Aims:
The aim of the work described in this case study is to:
- attract more young people into the industry and
in particular those who would be most suited for this type of career
opportunity;
- encourage wider participation from under-represented
groups;
- raise the awareness of equal opportunities and
in so doing implement its practice;
- raise awareness of the opportunities available
both at craft and professional level and the progression routes for
further qualifications.
Resources:
Clearly the major resource required here is
time to:
- make contact with schools and the relevant staff;·
understand how visits by schools can be integrated with their needs
to fulfil the national curriculum;
- plan the visits so that they are worthwhile and
successful.
The Project: Planning and Purpose.
The Technology Curriculum Centre is currently working with a range of
pupils from 5 years of age to 16 year-olds through a variety of different
initiatives. This scheme has been operating successfully for a period
of nearly ten years. One of the key factors to the success has been the
strong liaison between the College and the CITB curriculum centre that
have worked together to provide the funding and active opportunities to
the client group. Primary and secondary pupils have been able to become
involved in a range of initiatives. These have included:
The early Years - Short visits for young primary
pupils;
In a bid to promote learning using Construction as the vehicle, pupils
as young as 5 are gaining experience by visits to the College site and
tasting of College provision. Promoted by the local Education and Business
Partnership (EBP), in conjunction with the Construction Industry Training
Board (CITB), local primary schools regularly organise visits for the
pupils to enable them to see how houses are constructed. In addition,
in order to gain a deeper insight of construction methodology, the pupils
examine everyday, basic materials that surround them in their home, without
having realised before how these are put together.Their summary of the
experience is often a set of crayoned drawings returned to the College,
maybe not to British Standard yet, but never the less done with a passion.
St Silas Infants, Blackburn, on a visit to Blackburn College.
Moving On -School Partner Programme for 14 - 16
year olds.
As the teenagers develop through the secondary education system, the challenges
continue. Raising awareness of career opportunities poses a real challenge.
With the vast menu of careers on offer, it is very difficult to know which
is going to be the most suitable for the young person. Many pupils from
the local schools have the opportunity to gain work experience in a particular
occupational area. During this time an insight can be gained into the
day-to-day activities of a bricklayer, painter or civil engineer/ architect.
The College strategy starts to impact heavily towards year 9 pupils in
the form of an equal opportunities event carried out by college staff
at the schools. The aim of this to get the pupils to give thought to 'stereotyping'
and to realise, for example, that women can become architects, civil engineers
or project managers.
College Provision
Year 9 pupils have the opportunity to attend an 'equal opportunity' session
at the school whereby College staff emphasise the opportunities of alternative
careers available to both male and female pupils in jobs that they may
never have previously considered. Boys are encouraged to investigate areas
such as hairdressing and childcare whilst the girls look at construction
and engineering.
For year 10 pupils, the College provides half-day taster courses whereby
the pupils can select an area of their choice. Here is an opportunity
for the pupils to find out more information and take part in activities
relating to the construction industry. Appropriate clothing is provided,
for example, the wearing of hard hats and high visibility jackets, and
often the girls read a levelling staff better than the boys.
For the year 11 pupils, the College staff returns to the schools for
the annual 'Road-show'. This is where the pupils are beginning to formulate
final plans for their career choice. Some are still undecided and this
event offers them the opportunity to start thinking more positively about
their own future.
Queens Park High School on a flying visit to the brickwork section
at Blackburn College.
Since the instigation of the school activities mentioned, the results
indicate that more girls are now looking at career options within the
construction industry.
The ' Summer Slam ' initiative is offered annually. In conjunction with
the local Borough Council, the College offers a wide variety of activities
over the summer holidays for young people aged 12 - 16. Whilst this initiative
is not directly related to the opportunities in Construction across the
range of vocational areas, it does offer an opportunity for school pupils
to gain experience in a college environment and boost their general confidence
and personal motivation.
Work is also carried out with the local careers service advisers and
teachers from local schools (teacher placement program). Half-day awareness
sessions offer advice on qualification routes and career opportunities.
Feedback from the programmes is always very positive and warmly received.
Evaluation:
Annual course review and evaluation monitors retention and achievement.
Annual reviews at course level identify retention and achievement trends
together with strengths and weaknesses within the area. Any weaknesses
are included in an action plan and forms part of the programme area self
assessment report which is submitted to the relevant funding body (FEFC
/ Tec’s)
Annual applications data assesses any widening participation and relevant
increases clients from non-traditional areas.
Benefits:
In an ideal world every student on every course would be totally satisfied
with the delivery and the provision, remain until the end and be successful
in achieving a qualification. Post-16 educational institutions realise
the importance of retention and achievement targets on which they are
later judged and how vital it is to enrol students that are suited for
the course and are likely to remain throughout and achieve a positive
outcome. The daily news of a lack of skilled labour and professionals
is prevalent in all the specific trade magazines and journals. The construction
industry often has the image of being the 'Cinderella' profession –
the last choice if you are not academically orientated; however, employees
within the industry know that this is not the case.
In order to raise the profile and awareness of the wide range of career
opportunities for both men and women within the construction industry,
Blackburn College has established a framework for promoting this aspect.
Over a period of time the framework has been developed to provide opportunities
for people of all ages and circumstances to consider a career in the industry.
At the time of writing, the programme has been in operation for approximately
three years in its present form. In one area, there has been a significant
increase in the number of course applications from females wishing to
pursue the professional option; for example in architecture and civil
engineering.
The benefits from the programme are showing results in the form of some
widening participation. Improved retention and achievement statistics
could be analysed once this current cohort reach the end of its course.
Issues and lessons to be learnt:
To gain greater understanding of the effectiveness
of the marketing strategy:
- the School Liaison team carries out tracking
through the school partner programme as pupils move into mainstream
college provision;
- the college MIS system provides reports at course
level to review any trends that can be used to focus specific marketing
and promotional opportunities to the relevant groups;
- the college operates a student progression system
for tracking past students who progress into higher education.
Ongoing Developments:
Further work is being carried out to raise awareness of opportunity to
parents. Open evenings / events are currently underway in order to be
able meet the parents and provide accurate information on career prospects.
The initial pilot scheme has proved to be very useful and should be extended
in the following year.
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