The event was designed to give pupils a hands-on preview of post-16 college life and help guide their upcoming application decisions. Pupils were given the independence to choose their own paths for the day, exploring a wide variety of practical subjects such as Fashion & Textiles, Catering, Sport and Construction, to name but a few.

The busy day saw Risedale pupils mixing with peers from three other local schools. Each pupil participated in two separate, 90-minute specialised sessions.

Careers Coordinator, Mrs Porritt, expressed immense pride in how the pupils conducted themselves.

"Our pupils represented Risedale brilliantly; in fact, I was incredibly proud of them," said Mrs Porritt. "It was wonderful to see the smiles on their faces as they came out of their taster sessions. Seeing that spark of excitement makes this job so worthwhile. You can see the moment the penny drops, and they realise, 'Wow, college applications are just around the corner, and it's time to start planning my future!'"

Risedale School extends a huge thank you to all the welcoming staff at Darlington College, as well as the dedicated Risedale staff whose support made this valuable experience possible for our Year 10 pupils.

#TeamRisedale 💙💜🧡❤️ #BEST

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