JOB DONE!
The mayor of Wandsworth recently described our work experience programme as ‘exceptional and meaningful’ at a recent JOB DONE celebration. We launched this scheme in March 2023 and have so far placed over 40 students with local employers ranging from Waitrose to Fara and from McDonalds to Ark Nursery for Children. These opportunities are invaluable because our students are introduced to the world of work; makes them think on their feet, improves their interactive and social skills, they learn the importance of time-keeping and punctuality and how to get along with people. At the end of each placement they are given written, real life professional feedback. [ see ISA journal issue 31 p11]
WHERE DO OUR STUDENTS GO WHEN THEY LEAVE?
At the same time as we launched JOB DONE! we made the decision that all our leavers would have somewhere meaningful to move on to. This could be an apprenticeship, a college place or a job. No languishing on sofas for our students! We have built a productive relationship with many of our local colleges and our partnership with Apprenticeships Skills and Knowledge [ ASK] ensure that our students know what is available to them. All of them have signed up to the National Apprenticeship database. It is always nice when a past student turns up who is making their way in the world.
MONEY TALKS!
Given the bad statistic that over 76% of school leavers are ‘financially illiterate’ Centre Academy recently teamed up with Deloitte and launched a series of workshops given by their employees on such financial topics such as everyday banking, household finance, savvy shopping and budgeting. The workshops happen once a year over a two week period and are differentiated for all ages and all students. [ see ISA journal issue 32 p10]
