THE ROLE OF SCHOOL, ACADEMIES AND COLLEGES!

Schools, academies and colleges need to work more closely with employers to support them in achieving their business and skills objectives and to ensure that young people are leaving education and training with the skills they need  in an increasingly competitive and rapidly changing world of work. They need to invest in new models and approaches which keep abreast of developments and understand the impact of technology on learning. We need programmes that support the critical importance of interdisciplinary approaches and innovation in the world of work and the influence of technology.

We are doing this in Sheffield with the Cutlers’ ‘Better Learners, Better Workers’ programmes which are demand driven, employer-led programmes focused on developing the skills employers are looking for in their employees. Students on the programmes are provided with a menu of activities to develop these skills. These student ‘Ambassadors’ promote the business sectors to peers and businesses get to see and help develop young people’s talents and abilities. Importantly, the programme has an employer endorsed Skills Passport awarded at the end of the programme.