National Apprenticeship Week at Omega Multi-Academy Trust!

As part of this year’s National Apprenticeship Week, we have loved hearing about the achievements and contributions of our apprentices. We take pride in the success of those who have chosen the apprenticeship route, including our former students who have progressed onto apprenticeships after studying with us.

We recognise the value of apprenticeships, the impact they have within our Trust and school communities and the power in providing practical skills, qualifications and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

As a trust, we are committed to nurturing talent and fostering a culture of learning, innovation, and opportunity to ensure a brighter future for both our apprentices and our Trust as a whole.

We spoke to apprentices across the Trust to find out more about their experiences and how their apprenticeships have shaped their career paths.

Charley Searle – PE and Sports Coach Apprentice

Charley started her 21 month apprenticeship at Chapelford Village Primary School in January 2025 and is hoping to become a Teaching Assistant once the course is completed.  

She said: “I decided to do an apprenticeship so that I could learn on the job, it’s important to me to have experience, and I felt like I would gain more experience through an apprenticeship rather than at university. I love being thrown into action whenever it’s needed and I’m glad I’ve got the opportunity to do that in my situation, it makes it very clear that this was the best route.”

Charley enjoys that every day is different with a chance for her to learn effectively on the job while in a supportive and inspiring environment.

She added: “It also makes me push myself to be a better apprentice which benefits the teaching I can offer the children during the PE sessions.”

 Maria Hartless - CIPD Level 5 – HR Apprenticeship

Maria is part of our central support staff and is currently in the middle of a three year apprenticeship which provides her with invaluable on-the-job experience, helping Maria to progress her career within HR.

She said: “I enjoy continuously learning new skills and applying them to my role.  I have also grown in confidence, discovered new passions and built stronger relationships with staff.”

Michelle Galvin - CIPD Level 5 – HR Apprenticeship

Michelle, part of our central support staff team is adding to her HR expertise by completing a CIPD Level 5 HR Apprenticeship.

Michelle commented that “Attending college one day a week has allowed me to listen to others' experiences and understand how different HR can be across various sectors. The support I have received from my coaches has been invaluable. Additionally, the knowledge and experience I have gained throughout the course, both during classes and through my own research, have been immensely beneficial".

From Student to Apprentice

At Barrow Hall College students progress onto a range of different pathways post study and we spoke to three ex students who took up apprenticeship offers.

Olivia Frayne - Level 2 Early Years Practitioner Apprenticeship

Olivia completed an apprenticeship as a Level 2 Early Years Practitioner after studying at Barrow Hall College until 2023.

She said: “In my time at Barrow Hall College, I studied A level Art and Textiles and A level English Language. I also completed a childcare enrichment course where I did a work placement at Busy Nought to Fives Day Nursery, which is where my passion for wanting to work with children really started.  I then went onto complete my level 2 Early Years Practitioner apprenticeship at Dunky's Day Nursery, achieving a distinction. I loved my time completing my qualification. I really enjoyed working with the different age ranges from babies up to preschool and learnt many skills and grew so much in confidence and independence in my time at the early years setting.”

Olivia is now working as a Teaching Assistant in an age 3- 18 school. Olivia said her apprenticeship opened many doors in the early years sector, and she is excited for her future in education.

Lucas Donson-Jones - Level 3 Production Assistant Apprenticeship

Lucas joined Barrow Hall College in 2021, where he studied Media, Criminology and Public Services. Media quickly became his favourite subject, leading to work experience with a marketing agency and an apprenticeship offer.

During his Level 3 Production Assistant apprenticeship, Lucas completed various assignments and an end-point assessment. They gained experience in pre-production paperwork, live production shoots, video editing, animation and drone piloting, building a well-rounded skill set.

Lucas believes apprenticeships are an excellent career pathway and comments "They allow you to gain real-world experience while learning on the job, which is extremely valuable when looking for jobs in the future. For me, it has been the perfect way to transition from education into a career, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to gain practical experience and a solid foundation for their future".

Cole Whiting - Police Degree Level Apprenticeship

After studying Criminology, Business and IT at Barrow Hall College in 2021. Cole achieved his desired grades but was uncertain about his future.

Cole decided to pursue an apprenticeship, recognising it as a valuable way to gain first-hand experience and earn an income. After exploring various options Cole chose a police degree level apprenticeship due to his interest in criminology. The application process involved interviews and tests, which he successfully passed, leading to their current role as a Police Officer.

Cole has been in the role for two years, finding it both rewarding and full of opportunities and believes apprenticeships are excellent career pathways, offering practical experience and making candidates more attractive to employers and said "Apprenticeships are brilliant for someone's future with a plethora of benefits, recommending them to anyone considering this route".

National Apprenticeship Week is a nationwide event that unites businesses and apprentices, focusing on the positive impact apprenticeships have on individuals, businesses and the broader economy. This year’s theme, Skills for Life, reflects the long-term benefits and career development opportunities apprenticeships offer and it has been great to hear so much positivity from our apprentices.