join a Career Academy when they enrol.
- Some academies have specific entry criteria but most are open to all.
- Some you’ll become part of simply by enrolling on a particular course (like Health & Social Care, Art, Performing Arts, or Music), you’ll automatically be part of that academy.
- If you don’t think a Career Academy is for you, perhaps because you’re not sure which field you want to go into yet, you’ll still have full access to careers support, mentoring, enrichment activities, and work experience.
Why join a Career Academy?
Joining an Academy helps you:
- Build employability skills that employers want
- Gain experiences that make UCAS and apprenticeship applications stronger
- Meet industry professionals and university partners
- Develop confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills
- Stand out in applications, interviews, and your future career
Examples of our Career Academies
- Medical Society Academy – explore careers in medicine and health sciences, with NHS and Lancaster University links.
- Sports Therapy Academy – coaching, fitness, and leadership opportunities with Active Blackpool.
- Digital Academy – coding, esports, cyber security, and digital innovation with industry experts.
- Law Academy – criminology, law, and politics with real-world employer links (police, legal services, armed forces).
- Creative Arts Academy – design, fashion, film, and photography with trips, exhibitions, and employer projects.
- Performers Academy – acting, dance, and theatre with performance showcases and professional workshops.
- …and many more!
EXCELLENCE AND FOUNDATION PROGRAMMES
- Excellence Programme – for high-achieving GCSE students (grades 7+). Provides additional support for Oxbridge, Russell Group universities, medicine, dentistry, and other competitive routes.
- Foundation Programme – for students who just missed Level 3 entry requirements. A 3-year route with a supportive first year at Level 2 before progressing to Level 3.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
You’ll apply for a Career Academy at enrolment (with a back-up choice if needed).
Some Academies have limited spaces or specific entry criteria.
Career Academies run throughout your Lower Sixth year, with dedicated weekly sessions plus trips and events.
Even if you don’t join an Academy, you’ll still benefit from:
- A dedicated Progress Mentor
- Futures careers support
- Enrichment clubs and societies
- Trips, visits, and volunteering opportunities
At Blackpool Sixth, your future starts here. Whether you want to work in health, engineering, digital, sport, education, law, tourism, or the arts, our Pathways and Career Academies will help you get there.
FAQs
- What exactly is a Career Academy?
A Career Academy is an optional, one-year programme for our Lower Sixth students. It allows you to explore a specific career area and develop relevant skills alongside your main subjects, linking your studies to real-world skills, experiences, and opportunities in that field.
- Are Career Academies the same as clubs and societies?
No, they’re different. Clubs and societies are extracurricular groups you can join for fun or to pursue personal interests, like football, netball, LGBT+ Society, or the Eco Committee.
Career Academies, on the other hand, are optional one-year programmes focused on a specific career area, helping you develop skills and experiences linked to your future ambitions. They include an element of careers education alongside fun activities.
- Do I have to join a Career Academy, or is it optional?
Career Academies are optional. We encourage you to consider joining one if it aligns with a field you’re interested in, as it can help you stand out and gain valuable experience. However, we don’t expect every student to take part.
All students will still receive careers education through their Progress Mentor sessions and a range of wider college activities. Career Academies simply offer an enhanced experience for those who want to take their career development further.
The only exceptions are:
Some Academies are automatically built into certain courses:- Health Academy – automatically included for students on BTEC Health or T Level Health courses, with activities and careers elements integrated into your studies.
- Performers Academy – automatically included for students on BTEC Musical Theatre or Dance courses.
- Musicians Academy – automatically included for students on BTEC Music or A Level Music Technology courses.
- Visual Arts Academy – automatically included for students on our Visual Arts A Level or BTEC courses.
- If I’m not taking Health, Musical Theatre, Dance, Music, Music Technology, or a visual arts course, can I still join their Career Academies?
Because the careers elements are built directly into these courses, it isn’t possible to formally join these Academies if you’re not studying one of the linked subjects. However, there may still be opportunities to get involved in certain activities or performances — the teachers in those departments will be happy to tell you more.
