JOHN of Gaunt School has agreed to join the World of Work programme to help prepare pupils for life beyond education, after taking part in master classes on interviewing skills.

The programme is run partnership with the Trowbridge Town Team and the Chamber of Commerce, with the winner of the Hitachi Young Entrepreneur of the Year Maxine Aldridge and Kieran McEleny also involved.

Sixth form students Dylan Stephens, Clare Alley and Lauren Warr have already taken part in their first workshop called FISH, which will cover finance, interviewing skills, entrepreneurial skills, leadership and presentations.

Trowbridge Town Team chairman David Baker said: “The young people have already grasped the need to understand the working world and it is interesting that some local entrepreneurs have asked if we can support them as well, which I am doing.”

As part of the programme, there will also be opportunities to visit businesses and learn more about the options the students can go down when their education has come to an end.

Matthew Maw, Leader of CEIAG at John of Gaunt, said: “The WOW Programme is a great tool to prepare our students for the real world.

“At this early stage of the programme, feedback from students has been very positive and it builds on and reinforces the careers education we provide.”