STUDENTS started planning their futures during a virtual careers day.

Bosses at Maltings Academy in Witham hosted the annual event online to ensure its Year 9 pupils didn't miss out because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The school's first-ever virtual careers day saw an assembly broadcast to students before they were encouraged to use websites to plot their future careers.

Head of academy James Forbes said: “While the national schools closure means students cannot be on site, Maltings Academy believes passionately that students should not be disadvantaged during this period.

“Our careers curriculum is an essential part of our students’ personal development and we wanted to ensure this continued despite the current barriers."

Student Noah Eardley, who took part in the event. said: “The first ever virtual careers day was very interesting and beneficial as it made me see how many different careers are out there.

"I was also able to see what some of these jobs were like with the many videos sent to us.

"This has given me an idea of what I want to do when I leave school.”