Year 9 Pupils Explore Creative Careers Across Sunderland

Thirteen of our Year 9 pupils with a passion for the creative industries spent an inspiring day at Sunderland City Hall yesterday, discovering the range of opportunities available across the city and the wider North East.

The day began with a welcome and registration in the City Hall Chamber, followed by an engaging keynote session with Kema Kay and Marie Nixon. Both speakers shared their personal journeys into the creative sector and the steps that led them to their current roles. Their stories provided pupils with valuable insight into the breadth of creative careers available locally.

Following the keynote, students took part in a hands-on town-planning workshop. They explored the role of a town planner, learning how communities are shaped, spaces are designed, and decisions are made to influence the growth of a city. Pupils also discovered the exciting regeneration projects currently underway across Sunderland city centre, gaining a practical view of creativity in action.

After lunch, the group headed out for a photography walk around the city. Using either their own devices or school iPads, pupils captured Sunderland’s architecture, culture, and evolving landscape through their own creative lens.

The day concluded with time in the city marketplace, giving pupils the chance to reflect on their experiences and consider how their creative interests could shape future career paths.

This event offered an inspiring look at the wealth of creative opportunities in Sunderland and the North East, helping our Year 9 students see how their skills and passions can contribute to the region’s vibrant cultural landscape.