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Sir Alan Jones, chairman of Sector Skills Council, Semta,
and chairman emeritus of Toyota UK, today visited a West Midlands
school to see an award-winning education~industry partnership
in action. The scheme is being used as a model for the local
delivery of the new Diplomas for 14-19 year olds which Sir
Alan is championing on behalf of employers nationwide.
St Michael’s C of E High School in Sandwell
hosted the visit to demonstrate how the successful Metals
Academy Black Country Industry~Schools Partnership works in
practice.
Funded through the Metals Academy by the Iron
and Steel (West Midlands) Trust and co-ordinated by Sandwell
Education Business Partnership (EBP), the initiative provides
teacher placements, company visits and work experience programmes
for pupils, and ‘ambassadors’ – apprentices
who have been specially trained to help with project work
in the classroom. Earlier this year the scheme won three local
EBP awards and a national award.
Said Sir Alan: “Successful company/school
partnerships like this are key to the new 14-19 Diplomas which
put learning into a real work context and inspire young people
to participate and achieve. I’d recommend other employers
to follow this partnership’s lead and ensure that future
generations have the skills, learning and attitudes that business
really needs.”
As well speaking to pupils about their work
experience, the Diploma Champion also heard Sarah While, design
and technology teacher skills co-ordinator, explain how her
placements in Metsec and Corus had benefited her teaching.
Sir Alan then sat in on her GCSE manufacturing lesson.
Sarah said: “The teacher placement has
been a valuable experience. Time spent out of school and in
the workplace has allowed me to experience industry and produce
quality resources to help deliver the GCSE manufacturing syllabus.
I’m more confident now, having experienced areas such
as quality control and health and safety, and hopefully this
is reflected in the overall quality of teaching and learning.”
Sandwell EBP is part of a consortium bid to deliver the Engineering
Diploma and will soon be bidding to deliver the Manufacturing
Diploma. Manager, Gary Clark, said: “The relationship
that the Metals Academy has with schools is exemplary. We
see this model as a vehicle for delivering the new diplomas
and want to see it rolled out for the benefit of schools in
other areas. The commitment from the employers has been outstanding.
It’s helped engineers understand issues in schools and
schools are benefiting by seeing how they contribute to business
in making sure their young people are equipped for working
life.”
Said Stephen Tilsley, chairman of MetSkill and
managing director of participating company Metsec plc: “We
want teachers to be able to come into our companies, collect
examples to bring the curriculum alive and bring pupils in
to see for themselves. It helps convey accurate messages about
working in industry to more young people year on year so that
they can benefit when making career decisions.
“It’s a win-win situation:
teachers can be sure they’re delivering the curriculum
in a way that’s relevant and reflects current industrial
best practice; industry benefits by showing what engineering
and manufacturing is really like and the excellent training
and career prospects we offer.”
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