More importantly, students also noted on their evaluation forms that they had learned lots about themselves, their abilities and their attitudes. All in all, everyone involved agreed that the two days had been a great success.
Enterprise Education (EE) is now a key part of all secondary schools’ curricula and part of Tollbar’s plan to deliver EE sees us holding an annual Enterprise Day for all of Year 10. With 371 students in the Year group, it was decided to hold the event over two days. The organisers drafted in the support of 12 members of staff, half a dozen 6th form students, eight Year 11 students and 6 local business people whose involvement was coordinated by Humber EBLO.
The students worked in non-friendship groups on a range of tasks including a challenge to design and make an outfit from toilet paper; an activity requiring them to consider how they would be affected by a sudden change such as the College starting at 7.00am and, finally, The Coca Cola Challenge which saw students choosing a site for a new soft drink bottling plant.
Four teams won through to the Semi Finals of the Coca Cola Challenge; one of which will go forward to represent the College at a Humber Final on October 20th.
All the students were keenly involved throughout both days but the most satisfying element was
the eager participation of some students who can otherwise find education difficult. “Some of the best work across both days came from the least expected people,” said teacher Vince Groak,“one or two students who often find traditional education to be of little relevance to them made superb contributions to their groups and it was fantastic to see some of them win some awards at the end.”
Yvonne Walker, an ICT Consultant from the LEA was one of the facilitators for the day and she echoed those comments, “[it was] a real pleasure to be involved,” she said. Enterprise Education is an increasingly important feature of the Work Related Agenda and these events demonstrate an ongoing commitment to ensuring that Tollbar BEC students have the best possible preparation for working life.