The Year 11 students were lucky to be invited to a Health and Care Careers roadshow at Newcastle College. The students took part in a morning seminar describing the skills and qualifications needed to consider a career in health and care.
They then moved onto a workshop led by the city midwifery team. The midwives explained to the students their role using a mannequin. The students were able to listen to the baby’s heartbeat and discussed the differences between that and the heartbeat of the mother. The students were also able to measure the mother’s bump and learnt how the size of the bump related to the age of the baby.
Secondly, they were able to experience an employer exhibition where the students were able to meet a variety of professionals. We were particularly interested in the dementia support team and the physiotherapy team.
After the exhibition, the students moved onto a Lung Function Workshop. Here, the students tested the strength of their own lungs, both sitting and standing, before they compared the results. They learnt that generally, there is a correlation between the height of an individual and the strength of their lungs. They also discussed what factors might negatively influence lung capacity.
Finally, the students moved onto a paramedic science workshop. They were able to stand in an ambulance and learn about the work of a paramedic and the procedures taken to support a patient in an ambulance.
Although not all of our students will eventually choose careers in the health and social sector, it was an invaluable opportunity to meet professionals and experience the college environment.
