Our Enterprise activities

Students in the sixth form follow a curriculum of enterprise activities which include researching, planning, making and selling high quality products. They use group and individual decision making skills to select a target audience for their products throughout each project.

They then produce the items during lesson time and then sell them to staff, students, parents and the local community. Students have also taken their products into local care homes to sell near Christmas time. The products made range from earrings, necklaces, brooches, bath bombs, Christmas bags, Santa’s keys, candles, embroidered items and a selection of home-made cakes, desserts, tray bakes, chocolate logs, Christmas cakes and cookies. The group have also branched out into making dog treats. During the winter months, students make soup which they sell to staff and pupils at lunchtime.

A small group of sixth form students work with ‘The Auckland Project’, designing and making high end products. They use business grade machinery and equipment to produce the items that they then sell in the Newgate Shopping Centre at Christmas time. Students follow a business plan and cost out their products and hopefully make a profit for their mini enterprise/business.

Seasonal products, such as items for Valentine’s, Mother’s and Father’s days are made throughout the year and they sell them to staff and pupils in school. Students also sell products to parents at the Christmas and summer concerts, as well as other open days.

A yearly ‘Pop Up Restaurant’ is also a firm favourite with students, parents, carers and staff. This enterprise project gives students the opportunity to research, plan and make decisions about the type of restaurant they would like to run. They must consider menus, table ware, uniform and music based on a specific theme of their choosing. Each idea is followed through to ensure the restaurant is authentic and enjoyed by all. Students are able to develop and practice skills to serve food and drinks. They also learn how to clear away and complete jobs within the kitchen area.

The Acorn Café

Every Tuesday morning, the students run The Acorn Café. Students prepare toasted sandwiches, sausage and bacon sandwiches and a range of hot and cold drinks.

They take orders from staff in school, take payment and deliver a ‘take away’ service.

The students are also responsible for setting up a small café in the sixth form. They set tables, ensuring each one has place settings, menus, condiments and flowers.

Students, parents, governors and members of staff have the oppurtunity to visit the café and enjoy the food and drinks on offer. The students would like to open the café to members of the public in the future.

Students take orders from customers, serve food, take payment and tidy up. They also count takings and work out how much profit they have made.

All profit goes towards trips, celebrations and resources for sixth form students.

Developing skills through Horticulture and Gardening

Sixth form students have the opportunity to grow their own plants and vegetables in our sixth form ‘Alan Blench garden’ and in the community allotment. Students are then able to sell any produce to staff, students and parents. Students use the produce in the Acorn Café and during food technology lessons. We also use any flowers they have grown in enterprise and vocational activities such as flower arranging.

Work Experience Opportunities

Students are given the opportunity to take part in work experience. Students are supported to look at their skills and interests, and identify a suitable placement.

Students can use the skills they have learnt in sixth form in a different setting, developing their confidence and understanding of expectations in the workplace.

The time spent in the workplace can vary depending on the student. This can be extended if needed.

Students have completed work experience in a variety of settings including a local primary school, Jack Drum Arts, boarding kennels, local cafes, leisure centres, shops and supermarkets and charity shops.

Careers lessons

Students are able to access careers lessons within sixth form (where appropriate). They will learn about the types of jobs available for them when they leave school and how to apply for jobs. They will also look at suitable clothing for different types of job interview and how to present themselves well. They will practice interview techniques and look at their personal skills and attributes. Students will also learn about having realistic goals to prepare them for the future after sixth form.

Students also have the opportunity to attend local careers fayres, as well as the fayre held in school, which is attended by local colleges and other providers of education and care; Post 19.

Vocational Training

Students take part in weekly vocational lessons to develop their knowledge and skills in different jobs. They develop and build on the appropriate skills to enable them to progress into the world of work (where appropriate). Students can choose from a range of jobs including catering, flower arranging, jewellery making, cake decorating, child care, media and small animal care.