13 minute read
Positive Pathways
Course Type: A programme that develops the skills and knowledge of core subjects, combined with a range of different vocational sessions to support sustained engagement in education.
Length: 36 weeks, roll-on roll-off
Entry Requirements: Willingness to engage and a positive attitude.
Positive Pathways is a full-time programme for Year 10 and Year 11 learners who have been referred by their school. Primarily based at The Skills Academy but will include visits to other Etc. campuses.
Positive Pathways
What will I do?
These programmes support the main Key Stage 4 subjects including: • Maths • English • English Literature • Biology • IT • Sport
Learners will also have the opportunity to try a range of vocational programmes including: • Hair & Beauty • Construction Multi-Skills • Art & Design • IT • Digital Media • Health Social & Childcare and more… Personal development can also be achieved through Enterprise, Enrichment and Tutorial sessions and activities.
How am I assessed?
Not all learners will complete a formal qualification but assessment could include: exam assessment (Maths and English), practical activities and portfolio building. School assessment and initial college assessments will determine which pathway a learner will join with regular reviews taking place throughout the year.
What’s next?
After the initial referral by the school successful learners will be invited into College for a taster and interview.
NEWS
Billingham Town
After a successful first season, The Skills Academy has once again joined forces with local football team Billingham Town in a one-year sponsorship deal.
With the hope of creating valuable work experience opportunities for their students, Alternative Provision Manager at The Skills Academy, Tracey Laycock said:
“It is very important to us that we can make links with the local community. Billingham Town is important to the local area and young people. We hope it will help us create many opportunities for our learners. So many dedicated and hardworking volunteers run the club and hopefully as a college, we can get involved and help.”
With current restrictions in place, the staff at The Skills Academy have not been able to cheer on the team from the stands this season but are hoping to attend as many games as they can in the upcoming months.
Ray Morton, Football Secretary at Billingham Town Football Club, said:
“The Skills Academy provides a great opportunity for students to learn new skills, this is something we hope to assist with when conditions are more favourable.”
“Having been a teacher at Northfield School and the Bishopton Centre in recent years, I know how great the support and development is provided to students by The Skills Academy and we look forward to working together with staff and students going forward.”
Currently in the Ebac Northern League, Billingham Town aims to support local player development from grassroot football to academy level. The club aspires to use sport as a tool to motivate and inspire individuals and local communities. The club has also recently established a new Under 18 team.
Ray Morton
Billingham Town Football Club
Enterprise Project
A group of college students chose to combine education with empathy and raise money for a local charity.
The positive pathways students at The Skills Academy decided to raise money for their local Billingham food bank as part of their enterprise project.
Working closely with tutor Lee, the group planned a range of fundraising activities such as sweet bags, car washes and a bake sale.
Positive pathways tutor Lee said: “I am so proud of the students, they organised a number of fundraising events with very little assistance and they are really dedicated to helping their local community.”
The amazing staff at the University Hospital of North Tees were given a huge boost from students at The Skills Academy after receiving a poster full of inspirational poems.
Despite the tough circumstances of working from home, the positive pathways students from The Skills Academy wanted to recognise their local NHS heroes with some powerful individual poems created by both staff and students.
Using acrostic style poetry, the group wanted to show their appreciation for the NHS and used words such as ‘heroes’, ‘determined’ and ‘compassionate’ as a thank you for the amazing work they are doing during the current global pandemic. Kevin Aaron, Porter at North Tees Hospital, said: “When we received the poems, it really was a huge pick me up for myself and the team. We can’t thank the students enough for taking the time to do this for us. We have a very rewarding job here at North Tees but it can be tough sometimes, especially with the introduction of Covid. The kindness shown by the students has really made a difference and we are proud to work in a community with such hard working and thoughtful young people.”
Tracey Laycock, Alternative Provision Manager at The Skills Academy, said: “I am so proud of the work completed by our positive pathways students. Learning from home is a challenge for everyone but the way the students stayed engaged with their studies was admirable and a credit to them. We are glad that the work from our students helped put a smile on the faces of some of our NHS heroes, we continue to support and admire you in this very tough time.”
Bright futures start at The Skills Academy
Amy never dreamt that University would be for her.
In fact, she says: “I didn’t intend to go to college, never mind university.”
Despite facing her own struggles with anxiety, the 21-year-old from Nunthorpe has adopted a mentality that helps to get her through.
“You just have to get on with it!”, seems to have become her mantra, when asked how she has achieved all that she has to date.
The Art & Design student who started her college journey at The Skills Academy in Billingham before moving on to Stockton Riverside College, progressed to higher education with a Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma triple distinction (including two distinction stars) under her belt.
Course leader, Liz Dixon, said: “Amy is really talented and she always pushes herself.”
When it comes to her work, she said: “Amy has so many ideas, she really creates and that’s what’s needed in the creative industries, people that can think differently.”
For the budding young artist, it just took finding the right place and people to help build her confidence and allow that talent to thrive.
“That’s part of our job,” said Liz, who delivers classes across both college campuses in Billingham and Stockton. “Often it’s about developing confidence, self esteem as well as the course skills.” The Skills Academy is a great place for those who don’t feel quite ready for a larger college environment. Offering entry level courses for school leavers as well
as 14 to 16 alternative provision, it can help young people to build their self esteem, learn new skills and be inspired.
Amy said: “The Skills Academy was a great stepping stone for me, everyone was friendly and that helped build my confidence and self esteem. It was a great starting point.”
