Building skills and preparing students for a future they can confidently choose
Amanda Jacob, Deputy Headteacher at E-ACT Royton & Crompton in Oldham, has seen big changes in her time at the school. Working in an area with a high proportion of students requiring additional support can sometimes be challenging, but taking part in the Rise programme (an ICAEW social mobility initiative) has helped in many ways over the past few years.
For students at Amanda’s school, Rise helps raise aspirations and develop key skills including teamwork, collaboration, presenting, research and communication. The opportunity to have external speakers – volunteers from a range of companies – come and speak to students makes all the difference, bringing the world of work to life and putting skills-building challenges into a professional context.
Taking part in Rise workshops aligns closely with the school’s ambition of opening minds and opening doors, helping young people broaden their horizons and develop valuable skills. The programme also reinforces the school’s core values of honesty, excellence and aspiration. By connecting students with professionals from a variety of backgrounds, Rise helps them gain a better understanding of the world beyond the classroom, the opportunities available to them, and the pathways that can lead there.
It’s really good to get people to come in from industry to judge and support activities because it gives students the opportunity to talk to different people in areas where they’d never have spoken to them, which in turn will raise their aspirations.
During the Rise workshops, students engage well with facilitators and programme content – whether taking part in games, presentations, or written tasks. Facilitators adapt content to suit the needs of the young people, building rapport and helping them engage within the session and beyond.
Seeing a positive change in students from the start to the end of each Rise workshop always stands out to Amanda, who notes that those who start off shy and quiet often grow in confidence as volunteers and facilitators help them feel heard, valued and supported.
At the end, when students are presenting to their peers and figuring out their finances and business plans, that is the lightbulb moment where everything switches on and they think actually, this is why I need to do things like this – to help prepare me.
With the support of facilitators and volunteer employees, students learn they can work independently, come up with creative ideas and think outside of the box.
They might not be the most academic or confident student, but they become aware that they can learn how to develop their skills to become better versions of themselves.
Students are asked to step outside of their comfort zones and achieve new goals while working together with peers and building strong interpersonal skills. Developing relationships outside of their usual social circle – and with professionals – shows them that communication and confidence are essential.
The Rise workshops help Amanda’s students to build skills and aspirations and think about their futures. They are encouraged to consider different routes into the professional world based on their strengths, making connections with professionals beyond their family networks.
The workshops help open students’ eyes and teach them how to behave professionally. The activities help them to become better people and prepare them for life after school.
The Rise workshops also teach Amanda’s students the crucial lesson that careers are not linear, and that continual learning in a core part of professional life. A commitment to improving and reflecting is central to any career.
Whether being supported by volunteers in group tasks, being encouraged to think big and build new relationships or just realising that there is a world outside of their immediate vicinity, Amanda’s students have benefitted greatly from the Rise workshops.
The Rise programme helps students open minds and open doors so that they can succeed in the future. It helps them realise their aspirations and shows them different ways to get there.
Helping prepare students for a future they can confidently choose is a key part of the Rise initiative. By giving young people the opportunity to build employability skills and supporting schools to deliver meaningful careers education, Rise continues to make a lasting impact for Amanda and her students.