Partnerships
TRIPS
On discovering that primary school children were unable to attend The Skills Show at the NEC, I decided to set something up myself. The event, which Solihull Chamber of Commerce helped organise, was held at Solihull College’s Woodlands Campus and was intended to show pupils what a career in engineering could offer. Year 6 pupils took part in various activities, including using printing, mechanical engineering, hair and beauty, construction, and testing in a wind tunnel. The pupils were joined by Solihull
Mayor, Mike Robinson, and given a tour of the engineering training facilities. It was a great event and showed real collaborative working. We contacted Monarch Airlines,
which has one of the largest hangers in Europe and was more than happy
for us to take some children to look around. The children were amazed at the size of the facility and were lucky enough to see both a propeller plane and a jet plane and learn the differences between the two. They saw the jet plane have its
engine removed and stood under it, next to the huge rear wheels – not something many children get to do! We have also had trips to John
Lewis for several events, and have visited the local egg farm, an award-winning cheese-maker, Balfour Beatty, Network Rail, the National Motorcycle Museum, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Birmingham Hippodrome and Marriott Forest of Arden Hotel, and had a behind- the-scenes tour of the Silverstone Race Circuit – all for free! ACTION: How much money do you spend on trips? Are there other
options? The simple answer is yes. Think about how school visits to local businesses could fit in with the curriculum and then make that call, but remember to explain what impact it will have on children’s learning and give the company the opportunity for publicity.
Coming next issue... In the autumn issue of FundEd (out 5 October) Howard explains how he makes every minute count in If You Only Do One Thing...
Howard Rose is Director of Funding and Publicity at Balsall Common Primary School. He secures grants, sponsorship and support from businesses to enhance teaching and learning and has won much recognition for his achievements, including the 2015 Chambers of Commerce Education and Business Partnership Award.
so this was simply not an option. I contacted Jaguar Land Rover
via Solihull Sustain – a local charity set up to partner businesses with local charities and schools. The company was more than happy to help, using it as a team-building event. It sent 21 employees to the school and completed the task in just two days – as a bonus, they also built a huge bug hotel! ACTION: What services have you had to buy in over the last year? Target large businesses based locally and contact them, ask if they have a CSR policy, explain what you need and why, and you’ll be surprised how many companies will offer to help.
VISITORS
For ‘maths week’ last year, I asked a to the children. This might not be in with his knee pads on and carrying his tool box. I introduced him and the children all stared at him as if he were mad! He told them I had asked him to come in, and then they all stared at me as if I were mad! He began by telling them what he
did. ‘Tell you what, how big is this room?’ he asked. ‘You at the front – grab this tape measure.’ Once they’d worked out how much underlay and carpet would be needed – and the cost of each – they could help prepare a quote. Slowly the penny dropped – they were using maths! We have lots of other visitors who
come in to speak on a wide variety of topics. Vistors include the Mayor, Severn Trent, a local magistrate, E.ON, Caroline Spelman MP, Lions
Air Ambulance and the RNLI. Again, all of these people give up
their time for free to help enhance the curriculum and pupils’ learning. ACTION: Identify who comes into school each year and why. What knowledge do they bring and at what cost? Are there businesses locally that could do the same thing? There are hundreds of businesses that can help you – all you have to do is ask.
FundEd SUMMER 2017 39
IMAGE: ALEX_DOUBOVITSKY; EKAZANSK; ANGEL_1978; CREATIVEDOXFOTO; MAKHNACH_M; COUNTERFEIT_UA/
THINKSTOCK.CO.UK
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