NiceMean Dim Smart Self Evaluation of Participants

What we’ll try and do Who I am, why I’m here, who you are and why you’re here. What are we doing briefly. Some context – schools, employers, careers service. What are we doing in a little more detail What others have said.

What are we doing? Developing an innovative approach to delivering a comprehensive and integrated programme of careers education, information, advice, guidance and work related learning. Innovative in that we are developing a response to the changing landscape of careers delivery that is sponsored by employers and is subsidised by social enterprise. addresses some of the issues expressed by employers. has full employer engagement yet is led by the school.

Some context - Schools

The prime responsibility for the independent and impartial careers guidance is now with schools. Why? Because schools are in the best position to determine provision. So Connexions and Careers Services have gone. But The funding has not been given to schools.

There are a great many mixed messages out there! Work experience is important but there is no longer a statutory responsibility to provide it. Careers education has great value but schools no longer have to deliver. Vocational education is important but its value in terms of school performance is questioned and a more ‘traditional’ curriculum is to be encouraged.

What approaches have been developed to respond to the changes? Activity-based approaches Service-based approaches Curriculum-led approaches Pearson (2012) Careers 2020

The impact of high quality careers education and guidance Supports progression onto FE/HE/training and work where they will achieve Helps reduce the number of young people at risk of becoming NEET Raises aspirations and levels of motivation and increased levels of achievement Reduces levels of drop out and course switching

Some context - Employers

What are employers saying? Employability skills and skills gaps A desire to be involved There can be benefits for their businesses

The impact of employer engagement in schools raises aspiration levels increases motivation improves levels of achievement inspires young people to achieve through bringing the curriculum to life gives those who are disengaging a renewed sense of purpose, recognising that they are the workforce of tomorrow those who recall 4 or 5 employer engagement activities can be up to 5 times less likely to be NEET Earn 16% more than those who experienced no employer activity.  Source (The Work Foundation Report – Part of Lancaster University)

Back to Us

Ahead Partnership Education Programmes Make the Grade and Step Ahead

Delivers a coordinated, cohesive and sustainable partnership between businesses and schools achieved through a programme of flexible and tailored activities geared towards the priorities of the school Provides a fully supported delivery model that includes Careers Guidance through Aspire-i. Ensures the networking and facilitation to make it all happen, shoulders the bureaucracy to oil the wheels and puts in place the procedures to ensure quality. What is Make the Grade?

How does it work? Ahead Partnership identifies partner schools Ahead Partnership sources the business partners and finance Together we devise and plan a programme of practical business activities that meet specific school needs – secondary and primary- with the offer of dedicated Careers Guidance input from the Shine Service at Aspire i. We manage delivery of the activities – logistics/training/briefings/CRBs We run a termly steering group for school and businesses We track and monitor all the outcomes

Our Partners

Business Support Model Sponsor Anchor businesses (3) Pool businesses (15+)

Make the Grade Steering Group Sponsor/Anchor businesses/school and Ahead Education Make the Grade Team Scope school needs Find financial sponsors Draw up activity programme Recruit the businesses On going project facilitation Run steering group Tracking and Reporting Promotion and PR Outputs/Outcomes Engage 20+ businesses Support 400+ pupils Deliver hrs support Improve attainment Improve attendance Improve destinations Reduce NEET rates Live Enterprise Challenges Work Placements Workplace Visits Governance Industry knowledge Mentoring Careers Education & IAG (Shine) Employability skills Collaborative projects Literacy & Numeracy Support For staff Apprenticeship events Projects with universities Support for parents Public/Private Funding Resources sponsor/school/businesses Competitions A High School Programme – The Model in Practice

Vince Barrett – President ACEG: Vince Barrett – President ACEG: “ I’m impressed with the broad range of employers willingly getting involved. Here they are, talking about the jobs within the companies they represent – they’re well briefed and know what their responsibility is and it’s a very proactive approach. And it doesn’t just stop here; Make the Grade activities are imbued within the school as a whole”.

David Andrews: CEG consultant and leading national expert. “What’s so right here is the linking of employer activity with careers guidance… It’s unfair to expect employers to offer guidance, but linking it into a school like this is admirable. I’ve never seen a model like this before. There are all sorts of problem in careers guidance now that schools have responsibility for it but there are some positive good news stories and this is one of them.

Lord Michael Heseltine – Extract from ‘No Stone Unturned. In pursuit of Growth’ – A review conducted at the request of the Prime Minister as to how economic prosperity can be improved. Make the Grade features as part of a chapter entitled ‘Education and skills – the foundation for growth and prosperity’. Lord Heseltine concludes that ‘business engagement should be incorporated far deeper into the school curriculum in order to develop young people’s understanding of business, increase their employability, and further their understanding of career and future training options and where they might lead.’ He concludes that Ahead Partnership is ‘already facilitating this sort of engagement between schools and employers’.

Aspire-i Shine Film.wmv

For Further Information Careers Live Conference 31st January at West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds Leeds Ahead Aspire-i

A few very current references: UKCES (2012). ‘ Business and school: Building the world of work together’ UKCES (2012)‘Skill gap Evidence Reports’ Pearson Think Tank and the International Centre for Guidance Studies (2012). ‘Careers 2020’ CBI (2012)First Steps The Work Foundation (2012) Raising Aspirations and Smoothing Transitions Heseltine (2012)‘No Stone Unturned in the Pursuit of Growth ’

NiceMean Dim Smart Self Evaluation of Participants