Enterprise Work Related Learning : St Hild’s Students ‘Ready 4 Work’

With unemployment rising and the competition for jobs increasing dramatically, St Hild’s is determined to prepare its students for the world of work.

Specialist Engineering status has enabled the school to forge particularly creative links with local industry and with over 28 co-ordinated WRL and enterprise initiatives scheduled in their ‘Ready 4 Work’ rolling programme throughout the year, all year groups (7-11) receive high quality input. In 2007 a purpose-built engineering section was built which further reinforces the links with school and the work place.

Rachel Gilhespie, Head of Work Related Learning, devised the ‘Ready 4 Work’ programme which involves an imaginative combination of internal and external provision to create best value from the available budget.

For the past 3 years Giant Impact has been chosen to deliver the high-energy programmes as key elements of ‘Ready 4 Work’. Giant Impact’s unique style encourages maximum student participation, engenders a healthy competitive ‘edge’ and gets students communicating with each other. Year 10 receive the Job Application, Interview & Recruitment Programme and also the Enterprise Programme; Year 11 receive the ‘Making Money Count’ Programme.

Facilities at the school are excellent with a very large assembly hall and adjacent gym separated by a sliding partition system. When the partition is opened it creates a massive space suitable for whole year group ‘conferences’ without any difficulty.

The Senior Team at St Hild’s is fully committed to this planned approach to work related learning and sees real benefits from the ‘Ready 4 Work’ Programme.

St Hild’s Church of England Voluntary Aided School is smaller in size than the average secondary school, but has a rising school population. It is situated in an area of Hartlepool with a significant degree of social and economic disadvantage. A considerably higher than average proportion of students are eligible for free school meals. The proportion of students deemed to have learning difficulties and/or disabilities is well above the average, whilst the percentage of those with statements of special educational need is similar to most schools. Nearly all students come from White British backgrounds. The school holds Investors in People status and the Healthy Schools Award. It moved into new premises in September 2004 and achieved Engineering specialist school status at the same time. A purpose built engineering unit opened in March 2007.

Rachel Gilhespie, Head of Work Related Learning, Enterprise & Business Studies
Contact Telephone: 01429 273041
Website: www.sthilds.org.uk