futures APRIL 2009
futures6
DAMON
NEWTON
Student
Sabbatical Officer,
14-19 Partnership
SCHOOLS
One eye on your GCSEs, one on the diploma
Truly out of this world
LESSON WITH A DIFFERENCE: Students take to the stage in the production of Return to the Forbidden Planet
G
CSE exams are coming very soon
and hopefully you're all revising
really hard and preparing for one of
the most important stages in life.
So I'm guessing you're all taking up the
extra revision lessons and checking out all
of those revision website recommended by
your teachers?
Now, although this is an important stage
in your education, you also still need to be
considering where you want to go next.
In the sixth form or at college there are
a number of different options open to
you. Apart from A-levels you might want
to consider a new qualification: the
diploma.
There will be three diplomas available in
West Cumbria, at level 3; creative and
media, engineering and manufacturing,
and product design.
After speaking to employers this is what
they had to say about the new diploma
lines.
Mike Killen, senior business
improvement manager, Sellafield Ltd: "As
a major employer in West Cumbria we
fully support the 14-19 diploma in
manufacturing and design and believe it
will provide young people with a very
exciting opportunity to gain a greater
understanding of the demands of today's
workplace.
"Thanks to a very innovative syllabus it
will introduce them not only to business,
design and manufacturing concepts but
also to the additional skills, attitudes and
behaviours required as future employees.
"This programme will also enable these
possible `employees/ employers of the
future' to better understand the full range
of opportunities that exist in the
workplace and enhance their ability to
choose a successful career path."
Patric Gilchrist,executive director,
Theatre by the Lake: "The 14-19 diploma
will enable young people to develop both
creativity and business understanding.
"The confidence and transferable skills
they acquire will mean that they can be
successful in whatever career pathway
they choose in the future.
"We look forward to working with West
Cumbria 14-19 Partnership to make the
diploma a great success."
Nick Evanson, West Cumbria Advanced
Engineering Diploma Line Lead, Lakes
College: "The advanced diploma in
engineering is an excellent opportunity for
those considering a career in engineering.
The diploma picks the best elements from
academia and vocational learning and
combines them into a single subject that
can get you into university.
"It has the core academic subjects of
computers, maths, and physics with the
vocational benefits of project
management skills and a minimum of 10
days real work experience. There is also
the very unique option to study any of our
level 3 courses, or AS level courses run at
the Workington Sixth Form Centre, so you
can complement your study with
geography, sociology or even art,
depending on what you career path you
want to pursue.
"This course will really benefit students
who know they want a career in
engineering, but also want to progress on
to university and give them a broad
knowledge of the subject that prepares
them more effectively for university and
ultimately, the working world."
Jeff Shield, West Cumbria Higher and
Advanced Manufacturing and Product
Design Diploma Line Lead, Southfield
Technology College and Workington Sixth
Form Centre: "The advanced diploma in
manufacturing and product design is a
rewarding course, but also a demanding
one.
"To be accepted onto the course
students will need to have gained five A*-
C grades at GCSE, including English, maths,
science and design and technology.
"The majority of the course will be
delivered through practical, project-based
learning in the very well equipped D&T
suite at Southfield Technology College and
through links with local industries.
"The science and business aspects will be
delivered at Workington Sixth Form
Centre."
So now you've heard about the
diplomas from the professionals, and how
they think it will help you in the world of
work.
So if you're in year 11, and you're not
sure where to go or what to study why not
check out the diploma by asking any of
your teachers or your Connexions advisor
or visit the website
http://yp.direct.gov.uk/diplomas
S
TUDENTS from St Joseph's
Catholic High School took the
curriculum to a whole new
level recently with a
show-stopping performance of
Return to the Forbidden Planet.
The production pulled in the crowds as
students from all five year groups came
together to give the performance of the
school's year on March 11 to 13.
But this wasn't any old school
production � this was a carefully planned,
strategically-orchestrated learning
vehicle.
Loosely based on the 1956 film
Forbidden Planet, the show was a most
unlikely fusion of the greatest works of
William Shakespeare � in particular The
Tempest � and hit songs of the 50s and 60s.
The show, which had been months in
the planning, was used as an opportunity
to integrate art and performance in the
curriculum.
Set designs were researched, planned
and created in the schools art and
technology departments and students
integrated the themes of the show into
their projects.
Technology staff helped students build
the spaceship set where recycled IT
equipment topped-off the scientific
setting.
The music department and school band
not only accompanied the whole
performance but designed and distributed
the show's posters.
Science projects were linked to the
production and students who had
technical skills were given the
responsibility of assembling lighting and
assisting the sound arrangements.
To make the show an all-round
interactive experience for the audience,
the school's foyer was turned into a
departure lounge. Tickets were printed
and created to look almost exactly like
airline boarding passes with perforated
tear-offs.
"We literally did everything ourselves,"
Melinda McNicholas, the school's director
of the Leading Edge Partnership
Programme, said.
"It's our fourth annual production and
we've really grown over the years. The
whole school has got involved.
"We've done really well this year
although it's been a bit rushed; we started
rehearsals in January where we would
usually start in October.
"But the 30 cast, 30 others who helped
out and the 20 teachers have all pulled
together to make it happen.
"It amazes me every year that on top of
their jobs teachers find time to help out
with the production in their own time."
Melinda explained that having the
production integrated into the
curriculum has meant the entire school
contributed.
She said: "Although you'd think a play
was specifically drama focused, it has
been linked to the business and enterprise
specialism of the school.
"And as the school's being a leading
edge school, we've had finding for our
lighting and sound equipment."
The Leading Edge Partnership
Programme was established in 2003 to
encourage schools to work in partnership
to solve some of the most challenging
problems in education.
The LEP programme is now in its fifth
year. In some way or other over a third of
all secondary schools in England are
involved in helping to raise standards and
transform education through this unique
school-led approach
Melinda added: "The students have
taken on a lot of responsibility and it's
most certainly been a joint learning
vehicle between the teachers and
students.
"I've learned so much more about ICT
and technology from the year nine
students and it shows that something
such as a school production can bring out
the teamwork in everyone.
"The whole student/teacher
relationship was reversed.
"We've had teachers and students paint
the set, learn stage make-up skills,
filming and editing skills and sound
effects � it's all been linked in the
students every day learning.
"Not only has it given the students
chance to develop their confidence but it
has meant they have had the chance to
demonstrate skills they wouldn't
normally have done so during lessons."
Transferable skills have been the
upshot of the production � students have
adapted what they have learned in the
classroom to the stage and vice versa.

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