Walsall EBP - Achieving Success Together

Activities

Secondary School Programmes

Work-Related Learning

Practice Interviews

Standard

Year 11 students are provided with the experience of a job interview that is as realistic as possible, conducted by local business people, normally on their own premises. Practice interviews provide a unique learning opportunity for students and, to maximise the benefits, an interview feedback sheet is completed and sent back to the school.

Occupationally Specific

Interview as above but with representative from a specific occupational area. Please click to access list of occupational areas.

Enhanced

Students go through a full application process for a job, including phoning for forms and job descriptions, confirming their attendance for the interview and undergoing a full interview with feedback. This generates evidence that can be used for accreditation.

Work Placements

Through its links with a range of businesses and training providers Walsall EBP Staff can identify work placements for students to support curriculum requirements.

These can be:
1. A one or two day per week placement (Business Insight)
2. A one or two week block
3. Tailored to suit

Longer term placements could generate Units towards an NVQ or other qualification.

Walsall EBP will interview the young person, to assess suitability for the placement offered, and then identify and arrange a placement including carrying out a full Health & Safety check.

Smart Choices Plus

The programme is designed to support young people who may have difficulty moving into a positive destination when they leave school. The Year 11 students receive weekly motivational and teamwork sessions and also support with the completion of application forms & CVs. The students take part in practice interviews and visits to training providers, employers and colleges to extend their knowledge of the world of work. Part of the programme involves each student attending a work placement for one or two days per week in the vocational area of their choice, where initial support, monitoring and reviews are carried out by the Project Officer.

Wherever possible the student will work towards appropriate NVQ units or ASDAN Qualifications. The programme is currently offered to students who reside in the New Deal footprint but with suitable funding could be made available to any students in the borough.

'Getting Ready for Work' - Employability Skills Programme

This project is designed to reduce the number of young people who join the Not in Education Employment or Training (NEET) group when they leave school at 16. The project targets those young people who need a short burst of support, while they are still at school, to motivate them and enable them to develop key employability skills. It is envisaged that the programme will be delivered over half a term and will focus on:

  • Teamwork and Motivation (half day)
  • Attitude and Values (half day)
  • Communication skills (half day)
  • Employability skills / progression routes (half day)
  • Health and Safety in the workplace (half day)
  • Applying for jobs (half day)
  • Success at interviews (full day)
  • Enterprise / Employability Challenge (full day)

More information is available from the Walsall EBP team.

Curriculum Enhancement Activities

Walsall EBP can arrange for employers to enhance the curriculum in the following ways:

Curriculum Support By Email

Walsall EBP has recruited a number of senior business personnel with a wide range of business expertise including:

  • Human Resources
  • Finance/Payroll/Accounts
  • IT
  • Customer Service
  • Project Management
  • Office Administration
  • Senior Management
  • Quality Assurance
  • Client Account Management

These contacts are available through Walsall EBP to answer specific curriculum questions relating to their field of expertise.

To access this service please email: lcosco@walsallebp.co.uk

Company Visits

Walsall EBP can arrange for small groups of students to visit local companies as a support for many curriculum areas. Suitable for any Year group, visits are tailor-made following a meeting with the relevant teacher.

This service includes identifying and briefing a company, arranging a suitable time and completing all Health and Safety checks but does not include transport.

In-School Support

A range of local employers are available to visit schools to talk about business-related activities that would support various curriculum areas. Walsall EBP can liaise with employers on behalf of teachers to ensure that defined curriculum aims are met.

This service includes identifying and briefing a company and arranging a suitable time for the employer to visit the school.

Student Mentoring

Year 11 Students

Walsall EBP recruits business volunteers to offer a Mentoring programme to selected Year 11 students. The target group are students who are capable of gaining five or more GCSEs at Grade C or above, but are currently predicted to fall short.

Mentors offer support, guidance and motivation to ensure that students achieve their potential.

