STUDENTS struggling to decide on their future goals explored a variety of exciting options at a careers fair.

The Oakfield Project’s ninth annual careers event at STFC’s Legends Lounge brought every college and local major employer under one roof to show pupils from several Swindon schools and educational provisions what life could be like after their exams.

The project offers Key Stage 4 support for 14-to-16-year-olds who fall outside of mainstream education in order to help them gain the best possible skills and employment opportunities.

Corey Lockey, 16, from Pinehurst remembered what it was like when he visited the fair for the first time last year: “It was nerve-wracking, I didn’t know what I wanted to do after school, so I went to the fair with my friends and my key mentor Debbie, who took me around.

“I spoke to someone from Wiltshire College and asked about horse care because I’d done horse riding a long time ago and wanted to get back into it.

“They told me everything I needed to know and all the things I could do, so I felt good about myself and I finally knew what I wanted to do. Now I’m doing work experience at Wickstead Farm and waiting for a start date for my course at the college.”

Pupils from Riverside, Crowdy’s Hill, Fernbrook Primary, Ridgeway, Abbey Park, Commonweal, St Josephs, and St Lukes schools visited the fair, along with Oakfield Project students.

The project’s senior youth officer and deputy manager Paul Wainwright said: “Our learners are not the sort of learner who go to an open college event, which can be quite daunting, so we decided to bring the open days to them.

“This event raises the aspirations of our young people and gives them guidance about their future paths.

“This year’s event had more than 150 people through the doors, which is great, we work with other Education Other Than School providers to invite them here with some of the mainstream schools.

“The project has a 100 per cent September guarantee, which means that everyone there has been made an offer for a place, and we support them through the application process.”

Swindon College, New College,Wiltshire College, Cirencester College, Great Western Hospital, the armed forces, the council, Nationwide, Mini, Prime Theatre, Green Labyrinth, Catch-22 and Inner Flame were all keen to attract inquisitive young minds.

Kim Waites, school liaison officer for Swindon College said: “We’ve worked with the project for as long as its existed and get a lot of interest from their students. Paul is so supportive of them and we have a great support network, it’s a good match.”