ENTERPRISE

Inspiring enterprise

Enterprise education is viewed by the government

as a key component in improving the economic wellbeing of the nation and its individuals. Enterprise co-ordinator Martin Nirsimloo discusses

and Families, March 2010). Now more than ever, in the current economic

climate, enterprise education is an essential part of a child’s academic career. Through providing students with the skills that are

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needed for the “adult” world, from calculating interest rates to knowing which mortgages offer the best rates and generally how a business works, they can approach everyday decisions and dilemmas with a sense of maturity and understanding. Employers now demand much more from students

who are coming out of secondary and higher education. They want individuals who stand out not only in specific and relevant subject areas but who possess an insight into the financial, economic and business world. In reality, many students do not have the opportunity to develop employability skills, through work experience or part-time jobs; this is where schools can offer the opportunities and skills for students to gain essential knowledge and understanding of life after education.

An enterprising academy

The government made enterprise capability a statutory requirement for all schools in 2004, claiming that enterprise education can help raise aspirations and develop valuable skills for both higher education and employment. My school, St Matthew Academy, a three to 16

school, was set up in 2007 by its sponsor the RC Archdiocese of Southwark as a specialist in enterprise and business. Its main aim is that everyone can and should aspire to become an “enterprising citizen”. When I arrived in 2007 I was excited by the vision

of the headteacher and governing body, I knew this academy would be different as it has social enterprise at its heart. The academy is unique in its own right, as all students undertake and participate in young enterprise programmes from key stage 1 to 4, the academy believes that students can be three or 16 and enterprise skills are still relevant. We work in partnership with local businesses and

professional organisations, and although St Matthew is a specialist business and enterprise college, children do not have “special” lessons in enterprise. Instead the concept is communicated through all subject- based curriculum and citizen lessons. By embedding enterprise education across all subject areas we have created a constant message and ethos. The skills students need to cover when studying

enterprise are: • Idea generation. • Working independently. • Problem-solving. • Working within a team. • Planning and organising. • Lead adoption. • Decision-making. • Risk-taking. • Weighing up situations. • Responding to change. • Communicating with others. • Financial capabilities.

Enterprise week

At the end of each term the standard timetable is suspended and students participate in enterprise weeks. Activities are loosely based around a common theme which differs each term; this spring term for example enterprise week was based on the World Cup.

SecEd • May 13 2010

FSTED HAS noted that “children are motivated by enterprise learning in schools, with pupils taking responsibility for their own actions and having sufficient autonomy to tackle relevant problems” (Department for Children, Schools

Down to business: Claire Young, a finalist in The Apprentice (third left), looks at a business plan prepared by St Matthew Academy

Each year group represented a different country

studying its traditions and culture through enterprise. During these enterprise weeks students have the opportunity to carry out tasks and acquire skills that incorporate the government’s enterprise education framework: learning through work, learning about work, and learning for work. Pupils as young as five take part in enterprise and

challenge weeks. One task they participate in is “Our Family”, where pupils examine a family’s choice of spending dilemmas and decide what items are necessities and what are luxuries. Through years 3 to 9, students work on and look at

taxation, community cohesion, international economics and trading. Students even open a bank account at the academy and learn about buying resources, borrowing and planning budgets, which provides a greater understanding of the banking industry. In year 10, students focus entirely on careers and

post-16 choices, with expert advice and masterclasses delivered by entrepreneurs. Their inspirational talks mean students can see the benefits of becoming enterprising citizens and what it takes to become a successful business person. All students then go on to deliver a presentation

to a “Dragons’ Den” panel, with the aim of securing start-up capital for their business. The students set up and run real businesses and have financial control. They raise money through fundraising and selling shares. Once their chosen product or service has been

developed, the students market and sell it to the general public. At the end of the financial year, the company must liquidate and pay corporation tax. The whole experience gives the students a perspective on running a business and how important it is to really believe in yourself and your product to become a success. This year’s Dragons’ Den challenge saw students

pitch their business ideas to “dragons” that included Claire Young, a 2008 finalist in The Apprentice television show and pop star Beyonce’s PR director, Jessica Hue. Ideas that were put forward included flat-pack toys and eco-cosmetics. The winner was an educational board game to build relationships between fathers and their children. The winning team was awarded support from a business mentor and finance to help them launch their business. The programme has been such an outstanding

success that one of our students has been signed to a cosmetics company. After showing an interest in retail he was offered the chance to meet a Vogue and Observer journalist who gave him inspiration and helpful advice about the industry. At the beginning of his time at St Matthew he was a

shy pupil who found communication and presenting a struggle, through the enterprise ethos and programmes

offered by the school he has developed into a confident entrepreneur. His mathematics and data GCSEs have also greatly improved. Now aged 16, he can look forward a promising career in something he loves.

Looking to the future

This year Ofsted reported that 100 per cent of the students rated enterprise as one of the best things that St Matthew Academy provides. This highlights that students realise how important enterprise education is and are enjoying the way it is delivered through exciting activities and an innovative approach. Over the past three years I have seen teachers

at the academy become more passionate about enterprise. Many want to be involved in enterprise activities throughout the academic year and often come to me with ideas and feedback, which is fantastic. For the future we are looking to continue to build

a hub of excellence with enterprising students in fields such as media, engineering and sciences. It has been documented that only four per cent of

people in the UK will open a business but everyone can be enterprising. When I see the students develop skills and become ready to leave the academy for either college or work with knowledge that many adults do not possess it shows how important and crucial enterprise education is for a child.

SecEd

• Martin Nirsimloo is assistant headteacher and co- ordinator of enterprise and business at St Matthew Academy, a mixed, Roman Catholic, three to 16, independent, specialist business and enterprise academy. The academy serves the suburban area of east Lewisham and the Diocese of Southwark in south London. St Matthew has won many enterprise awards and is now recognised as a “Centre of Excellence and Inspiration” in the UK. Visit www.stmatthewacademy.co.uk

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