Overview
Bluecoat Trent Academy is proud to partner with ThinkForward through their pioneering FutureMe programme, ensuring our students receive tailored, long-term support from Year 9 through to Post‑16. FutureMe is a unique five-year initiative that works alongside young people from age 13 to 18, delivering continuous encouragement, pastoral care, guidance, and employability training.
At the heart of this partnership is a dedicated ThinkForward coach based full time within our school. This coach builds meaningful, trusted relationships through a blend of one-to-one mentoring and group sessions. Students in Years 9–11 and those in Post‑16 provision benefit from personalised support that enhances key Work Readiness Capabilities, developing confidence, resilience, organisation, communication, and more, all crucial for navigating future education, employment, and life beyond school .
Across their five-year journey, our young people engage in a rich suite of employability opportunities. These include insightful CV-writing workshops, mock interview practice, structured work experience placements, and access to business mentoring. Through these activities, they connect directly with employers from local businesses to larger national organisations, helping them broaden horizons and overcome barriers often outside the reach of school, family, or community networks.
Student Projects
The first year of the ThinkForward FutureMe programme at Bluecoat Trent Academy has already seen fantastic success and impact. Our students embraced the opportunity to become Ambassadors, leading the way by taking part in a youth-led social action project during the Autumn Term. Through a series of planning and development sessions, the students explored issues important to them and worked collaboratively to design a project that made a positive difference in their community. Their efforts culminated in a professional presentation to a panel at the Nottingham Building Society, showcasing their confidence, creativity, and commitment to social change.
In addition to their social action project, Year 9 students experienced a number of inspiring insight days. At Twycross Zoo, they explored career opportunities linked to conservation and animal care. A visit to Nottingham College introduced them to a wide range of Post-16 pathways, broadening their understanding of future educational options. Their final visit to the Nottingham Building Society gave them a platform to present their social action work and gain feedback from professionals in a formal business setting.
Year 10 students also made excellent progress through a variety of targeted activities. In school, they took part in group sessions that explored key personal development themes such as growth mindset, control and influence, and effective communication. They visited John Deere, where they gained valuable insights into careers in Land-Based Engineering and the apprenticeship pathways available within the industry. A highlight of the year was the Business Mentoring programme with HMRC – a six-week experience where students worked closely with professional mentors to write their first CVs, practise mock interviews, and receive personalised feedback. This rich programme of support and opportunity has helped to build confidence and aspiration among our students, setting strong foundations for future success.
Social Action Project
Year 9 Think Forward students launched a social action project in line with their RSHE drop down day. This was to raise awareness around abusive teenage relationships, and where to seek help.
Please find more information in the booklet students created here: