Walsall EBP - Partnership News (Spring 2005)

Walsall EBP - Achieving Success Together

Partnership News - Spring 2007 - Issue 15

News Update

Enterprise Funding
It was announced in the Budget that the current funding, which goes directly to schools to fund Enterprise activities and was scheduled to end in March 2008, has been extended for the life of the latest Comprehensive Spending Review. This is really good news for schools and means that the current high levels of Enterprise-related activities should continue and become embedded.

Online Work Experience Database
Walsall EBP is currently developing an online database to improve the support with work experience that is offered to both schools and companies. When it is fully operational, later in the Summer, it is intended that access, scope and capacity will all have been improved.

New Diplomas Announced
The DfES announced plans last year to launch new Vocational Diploma qualifications in 14 different subject areas. Bids were recently accepted from around the country to pilot the first five Diplomas (Creative and Media, Engineering, Construction, Health, Society and Development and IT) from September 2008. Walsall College working with Blue Coat and Pool Hayes Creative Arts Colleges were one of the successful bidders and will be offering the Creative and Media Diploma courses from September 2008. A further bid from Willenhall School and other partners to offer the Engineering Diploma has been deferred until September 2009 so that further development work can take place.

Specialist Schools
With the recent news that Frank F Harrison School had become a Specialist Engineering College and Pool Hayes School had achieved Creative Arts status all of the Walsall secondary schools now have at least one recognized specialism under the current DfES initiative.

Castle School recently became the first Specialist Special School in the borough with recognition for Business and Enterprise. The two selective schools have achieved second specialisms alongside their current Languages status, Maths and Computing at Queen Mary's High School and Business and Enterprise at Queen Mary's Grammar School.

£100,000 Boost For Enterprise Development!

In recognition of its key role in developing the enterprise talents of Walsall's young people, Walsall EBP has recently been awarded a £100,000 grant from Walsall Council through the Local Authority Business Grant Initiative.

The funding will enable Walsall EBP to continue employing an Enterprise Advisor to maximise the opportunities for young people to develop important enterprise and employability skills while they are still at school or college. Much of this work involves improving the links between education and business so that young people are better prepared for the world of work and can contribute to the future prosperity of Walsall.

Walsall Regeneration Challenge

Acknowledging the importance of enterprise within the regeneration agenda, Education Walsall invited Walsall EBP to organise a Regeneration Enterprise Challenge for teams of Year 10 students as part of the 'My Walsall, My Future' celebrations. The event was held recently at Bescot Stadium and attracted sixteen teams making it the largest Enterprise Challenge final that Walsall EBP have ever organised.

A short Walsall Regeneration presentation by Peter Cromar, Chief Executive, Walsall Regeneration Company, was included as part of the briefing session and the teams had access to regeneration literature and display boards throughout the event. The actual Challenge involved producing ideas for inclusion in the area alongside the canal which Urban Splash are contracted to develop. As always the standard of work produced by the students was absolutely outstanding.

Walsall Young Entrepreneurs 2007

A team of Business Studies students from Barr Beacon Language College recently clinched the first ever Walsall Young Entrepreneurs of the Year title in a borough competition that was held at the Forest Arts Centre. Its aim is to get young people to identify their enterprise capabilities and think about using them in their future careers.

The eleven teams of Year 10 students taking part, had all won Enterprise events in their own schools and so the level of competition at the final was very intense and extremely high quality.

Throughout the day the teams, with their business supporters, were involved in a series of enterprise activities and challenged to come up with an imaginative TV advert to market a new restaurant in Walsall. Each team then had to make a presentation before three judges who were, Gary Ross, from Faber Maunsell, John Ward, from Staffordshire University and Jane Kaur-Gill from Walsall Council.

Because enterprise is such a key regeneration skill it is intended that the Young Entrepreneurs Final will become an annual competition.

Enterprise Ambassadors

Earlier this year the Walsall EBP Enterprise Ambassador scheme was launched. Suitable, enthusiastic individuals, who are already involved with EBP activities, are challenged to commit to supporting five activities in 12 months, that are focused on encouraging young people to develop their enterprise skills. Once this commitment is given the individual is presented with an Enterprise Ambassador certificate and badge at an appropriate gathering - for example during the presentation phase of a school Enterprise Challenge - and then given every encouragement and opportunity to meet the commitment made.

To date five Enterprise Ambassadors have been identified, with more to follow:

Jacqui Poutney MBE - Walsall Equestrian Society
Richard Scott - retired Director, Bryant Construction
Graham Loakes - ERA Security Products
Raji Bains - Walsall Council
Anthea Holligan - Accord Housing

The response from the new Enterprise Ambassadors has been excellent and the intention is that they will have a role in shaping and delivering the Enterprise agenda within Walsall schools.

Environmental Technologies DVD

Working with South Staffs Water, Shire Oak Science College and other Black Country partners, Walsall EBP has taken the lead on the production of an Environmental Technologies DVD. Intended as a curriculum resource for schools, the DVD explores ways in which schools can deliver and enhance the teaching of Environmental Technologies through links with the water industry and, in particular, the Blithfield Education Centre. Copies of the DVD are being distributed to a large number of primary and secondary schools across the Black Country.

K'Nex Challenge

Working in partnership with Walsall Housing Group and Frank F Harrison Engineering College, an exciting civil engineering construction challenge was organised by Walsall EBP for Year 5 pupils from six Walsall Primary schools - Blakenall Heath Junior, Busill Jones Primary, Christchurch CE JMI, Harden Primary, Hatherton Primary & Leamore Primary.

Working in teams of two over 200 Year 5 pupils took part in the challenge to design and make a hotel with a revolving restaurant using KNEX kits. There were some remarkable structures with eye catching shapes and colours that were also very strong and stable.

Marie Lane, a Year 5 teacher from Hatherton Primary School said, "The children had a really interesting and enjoyable time, using problem solving, teamwork and planning skills as well as the superb, hands-on building experience."

The winning teams from each school will take part in the KNEX Challenge Final at Frank F. Harrison Engineering College as part of their Engineering Week celebrations in July 2007.

Smart Choices

Richard Cole was a Year 11 student at Sneyd School when he was put forward for inclusion in the 'Smart Choices Plus' project funded by New Deal for Communities and delivered by Walsall EBP. The project supports young people to make the transition from school into work or training.

Initially, Richard was unsure of himself but he settled quickly and was keen to develop his employability skills so that he could get a job in construction when he left school. With the help of Carole Hands (Walsall EBP) he successfully gained a place on a construction project, again funded by New Deal and delivered in partnership with Walsall Housing Group. Here his attendance, timekeeping and motivation were excellent and he made significant progress with his key skills and other learning. Whilst on placement he impressed the company so much that he was offered a Modern Apprenticeship and he is now working full time with G Purchase Construction in Bloxwich.

He was successfully nominated by Walsall EBP, for the "Learning towards Employment" award at the Walsall Lifelong Learning Awards held at the Bescot Stadium and he is pictured receiving his award from TV personality Ben Fogle.

Developing Links With Training Providers

For many sixteen year olds work-based training provides the most appropriate route and it is essential that good links exist between schools, Connexions and training providers to ensure that there is a clear understanding of the benefits and demands. Walsall EBP has recognised this need for many years and recently organised a one day event involving all of the partners to improve contacts and understanding.

Representatives from 14 secondary schools and 6 training providers came together and the programme encouraged partners to exchange information. In the afternoon visits to training provider premises or placements were included. It is hoped that similar events can be held on a regular basis to ensure that the advice and guidance given to young people continues to improve

Developing Employability Skills

Richard Smith, a Year 11 student at Frank F Harrison Engineering College, has recently undertaken a work placement with Walsall Council Fleet Services as part of the Smart Choices Plus programme. This Walsall EBP programme aims to motivate young people by developing their employability skills and introducing them to the world of work.

Following a review with the employer the work placement was extended for a further 6 weeks because of Richard's positive attitude, attendance and motivation. He will be using the reference from the work placement in his quest to obtain full time employment when he leaves school in the Summer.

Practice Interviews

Walsall schools are increasingly recognizing the benefits to their Year 11 students of a practice interview with an employer. This has resulted in a significant increase in the number of practice interviews that Walsall EBP are being asked to provide with a subsequent increase in the number of local employers involved.