Enterprise Work Related Learning : Students Attitude Key To Motivation
Students Attitude Key to Motivation
Moseley Park School has made a consistent investment in imaginative, work related learning and enterprise programmes and is convinced that these play an important part in changing attitudes and increasing students’ motivation to want to work.
Ian Wasden, Business Studies Teacher, has been involved with the programmes for many years and sees enormous benefits in high quality, high energy external provision augmenting the planned internal programmes. Ian has observed that students respond well to external facilitators and perceive the programmes as ‘something special’. “We have found them an excellent way to ‘kick start’ Enterprise initiatives in school”.
During April, Year 10 students experience a Key Skills at Work & Enterprise event which reinforces communication, problem solving and team working skills. This programme introduces students to the world of work prior to work experience and gets them thinking about their future outside school.
In November as Year 11, students experience the Giant Impact Job Application, Interview & Recruitment Programme which focuses on the direct and indirect selling processes to get an employer to say ‘yes’. By developing a personal marketing strategy and knowing what employers are looking for in their employees, students are more prepared for further education applications and seeking permanent employment.
At the start of their Upper School journey in September, Year 12 students experience a Giant Impact Teambuilding & Gelling event designed to integrate the students from other schools and get everyone mixing, communicating and working together. For the past 5 years Moseley Park Sixth Form students and staff have found this event particularly beneficial in breaking down barriers and helping to reinforce the importance of a positive attitude to work. Ofsted has rated Moseley Park Sixth Form ‘Good’ and ‘students report that they feel secure with the pastoral and academic mentoring they receive’.
Graham Collins, Deputy Head & Head of Sixth Form, is committed to making every member of the Sixth Form feel welcomed and the Giant Impact Team Building event is an ideal way to get everyone working together from the very start. “New students to the school find this event particularly helpful and we have found that new lasting friendships have been forged following it”.
Head Teacher, Lorraine McCarthy, has observed the positive impact these external events have with students: “It is pleasing to see students identified as ‘difficult’ rising to the challenges set in this particular work related style of learning. Career, WRL & Enterprise is a strength within the school and we believe there are wider student learning benefits to be gained through our continued involvement. Our Technology Specialism requires students to be equipped to embrace exponential change and these programmes certainly help that process”.
Moseley Park High School, Bilston, West Midlands, WV14 6LU, has 1221 students aged 11-18. Moseley Park is larger than the average secondary school. It has been a specialist technology college since 1995. The percentage of minority ethnic students is above the national average as is the proportion of students in the early stages of learning English.
Ian Wasden, Business Studies Teacher.
T: 01642 870003