Year 12/13 Students

Mentors for this programme support students planning to go to university. Mentors who followed this path will give advice and guidance where necessary and also offer career advice and company visits. This will help students to choose the right career path and also consider which University may be best for them.

Construction Project

Supported by CITB Construction Skills, WHG and Walsall EBP, this project aims to increase the awareness and interest of pupils in the construction industry in two main ways:

  • Year 10, 11 & 12 students supported to gain accreditation in construction while they are still at school. This support is in the form of construction site visits, challenges, arranged activities and employer links.
  • A range of Year 9 construction-related taster experiences in partnership with CITB, Walsall College and Walsall Housing Group.

Technology/Engineering Activities

Several local companies provide 'hands-on' technological/engineering activities for pupils in a school's technology department. Pupils work through the activities in small groups with the support of company personnel. The Roadshows usually operate for 1 or 2 days so that the maximum number of pupils can benefit and the activity can be targeted at particular aspects of the technology curriculum.

Technology Tree

Promoted by the Engineering Employers Federation, this programme aims to develop design and technology through links with local engineering/manufacturing companies. The main components of the Technology Tree programme are:

  • A teacher placement in a company to develop an appropriate technology-related project;
  • A visit to the company by the pupils so that they can be briefed about the project;
  • Project activity back in school with help and support from the company;
  • Presentation of project outcomes by the pupils to the link company personnel.

Young Engineers' Challenges

Local universities or colleges set an engineering challenge, which involves design and manufacture. The challenge culminates in a competition where awards are given for the most innovative answer to the problem.

Company Visits

Walsall EBP can arrange for small groups of students to visit local companies as a support for the technology curriculum. Suitable for any year group, visits are tailor-made following a meeting with the relevant teacher.

This service includes identifying and briefing a company, arranging a suitable time and completing all Health and Safety checks but does not include transport.

Enterprise

Enterprise and Creativity Days

Walsall EBP deliver a range of educational activities aimed at developing students' Enterprise and Work-related skills. Every activity or challenge can be tailored to suit any year group and can be Citizenship, PSHE or curriculum-related.

All activities are supported by business volunteers who give their time to support young people and give the events a 'real world' feel.

Evaluations show that students gain confidence and improve their communication, problem-solving and team working skills by participating in these events.

Walsall Rotary Club Web Site Design Competition

Walsall Rotary Club sponsors an annual event where students are given a brief to design a web site from scratch. Teams of four students work to a deadline to produce a functioning site that needs to be uploaded to server. A team of judges evaluate the entries online and the winning schools are given prizes donated by the Rotary Club. Schools may enter teams from KS3 or KS4.

Walsall Rotary Club Young Chef of the Year

This very successful competition has been organised by Walsall EBP and Walsall Rotary Club for a number of years. There are no entry qualifications, other than age limits and it is really a practical test of flair, imagination and enthusiasm in preparing a main course for two people with a 'Healthy Options' theme. It offers the opportunity for students to develop their food preparation skills as well as addressing many aspects of the Enterprise agenda.

The meal can be based around meat, fish or vegetables within a set budget with the entrants expected to provide receipts for the main ingredients.

There are two categories, Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4, and the winner and runner-up from each category receive a prize and a shield from the Rotary Club. The winning schools also receive a prize.

The winners are invited to represent Walsall in the Black Country stage of the competition.

Work Experience Support

Work Experience

Work Experience Support in Walsall is provided centrally by the EBP with the agreement of local secondary and special schools and has a dedicated email contact address workexperience@walsallebp.co.uk

The service is delivered by Joanne Shalloe, Work Experience Team Leader, Emma Fellows, the Work Experience Administrator and Steve Rollinson, the NEBOSH qualified Risk Assessment Officer and focuses on three different target areas:

  • Pre-16 Students
  • Post-16 Students
  • Extended Work Placements

Joanne controls the administration elements of the service. This includes action to obtain placement company insurance details following notification by schools of the companies with whom they have arranged placements.

