richard@watton-norfolk.org.uk
Vocational Skills Centre for
Wayland Community High School
Thursday 15th November saw the launch
of an initiative to bring a Vocational Skills Centre to Watton.
Mr Michael Rose, the head teacher
opened the meeting which had been called to raise awareness
and funding for this much needed
facility. He said "In this part of Norfolk some 80% of the 16-18 year olds
remain in some form of further
education, which is far below the national average. Government figures
indicate that the number of youngsters
in the 14-19 age group will increase and and a new diploma
programme is being set up
to ensure young people gain employable skills and some experience of the
work
place. Completion of courses will
lead to an acceptable diploma that is acceptable by employers.
Wayland will be able to deliver
this diploma scheme as part of a collaborative partnership between schools
colleges and employers. This partnership
is already in place, starting some 4 years ago with
Mansell Construction Company. Now
the collaboration includes Wayland Community High School,
Methwold High School, Hamonds High
School, Downham Market High School, The College
of West Anglia, Norwich City College,
Mansell Construction Company, The Norfolk Learning
Authority, Norfolk Property Services,
The Learning Skills Council, the East of England Development
Agency and more recently the Hethel
Engineering Centre. The Open Road Project from Norwich
provides a strong basis from which
we can build a unique centre that challenges rural isolation,
low aspirations and skill shortages
in the lives of our young people in an area where;
Opportunities for work based learning
are low
The nearest major sources of work
based learning is some 20 miles away
Construction is the second most
popular choice of young people in the West as a possible career
but the distance from colleges
involving a 12 hour day put many of them off.
Engineering has a 'dirty image
and many secondary pupils know little about careers in Education.
We must:
Widen the choice of stronger vocational
routes for young people
Increase the number of apprenticeships
and improve their quality and success rates
Guarantee 14-19 year olds a vital
and suitable learning opportunity
By these actions we can tackle social
inclusions, raise awareness about career and trade
opportunities, raise aspirations
and esteem and improve access to local opportunities.
All be it from 2009, would not
it be great if the Vocational Skills Centre could start to make
a significant contribution towards
enabling young people and communities to develop
the skills needed to support
regeneration. Think of the opportunities that will arise before and
beyond the Olympics and Paralympics
in 2010. What a great opportunity to showcase exciting
innovation and ideas from Norfolk.
Should we not now respond to our
social and moral duty to provide young people with career
and job prospects as this County
grows and develops in the next 20 years. Our local builders,
local engineers and tradesmen contributing
to the lives and environment of our beautiful County."
The evening had a variety of other
speakers from the partnership members and a clear message
came across that to provide the
already partially funded centre more partners are needed.
Do you have the skills and knowledge
needed?
Do you know of any other who will
join in?
Can you access resources to ensure
the full potential of the centre?
Contact the school and talk to Mr Rose if you can help in any way.