- Are Career Academies different to the Academy of Creative Arts?
Yes. The Academy of Creative Arts (ACA) is broader than the Career Academies. It brings together all of our creative subjects and the exciting opportunities available across them.
The ACA offers:
- Industry-standard facilities and expert staff
- Joint trips and events, such as New York visits and Creative Careers days
- Cross-course projects, e.g. dancers and musical theatre students performing in productions filmed by Film & TV students and supported by Music and Music Technology students
- Creative collaborations, such as photographers or graphic designers producing event publicity, or performance students modelling for Fashion Shows
- Real-world experience that develops professional skills for employment or university progression
These experiences combine to create a rich, career-focused creative environment. Career Academy-style opportunities are built into the wider ACA experience.
Courses within the ACA include:
Musical Theatre • Dance • Drama & Theatre Studies • Music • Music Technology • Film & TV Production • Film Studies • Media Studies • Art & Design • Fashion Design, Promotion & Marketing • Graphic Design • Photography • Fine Art • Textiles • Art, Craft & Design - Can I be in more than one Career Academy?
Unfortunately, no. Each Career Academy runs as a single group, and we want to make sure as many students as possible can take part. For that reason, students can only join one Career Academy.
- When do I choose which Career Academy to join?
You can apply to join a Career Academy when you complete your main course application.
As with all our courses, there may be opportunities to make changes later. You might also be able to apply at or after enrolment, but spaces are limited, so we recommend applying as early as possible to avoid missing out.
- Can I switch Academies if my interests/career aspirations change?
You may be able to change your Career Academy at enrolment or during the early course-change period. After that, you will need to commit to your chosen Academy for the duration of the lower sixth year.
Many of the skills you develop through any Career Academy are transferable and valuable across a range of fields, and they will help support your next steps, whatever your future plans.
- Can I opt out at any time if I’m no longer interested or able to attend?
Once you join a Career Academy, it’s a year-long commitment.
If you want to try a variety of fun activities that also build skills and look great on applications, you can join our enrichment societies — either alongside or instead of a Career Academy.
- Which courses link to each Career Academy?
Some Career Academies have specific course links and entry requirements. For example, the Medical Society Academy is for students studying Chemistry (and preferably Biology), with grade 7 in Maths and Science and at least grade 6 in English, usually as part of our Excellence Programme.
Many other Career Academies are open to all students — you can see the full list of Academies and their course links here on this page.
- Can I join a Career Academy not linked to any of my courses?
Yes! Most Career Academies are open to all students, so you don’t need to be on a specific course to join. The important thing is that you’re interested in the career area, enjoy the activities, and want to explore the opportunities.
You’ll need to commit for the full year, so check the info on this page and chat with our team at one of our open events if you’re unsure.
- What kind of work experience or industry links will I get through an Academy?
Opportunities vary depending on the Career Academy you join, but could include:
- Guest speakers from relevant businesses or university courses
- Visits to businesses or employer-led projects
- Competitions and conferences
- Volunteering opportunities related to the career area
- Work shadowing or placements in a related business
We encourage students to seek out their own placements and will support you in arranging them, but we can often help you find suitable opportunities too. Our Futures team and the Career Academy Lead are on hand to guide and support you throughout.
- How much extra time does it take outside of lessons?
You’ll have one scheduled session per week on your timetable, led by your Career Academy Lead — this is a year-long commitment.
Beyond that, any additional time is flexible and depends on the activities and opportunities available, which may vary throughout the year. The more you put in, the more you’ll get out — the aim is to develop skills, explore opportunities, and have fun. It’s all about Building Futures!
- When do Career Academy sessions take place — during lessons or at lunchtime?
You’ll have a session scheduled in one of your lesson blocks, so you won’t miss your lunch break. You can still enjoy our fabulous food and some time to relax with friends!
- Will I get any special qualifications or certificates from it?
Career Academies are all about valuable, hands-on experiences that build skills and understanding — there’s no pressure to gain a formal qualification.
Your involvement will be recognised, and you’ll receive a certificate that you can use for future university or job applications and interviews.
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