Emma maintains the EBP Work Experience Database and together with Steve, the Risk Assessment Officer, identifies placements to be visited in connection with pupil health, safety and welfare.

Steve arranges to visit placement companies to conduct placement suitability assessments. These take into account potential risks to pupil health, safety and welfare. Awareness is raised amongst employers of their work experience related responsibilities and they are reminded of appropriate regulations etc.

In addition, potential pupil activities are identified at each placement, enabling the Job Activity Database to be updated and expanded.

Assistance is also available to support school co-ordinators in raising health, safety and welfare awareness amongst teachers.

Identifying Work Placements

Through its links with a range of businesses and training providers Walsall EBP Staff can identify work placements for students to support curriculum requirements.

These can be:

  1. A one or two day per week placement (Business Insight)
  2. A one or two week block
  3. Tailored to suit

Longer term placements could generate Units towards an NVQ or other qualification.

Walsall EBP will interview the young person, to assess suitability for the placement offered, and then identify and arrange a placement including carrying out a full Health & Safety check.

Pre and Post Work Experience Programme

Preparation and De-briefing are important elements of successful Work Experience and Walsall EBP has developed a programme to support schools with this task.

Each of the two sessions can be delivered to up to 120 students and can be tailored to fit the available time. Each session will require at least one hour and twenty minutes.

Walsall EBP will recruit Business Supporters to work with the students.

Briefing Session
  • Accident Video
  • Accident Statistics
  • Most Common Injuries
  • Health and Safety Signs quiz
  • How can you make it a successful placement?
  • What skills do employers want?
  • Placement Questions
  • Placement Skills (What skills might you use?)

De-Briefing Session

  • Health and Safety Issues from placement
  • Review Placement Questions from Briefing (good and bad)
  • Placement Report (How did you do?)
  • Placement Feedback
  • Placement Skills (What skills did you use?)
  • Measures of Success
  • Success Map

Teacher Professional Development Placements

Promotes and arranges placements for senior managers, teachers, teaching assistants, lecturers and Connexions staff into industrial and business environments. Staff have the opportunity to update and widen their knowledge of the world of work.

Placements can focus on management issues or facilitate teacher learning opportunities, curriculum/resource development and careers advice etc.

Part of this offer includes the Learning & Skills Network (LSN)/Black Country Teacher Networks which enable teachers to attend 1-day placements on employer's premises, once each term.

They are linked to specific subject areas (Creative Industries, including Art & Design, ICT, Health & Social Care, Manufacture & Engineering and Construction) and take the form of employer presentations and company tours. Placements are followed by a sharing good practice session, leading to changes in curriculum content, delivery and professional practice.

Equally important is the work enabling people from industry and commerce to visit schools and work with pupils and staff.

Visit www.pdpdirect.co.uk for further information.

Primary School Activities

Curriculum Enhancement Activities

Let's Get Reading

Designed to encourage younger pupils to read through book ownership. Walsall EBP organises sponsorship from local companies to visit and present two reading books to each child in a class.

Reading Volunteers

Volunteers are recruited from local businesses to listen to pupils read. The volunteer visits the school for one hour each week over a ten week period.

Maths@Work

Designed to motivate pupils towards maths by showing the relevance of what they are learning in school to the 'real world'. A teacher visits a local employer for a day to look at how maths is used in the company and to produce pupil materials. The children visit to collect data that is then followed up in subsequent lessons.

Walsall Maths Trail

Originally produced and distributed to schools in 2000, and recently updated, this KS2 resource guides children around the town centre collecting data as they go. Go to the Resources Page to access the interactive web version.

Mini Technology Roadshows

A member of Walsall EBP team visits school to discuss the organisation of the Roadshow with a teacher. Walsall EBP facilitates the event, in conjunction with the school, and arranges for employers to provide suitable activities and support for the pupils.

Technology Tree

Designed to provide pupils with real-life experiences of technology in the workplace. A teacher visits a local employer for a day to develop a project for the pupils to complete in school based on some aspect of the company. At some stage the pupils would visit the company and at the end the employer would be invited into school to see the work produced.

