BUSINESSESPEOPLE and teachers have praised the success of a careers event at a Marlow school which they say has a mutual benefit for students and the economic future of the town.

Great Marlow School held its third Careers Day last week, with younger pupils choosing exam options and sixth formers exploring their options beyond A-Levels.

Firms from Marlow and the surrounding area chatted to the town’s future business leaders and answered their questions about professions ranging from architecture to hairdressing.

Head of sixth form Owen Hollyman lauded the wealth of business expertise the town has to offer, and said the school often sends its students for apprenticeships and training with Marlow businesses.

He added that students who choose to stay in the area and train on the job have some the best possible options available to them.

Mr Hollyman said: "The businesses have a huge impact, with the ability for students to talk to people involved in certain industries and find out what’s involved from a practical point of view.

"It’s great to have these locally as students don’t want to have to travel to London to get the experience as it’s so expensive.

"Marlow is a representative of the whole country in that it’s a microcosm of businesses with almost every type of job and field here.

"One of the main points of A-Levels is to prepare them to go off to university and so we never try to hold people back.

"But when we have students who are sure they do not want to do that, it really helps for them to look around and see what’s best for them in the area."

Several members of Marlow Chamber of Commerce were represented at the Careers Day, including Brothers Hairdressing, The Compleat Angler and Waitrose.

Chamber president Tim Graham, whose law firm LGP was also there to give advice, echoed the school’s positive view on the positive impact the link between businesses and schools in Marlow can produce.

He said: "The career event was a great opportunity to meet the pupils at GMS.

"The event was for all year groups and it is fun for all concerned to involve pupils in the world of work and the opportunities that are out there for our young people.

"We have had several enquiries for work experience opportunities that we are actively considering."

Acting headteacher Linton Nash said the students were "extremely positive" about their experience, and thanked businesses around the town for giving up their time.