Staffordshire school does first-class job securing speakers

The event is taking place at Aurora Hanley School, which provides specialist education for young people aged six to 19 who have communication and social needs typically associated with autism spectrum conditions.

The school’s Careers Week will give youngsters aged between 14 and 18 the opportunity to hear from people working in a variety of professions. Other speakers include Port Vale FC first aid instructors, a radio broadcaster and an author.

The event has been organised by the school’s careers team, supported by senior administrator Lydia Kelly, who said the list of speakers was inspired primarily by pupils, parents and staff at the school.

She added: “There’s a real buzz about the school at the moment. We invited some of the speakers because of our pupils’ interest in sport but we also asked parents and staff for ideas. We’ve covered quite a few bases and have come up with a mix of careers that are well suited to the things our pupils are interested in.”

The school’s head teacher Julie Martin said: “We’re really grateful to the speakers for offering up their time to give our pupils an insight into what it’s like to do their jobs – and how they got there. There’s such a range of interesting professions being represented that they won’t fail to inspire the young minds. We’re all getting very excited about welcoming them all next week.”

The full list of speakers are: 

• Author Chris Bonnello

• Staffordshire Police Forensic Investigator John Arnold

• Bentley Motors’ Caroline Lowe

• Former professional boxer Lee Jones, who runs Ten Count boxing gym in Hanley

• Civvy2Commando David Coleman

• Port Vale FC First Aid Instructor Brett Pointon and Port Vale Ladies’ FC Asst Manager Jack Day

• Radio broadcaster Den Siegertsz

• Podcaster Zia Smith;

• Freelance Premier League football camera operator Patrick Keighery and Coach Chris from Longton-based The Jump Rope company