STUDENTS have been offered advice from a range of businesses and trainers to help give them a head-start on the future.

The Education Village in Darlington invited sixth form providers, further education colleges, local businesses, training academies, support networks and armed forces recruitment officers to its annual careers fayre.

The event aims to help pupils make more informed decisions over their further education and career choices.

Students were given the opportunity to get their hands dirty constructing a brick wall, creating Lego animation films, taking pulse and heart rate readings using specialist health care equipment, making pancakes

Caroline Larsen, assistant head teacher, said: “It has been a great way of raising aspirations and awareness about the incredible opportunities in engineering for boys and girls.

Paula Spittlehouse, careers support officer, added: “Our students have been buzzing about some of the things they have learnt and it really gets them thinking about what career they may wish to follow after leaving school.”