This week I had the opportunity to visit New Bridge School, New Bridge Learning Centre, Hollinwood Academy and our own site here at Medtia with two visitors, Michaela Andrew, Careers and Enterprise Coordinator from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Sandra McDonald, our Business Advisor. Michaela and Sandra are committed to supporting all the schools across our Trust in achieving the Gatsby Benchmarks and ensuring that our students have the best possible opportunities to understand and prepare for the world of work.

It was lovely to visit the other schools and Michaela and Sandra were really impressed with the focus that we have on careers education. They also loved our new New Bridge Destination Champions canvases that are now on display across our sites. I look forward to continuing to work with Sandra and Michaela for the rest of this academic year.

As you will know, at Medtia we have a student council to ensure that the student voice is heard and that students can inform our planning. At our recent meeting, students voiced that they wanted ID cards like any other college which would enable them to access discounts at local stores and restaurants. Well, you spoke and we have listened! Student cards will be sent home after half term on lanyards and we will be asking students to wear them to college each day. Better still, our Digit4ll pathway students are making them for us!

Speaking of which, Mr Handrick has an update for us..

At the Medtia site this week, the Lumenus, Activ8 and Pre-Intern pathways have been attending their weekly ICT session. The topic for this term is ‘Email & Presentation’ and the students have been learning more about how to use their email accounts and different skills around sending group emails. For their presentation skills we have been looking into what makes a good presentation design for a specific audience. Here a few of the students hard at work..

On the Digit4ll pathway, the team are working hard as always on a wide range of different tasks.

Some of the team have been brushing up on their filming skills..

..some have been working hard with Mr Slater to complete a very large order of canvas prints..

..while others have been finishing up some course work for their Portfolios..

As always the Sea Clear enterprise team are working hard on ways to improve and get themselves out there to a wider audience..

Please remember that you can find what they get up to by looking on their website http://www.nbenterprise.co.uk/ where there is lots of info about their work and links to all their social media sites. Have a good weekend!

As you know, the New Bridge Group is committed to offering our young people the opportunity to gain the skills they need to enable them to achieve their potential. In September we opened our new Future Finders Employability College to provide a supported internship course for our young people aged 19-25.

You may be aware that we are now looking to establish a Parent Employer Network to assist us in engaging with employers and explore possible work placements, job interviews and employer encounters for our young people from across the different parts of the Group, including our schools.

I am delighted to say that our first Parent Employer Network meeting has now been arranged at our Medtia Square site on Thursday 28th February. If this is something you would like to be involved in, I very much hope you will be able to join us.

We are always looking to create new relationships with employers across Oldham and Greater Manchester and there are many ways that you can help us, including:

• Work experience placements – we are looking for employers to host work experience placements for young people aged 14 to 19 for 2-3 hours per week for a group of three students who will be supported by a job coach. Currently work experience placements are offered at local charity shops and cafés.
• Pre Internship Placements – these are placements for approximately 12-14 hours per week and are usually with a larger employer that can accommodate 3-4 young people who will be supported by a job coach. Currently these types of placements are offered by David Lloyd Gym, Middleton, The RSPCA Shelter, Oldham and The Atrium Café, Oldham.
• Bridging the Gap – this model is where up to 6 students are based with an employer for a full year and participate in 3 x 12 week placements across departments within that business. The employer provides a classroom space within their premises and the students are supported by two job coaches. We currently host Bridging the Gap projects at the Royal Oldham Hospital and Manchester Metropolitan University.
• Future Finders – these are full time internship courses for young adults aged 19-25 who are looking to move into the world of work. Businesses should be able to offer a placement for up to 16 hours per week for one or two students. Many employers then offer employment opportunities to these students, should a role come up that their student is appropriate for.
• Working Interviews – do you have a role available that might be suitable for one of our students? If so, we can meet with you to discuss a working interview, whereby an applicant is given a trial rather than a formal interview. This is a great way for employers to assess an applicant’s skills and suitability before formally offering them a contract.
• Employer encounters – we are also looking for employers who could host one off tours of their business to some of our students to find out more about your industry sector. You may also be willing to come into one of our schools to talk about your role and your company!

If you are interested in joining us on 28th February, please contact Maria Statham, our Work Placement Co-ordinator via email to mstatham@newbridgegroup.org or on telephone number 0161 883 2403 (ext. 3002) or mobile 07392 091961. Alternatively, if you have any family or friends who you think would be interested in supporting our young people, please feel free to pass these details on to them; they would be very welcome to attend the meeting too.

We have also had some more amazing feedback from The Clean Plate Kitchen this week regarding our Pre Intern student Jason – here is what his employer had to say about him.. 

Jason made Brownies yesterday and baked them today, he weighed out his own ingredients, mixed & timed his bake. He chose his favourite chocolate to make them with, they were delicious. Jason has took more orders this week and used the till. He’s also accompanied a member of staff to Sainsburys and paid for produce using self service. He’s growing in confidence daily and is an absolute pleasure to work with, he’s conscientious and just a lovely person and great company. I don’t know if you pass feedback to parents but if you do please let them know how amazing we think their son is.

Jason is also this week’s ‘Worker of the Week’! Well done Jason!

If your child is taking part in our Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s expeditions this year, don’t forget the meeting this Tuesday 12th February at 4pm at New Bridge School where you will be able to talk to the DofE staff who will be supporting them and ask any questions you may have.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Daniel
Head of Key Stage 5 Pathways

You can view our previous blog entries here

Click here for this week’s news from Graham