Customised Activities

The activities featured are examples of those developed and delivered by Walsall EBP. We are always open to discussions about designing activities to meet particular needs and there is always the option to plan joint activities with neighbouring schools.

Full details and associated costs are contained in our Primary School Support Brochure. To obtain a copy or to discuss an activity, please contact any of the following by telephone (01922 424200) or email:

Ron Betts: rbetts@walsallebp.co.uk
Pauline Millward: pmillward@walsallebp.co.uk
John Price: jprice@walsallebp.co.uk

Primary Enterprise Activities

KNEX Challenges

A member of Walsall EBP team visits the school to discuss the organisation of the event with a teacher. Walsall EBP facilitates the half-day event in conjunction with the school, provides the KNEX kits and arranges for employers to attend to act as judges.

Enterprise Challenges

Half-day event in school offering pupils the chance to work in teams on a particular challenge - in the case of 'Bob the Builder' designing and building a room for a palace. Sixth Form students from a neighbouring secondary school will normally be recruited to act as small group facilitators on the day.

Mini-Enterprise

A member of Walsall EBP team visits school to discuss ideas for mini-enterprise activities (that can last several weeks) and then plans and delivers a half-day enterprise event to launch the programme.

Customised Activities

The activities featured are examples of those developed and delivered by Walsall EBP. We are always open to discussions about designing activities to meet particular needs and there is always the option to plan joint activities with neighbouring schools.

Full details and associated costs are contained in our Primary School Support Brochure. To obtain a copy or to discuss an activity, please contact any of the following by telephone (01922 424200) or email:

Ron Betts: rbetts@walsallebp.co.uk
Pauline Millward: pmillward@walsallebp.co.uk
John Price: jprice@walsallebp.co.uk

Teacher Professional Development Placements

Promotes and arranges placements for senior managers, teachers and teaching assistants into industrial and business environments. Staff have the opportunity to update and widen their knowledge of the world of work.

Placements can focus on management issues or facilitate teacher learning opportunities, curriculum/resource development and careers advice etc. Equally important is the work enabling people from industry and commerce to visit schools and work with pupils and staff.

Visit www.pdpdirect.co.uk for further information or contact Ron Betts.

Health & Safety Checks

NEBOSH qualified Health & Safety Officer visits the company to conduct a risk assessment to ensure that the pupil visit/activity can take place with minimal risk.

For further information contact Steve Rollinson.

Visit www.pdpdirect.co.uk for further information or contact Ron Betts.

Employer Support

Enterprise and Creativity Days

Walsall EBP involves young people in a range of programmes and activities that are designed to:

To achieve these aims we rely on the help and support of local employers who have recognised the benefits which accrue from working in partnership with local schools. Members of the Walsall EBP team regularly contact and visit new companies to enlist their support and involvement.

Support needed includes:

Please e-mail info@walsallebp.co.uk to request further information on Employer Support activities.

Employer Conference

Walsall EBP has been organising this annual event since 1995 and in that time it has increased in size and importance and now regularly attracts between 130 - 160 delegates from local businesses.

The Employer Conference is the largest gathering of employers in Walsall to discuss educational issues and provides the opportunity for:

The next Walsall EBP Annual Employer Conference is planned for the morning of Thursday 17 May 2007 at Bescot Stadium and will be sponsored by Walsall Housing Group.

Administration

Secretarial Support

Christine Hickson is the 'face behind the telephone' at Walsall EBP and she provides a vital 'first' link for us with all of our partners. She also generates all of the documents (correspondence, reports, presentations etc.) which the EBP team need for their work as well as updating the Work Experience Job Activity Database.

Finance

The income of the EBP is provided by a number of funding streams and all expenditure is monitored and recorded against these. Joanne also produces the statistics to demonstrate the effectiveness of the EBP programmes to the various funding bodies.

© Walsall EBP 2008