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.

33 talented young people had completed programmes in the Digital, Engineering, NHS and Sport sectors and these young people and their parents and carers along with staff and guests were at the school to celebrate what they had achieved. The ceremony was led by Joe Birkbeck, the headteacher, and I spoke along with Kevan Donohoe, Managing Director of Doncaster Bramah and Kelsey Parker, who attended Westfield School and is now studying for her A-Levels at Silverdale School. Kelsey was one of our gold ambassadors from last year. I talked about the BLBW programme, its' history and the high regard it has at the Careers and Enterprise Company. Kevan Donohoe gave an employer perspective and highlighted attitude, commitment and mindset as the real strengths he had seen in young people on the engineering programme. Kevan had been so impressed with the students that he had offered Joshua Kirk, who had completed his work experience at Doncaster Bramah, an apprenticeship with his company!! The star of the introductions was, of course, Kelsey Parker who talked with passion and enthusiasm about the impact the programme had on her and how it helped develop her interest in metallurgy and supported her to think about her future own the world of work! Kelsey said that the BLBW programme was the best thing she did at school and she is hoping to go to Cambridge University to continue her studies! Joshua Kirk also spoke about the impact the programme had on him and said that Sarah Ward, his business champion and mentor, had been so important in the success he and the other engineering ambassadors had on the programme.