Enterprise

Pupils undertake an Enterprise Programme at the Production School

The Production School's Young Enterprise Company Programme gives students the opportunity to prepare for this working life through the experience of running their own company, supported by volunteer Advisers from business. Students aged 15-19 set up and run their company over the course of one academic year. They elect a board of directors from amongst their peers, raise share capital, and market and finance a product or service of their own choice. At the end of the year they present a report and accounts to their shareholders. The qualification pupils follow during this experience is OCR Enterprise (Level 1 and Level 2) For more information contact Pete Eason.

Production School Leaflet 1
Production School Leaflet 2
Production School Leaflet 3

Sheffield schools are undertaking a wide variety of activities to deliver the Enterprise curriculum.

Mini-project: 11 schools have so far indicated that this would be one of their key activities, some including 3 or 4 versions. Specifically mentioned were a Christmas Fayre, a Fantasy Football competition, manufacturing and selling clocks and a stationery stall. Special schools tend to derive much of their learning from mini-projects.

Staging events: Several schools intend their pupils to organise events, one specifically focussing on a charity, one launching a festival, one arranging a school disco, one referred to 'creativity events' and one is planning an event in conjunction with B&E SY.

Financial Awareness: Again the choice of several schools, 3 working with Nat West's Face to Face with Finance, and one exploring financial literacy with the Industrial Trust. One school plans a Y11 Financial Awareness Day. .

Vocational Courses: New courses identified as supporting the enterprise agenda include Business Languages, Uniformed Services and DiDA. A Calendar project is proposed for both Y10 and Y11 Applied Art & Design students. The 'Skills for Working Life' qualification was mentioned.

Work Experience: Greater use will be made of block work experience, in one case through enhanced preparation, in two others through more detailed analysis of the experience itself.

Special Activity Days: Another favourite, mainly targeted at Y10:
Y10 Opportunities Day
Y10 Royal Bank of Scotland activities (3 schools)
Y10 Industry Day
Y10 Health Day
Business problem-solving Day
'Risk' Day (encouraging risk-taking)
'Make It Happen' (design and make activities)
Enterprise Days (unspecified activities) mentioned by 2 schools

Theatre/Drama: 'Impact Theatre' and 'Crag Rats' are to be engaged by 5 schools in total to introduce enterprise themes - one interestingly to consider enterprising ways to address world poverty.

Other Projects: Two schools propose badge-making activities, while two others are contemplating catering-based projects ('Flying Food' sounds particularly interesting!). 'Bright Futures' is included by one school, fund-raising during Enterprise Week by another, a project on the local labour market by a third, and an Entrepreneurship Masterclass by a fourth.

Professional Issues: Some attention is being given to the development and management of the enterprise agenda. Attendance at Enterprise conferences, conducting an Enterprise Audit or Curriculum Mapping in school, training and preparation time as a precursor to setting up activities and giving time to establishing fruitful business/community links all feature.

There are various people and organisations in South Yorkshire who can help with your enterprise curriculum in school.

Deidre Eastburn at BESY (Business Education South Yorkshire)
01709 336700

Anna Gordon Farleigh (Enterprise Advisers) 07811 328418

The CYPD (Children and Young People's Directorate) also co-ordinates network meetings in the city for teachers to share good practice. Contact Pete Joynson for information about the next meeting.

The ASDAN awarding body has created a short course for Enterprise entitled
"Understanding Business and Enterprise". View www.asdan.co.uk
for more information.