School Corner

Now running the National Literacy Trust’s communication and employability programme Words for Work for its third consecutive year Bishop David Brown School tells us how its students are benefitting from the ongoing impact of the programme as they prepare to leave school and go on to college or work.

Bishop David Brown School in Sheerwater, Woking has a diverse student population and higher than average FSM eligibility. The school came out of special measures in November 2005 and is improving GCSE results consistently year on year largely due to the drive and determination of its Head Teacher, Stuart Shepherd, and his committed team of staff.

Always looking for ways to give their students an extra advantage the school signed up for the Words for Work pilot in 2009. Now running the programme for a third consecutive year Stuart is witnessing how Words for Work continues to impact on the lives of his students as they progress through the school and prepare to go on to college or work.

“Fifty per cent of our students have English as a second language so communication for a lot of these guys was difficult. This day and age you see so many students speaking text speak - the only time some of them have a coherent conversation is with a member of staff. It's vital to give students as much ammunition as possible to help them be successful. Post-16 is getting harder and harder – especially in terms of college places and apprenticeships.? The more opportunities that students have to collaborate and work with people outside is so important.

Students who took part in the first year of Words for Work who went on to interview for college places and prefect positions in the school achieved almost 100% success in gaining college places and winning positions of responsibility in the school. This was due largely to their increased confidence and their improved interview and presentation skills, a direct result of participating on Words for Work. Now in year 11 these students stand out amongst their peers in terms of their confidence to communicate effectively.

Haydn, now in year 10, took part in Words for Work last year and along with many of his fellow students was surprised by how much he learnt about speaking and listening and its importance for him personally. Here Haydn explains how he used some of the key skills he learnt on Words for Work to secure his college place.

“I would say the turning point of the programme was realising interviews are really important. We were like “really?” Before the programme I was really informal - I thought you went along to an interview, it's fine - you go along and you get a job. I went to an interview to get my diploma in college. I knew what to do and how to act afterwards. And I knew how to do presenting in front of adults, and was really good at it - not just with people my own age.

BDB is a school that works hard to arm its students with real life skills and tools to help them achieve their goals in life as they finish year 11 and move on to further education or embark on their working life. In Stuart’s opinion the evidence certainly shows that Words for Work has an important part to play in this process.