The Crypt School in Gloucester has taken the innovative step of inviting alumni and their colleagues in the Gloucestershire business community to help support and influence the careers choices of students.

Recently launched by the school, The 1539 Foundation aims to develop and foster relationships with employers, parents and alumni of the school.

The foundation is inviting individuals and organisations to provide practical support to students currently studying at Crypt and engage in ways which will have a positive impact on their personal development, especially in careers education and aspiration.

Through a variety of means, including work placements, career talks, mentoring and attendance at careers fairs, the school is seeking to involve a broad range of individuals, businesses and organisations to help their young people explore future careers and develop the skills they will need for work.

Nick Dyer, headteacher, said: "We have over a thousand students at the school, all very hard working, very bright and very ambitious, providing employers with potential employees of the future

"The foundation aims to bring together employers, training providers, Old Cryptians, parents and friends of the school with our current students, to help their career development aspirations."

The school has partnered with Future First - the only UK education charity connecting state school and college pupils to former students they can truly relate to and aspire to be like.

Nick Dyer continued: "We seek to bring together the various components of the Crypt School community into a network that will provide those within the foundation with ongoing support and opportunities for career development."

To find out more about the foundation, visit the school website https://www.cryptschool.org/1539-foundation or contact Sharon Bailey, alumni relationship officer, at sbailey@crypt.gloucs.sch.uk or 01452 530291.

Duncan Willoughby, enterprise coordinator of the GFirst Careers Hub, said: "This initiative is a shining example of best practice of how schools can engage with their local business community.

"Sensibly, they are engaging first with ex-students of the school and their wider school community, creating linkages with individuals who are often excellent role models and influencers for their current students.

"The local remit of the Careers Hub is to ensure that schools and colleges in the county are aware of and have access to high quality careers education experiences for their students to learn more about the world of work. This initiative fully vindicates the effectiveness of this approach. We wish them every success and hope more follow their lead."

To find out more about the Careers Hub and to offer your support to careers education initiatives in the county visit https://www.gloscareershub.com/.