On Friday, 18 September, a group of Swanmore College pupils had the fantastic opportunity to step aboard HMS Prince of Wales at the Portsmouth Naval Base as part of a trip organised by our Careers Team.

During the visit, pupils explored one of the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carriers and gained a first-hand insight into what life and work are like on board. They also heard directly from serving Royal Navy personnel about their own career journeys and experiences.

The visit gave pupils the chance to discover the huge variety of people and skills needed to operate an aircraft carrier, as well as the importance of teamwork and leadership in life at sea.

Pupils were introduced to a wide range of career pathways within the Royal Navy, alongside opportunities across the wider defence sector and associated STEM and engineering industries. From technical and engineering roles to logistics and other specialist careers, the experience highlighted just how varied the opportunities within the sector can be.

Getting out of the classroom and into real working environments is an important part of careers education at Swanmore. Visits like this give pupils the opportunity to discover careers they may not previously have considered, hear directly from people working in different industries and develop a clearer picture of the pathways available to them in the future.

A huge thank you to the Royal Navy and everyone involved in making the visit possible and giving our pupils such a memorable experience aboard HMS Prince of Wales.