'BETTER LEARNERS, BETTER WORKERS' COMES TO THE SHEFFIELD INCLUSION CENTRE!

I was at the Sheffield Inclusion Centre this morning with my colleague Andy Ireland who is the headteacher at the Centre. 

Andy and his team, at the Centre aim to provide a dynamic and supportive learning environment for young people who have found school challenging for a number of reasons. A team of, I counted 61 on the noticeboard in the reception area, experienced and committed staff who understand the youngsters individual needs, deliver a curriculum which promotes both their academic achievement and their personal development and prepares them for a return to mainstream/special school or, full time further education, an apprenticeship or a job with training.

Andy and I discussed having a group of their Year 10 students on a Cutlers' 'Better Learners, Better Workers' programme starting in September. This could connect to post-16 vocational pathway provision at Sheffield College linked to areas like engineering, catering, construction and health and social care. Interesting times.... watch this space!

WESTFIELD SCHOOL CELEBRATION EVENT!

I was at Westfield School last night to celebrate the achievements of their Year 11 students who had completed the Cutlers' 'Better Learners, Better Workers' programmes.

We know that BLBW is one of the most successful employability and world of work programmes in the country and the wonderful young people receiving their passport certificates last night demonstrate why it is so successful and why it is important to extend and further develop it to reach even more young people.

SCR VISION: A BETTER FUTURE TOGETHER NEWSLETTER

Last year, the University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University and the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust brought together colleagues from across the region to present how, with determination and collective endeavour, we can maximise the economic and social potential of the Sheffield City Region (SCR).

The launch was the start of a journey towards an SCR Vision. The group have now produced a newsletter, describing some of the positive developments there have been in some of the six areas highlighted as critical, including the Cutlers' 'Better Learners, Better Workers' programmes. These individual initiatives and strengths, as well as the collaborations across our anchor institutions and with other partners, all combine towards achieving the collaborative shared vision.

"As we said in our report, we care deeply about our region and hence we remain keen to help and support our elected leaders, businesses and other organisations, as they drive the region forward to be a truly great place for all its citizens."

Tony Pedder OBE
On behalf of the University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University and the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

"Better Learners Better Workers
The Better Learners Better Workers programme - launched in 2010 when the Company of Cutlers, which represents top engineering and manufacturing employers in Sheffield City Region, undertook a study with Sheffield City Council into what employers needed from school leavers - now reaches across South Yorkshire, with programmes running in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield. At the heart of the programme is embedding of work skills into the curriculum through real-life industry projects and training sessions, work placements, internships, and greater engagement between employers and schools. There are now programmes in 30 schools training 500 Ambassadors and reaching over 6000 young people across the Sheffield City Region."