On Tuesday 17 July, King Alfred’s hosted members of Wantage Chamber of Commerce and Work Experience Employers at a special Reception held on Centre Site in the Dining Hall. Every year, Sue Cronin, Work Experience Manager at the academy, hosts a Thank-You Event to which all employers that have offered Work Experience for a King Alfred’s Student are invited. This is the first year that this has been combined with a Reception for Wantage Chamber of Commerce, reflecting the closer ties between the academy and the community.
Jon Smart, Acting Headteacher, spoke briefly, and introduced King Alfred’s new Head, Rick Holroyd, who was also present. The event included presentations from students who have recently benefited from very successful placements and Harkit Sandhu, Head of Business Studies and Computing, also spoke. Paul Thompson, Head of Design & Technology, manned a Product Design display and spoke to visitors about future ambitions for the Department. Sixth form students were also on hand to show visitors round the newly refurbished Segsbury Building and the academy’s new Science Building.
Roxy Boulter, spokesperson for the academy, said “It was a great turnout and we received some good feedback from those that came. We’ll definitely be looking to repeat the event next year. We couldn’t offer our students work experience placements without the support of local businesses and organisations in the community – this is a way of showing our huge appreciation.”
