West Berkshire & North Hampshire

Last month, Kennet School in Thatcham teamed up with the Education Business Partnership West Berkshire (EBPWB) to host a week that would leave students more prepared for their future working lives.

2000 students took part in five different business related challenges to improve their skills in team working, presentation, time management, researching, analytical and decision making.

Year 7 students designed T-shirts using a travel theme and Year 10 students designed and created T-shirts depicting what they wanted to be doing when they were 25. These designs have been entered into a national t-shirt design competition. Year 8 students created pizzas using food from around the world and were supported by Waitrose. Year 9 students developed events for young people to be held at the Newbury showground during Royal Berkshire show weekend and were supported by The Newbury & District Agricultural Society and Year 12 students took on the role of a ‘Dragon’ and decided who out of three local businesses to invest a fictitious £100,000 in.

28 volunteers from local businesses were involved with the event and five business speakers also talked to students about their career journeys and inspired pupils about the range of careers and different types of opportunities there are for young people when they start work.  

Lesley Yates, from the EBPWB said “The impact of these face to face encounters with business professionals never ceases to impress me. We can visibly see the difference in pupils’ confidence and self esteem from the beginning to the end of the day.”

Paul Dick, the Headmaster, said “It is good that we pose challenges and provide different opportunities for our youngsters; these events give them an opportunity to think differently and to demonstrate their many superb academic and personal qualities.”

If you would like to find out more about the EBPWB and the work they do to help young people, go to http://www.ebpwb.co.uk/