Students in Bicester adopted the hands-on approach when they took part in a careers convention to help choose GCSE subjects.

Showing off masks they had made with David Odwar, of Through Art Keep Smiling, were Jennifer Casey, 16, Sophie Randall, 16, and Natasha Burnett, 16. Jennifer, 16, of Gosford Hill School, Kidlington, said: "We were given clay and were able to make our own mask design. This event is really good in helping students decide what subjects they want to study."

Opening the Going 4 It event, at Cooper School, was surprise guest jazz/soul singer songwriter Fil Straughan, a New Yorker who narrowly escaped being a victim of the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre.

More than 450 year nine pupils from Cooper School and Bicester Community College listened to Mr Straughan tell how he then worked for investment bank Morgan Stanley, but was given a day off on September 11, 2001 - when friends and relatives were killed.

Mr Straughan, a member of The Drifters band, sang R Kelly's I Believe I Can Fly, but changed the lyrics to emphasise the importance of choices, and being the best you can be in life.

Exhibitors included Newsquest Oxfordshire, which publishes the Oxford Mail; Oxford Brookes University, BMW and Thames Valley Police.