After receiving an unconditional offer at the Northern School of Art to study Surface Pattern and Textiles she once again felt those nerves, but her advice to herself and others was, “Just go for it!”
And Aiden would agree. Like Amy, he found his route to success at The Skills Academy.
First to admit he wasn’t “the best in school”, studying a multi-skills course part-time at the College in Billingham helped him rediscover his motivation.
Finding he enjoyed learning in the academy’s calm and friendly atmosphere he moved on to an IT course and has never looked back. “I found college just felt like such a different environment for me, there wasn’t those categories that you can get in school where there are the “popular people” and the “unpopular people”, everyone just knows each other and you are all the same,” said the 19-year-old from Yarm.
“Our teacher is great. He puts so much extra effort in and really wants to know what you are doing next. It makes a big difference.”
It was that driving force that inspired Aiden to pursue his studies, moving on to Stockton Riverside College. Completing his level 3 qualification he progressed to the College’s HNC in Computing Systems and Development.
Tracey Laycock, Alternative Provision Manager, said: “We are so incredibly proud of our students and what they go on to achieve. The Skills Academy offers a calm and caring learning environment where we aim to encourage, inspire and motivate all of our young people to go on to reach their true potential.”
Aiden
IT
Liz Dixon
Art & Design Tutor
Tracey Laycock
Alternative Provision Manager
HOW WE’LL SUPPORT YOU
HEALTH & WELLBEING
The College has a team dedicated to your health and wellbeing. If you need information or advice on anything from financial worries to bullying, sexual health or drug and alcohol misuse, our youth workers are available to help.
LEARNING SUPPORT
Our Learning Support Team are dedicated to making sure our learners receive the support they need. We can arrange a support interview and make sure the appropriate support is put in place. Our aim is to make sure our learners are respected and cared for as individuals and are encouraged and supported to reach their potential at all times. Learning Support services include support for students who are visually impaired, have a hearing impairment, those with mobility issues, dyslexia, autism or any learning or physical difficulty and/or disability.
SAFEGUARDING
Across the College we have a safeguarding and welfare team with dedicated safeguarding roles at each site to prioritise your safety at all times. We can offer advice, support and ensure that help from other agencies external to College can be sought to enable the best outcomes for our students’ safety and overall wellbeing. If you should feel unsafe or feel you need to access support we are here to make sure you are heard and safe at all times.
EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
We value the diversity of our college community and promote inclusion for all. We make sure that all of our students receive the same provision and access to our services. We encourage a culture of respect and commit to tackling prejudice at all levels. By encouraging students and staff to share their own experiences, we aim to promote mutual understanding.
STUDENT BURSARY
You will be invited to fill out a bursary application form when you come for an interview at the College, or apply online www.stockton.ac.uk. This will determine whether you are eligible for support with travel, childcare, meals or equipment*.
*Subject to change.
ENGLISH AND MATHS
You may not always realise it but English and maths play a part in everything we do, they are also skills that mean a lot to employers. That is why, alongside your lessons, our team will help you to build on these essential skills.
SEN/EHCP
We are committed to supporting you to meet your individual goals and aspirations. We welcome applications from students with special education needs, learning disabilities/difficulties and or other support needs. We will work with you to provide you with the right resources, support and services to meet your needs. To ensure we can provide the best support we will ask to see a copy of your Education and Health Care Plan or SEN (Special Educational Needs) Support Plan. This will allow us to understand your support needs and provide appropriate support.
We will work with you, your family, your current provider and any other professionals involved, to put in place a transition plan to help you settle into and adjust to college life. We work closely with the local authorities to adhere to the special educational needs code of practice (SEN) to meet the needs of our students.
CHARLOTTE THANKS THE SKILLS ACADEMY FOR HER NEW CAREER ASPIRATIONS
Name: Charlotte Aspiration: Technician Course: IT (Information Technology) Why I chose Skills...
• Fun and practical lesson style • New to the area and nervous to start in a big college environment
Charlotte said: “It wasn’t until I found The Skills Academy that I really knew my true potential. I chose to study Level 1 Information Technology and I’ve never looked back. I was able to make new friends and I had fantastic one-on-one support for my dyslexia.”
Next Steps...
Charlotte wants to pursue a career as an IT technician thanks to lecturer Simon and his lesson style. She added: “I would definitely recommend The Skills Academy to anyone.”
MOLLY HAS PLANS TO GO TO UNIVERSITY TO STUDY ILLUSTRATION
Name: Molly
Aspiration: Illustrator Course: Creative Arts & Media Why I chose Skills...
• The Skills Academy was much smaller and less crowded than other colleges and the number of people in each class was comfortable for me.
Chris Cameron, lecturer, said: “During her time here, Molly has made amazing progress. She has worked really hard to achieve her goals and has produced some fantastic artwork. College has been a challenge for Molly and although there has been times that she has struggled, she never gave up, she kept pushing onwards and she has accomplished great things. I am so proud of you Molly, well done!”
Next Steps...
Molly says: “The teachers have been so supportive and understanding which really helped me. The course has given me the knowledge and confidence to progress onto level 2 and eventually university.”
TESTIMONIALS
The Skills Academy is an outstanding provision that has significantly improved the life chances of our students who have attended. As a school we have seen a real improvement in students attendance, aspirations and attitude towards their learning following placements at The Skills Academy. Our parents/carers are delighted with the feedback they receive.
Mr A. Ainley Behaviour and Attendance Lead Hartlepool PRU and Home and Hospital Provision
Positive pathways has re-engaged our student who was struggling significantly in school throughout Y9 and Y10. We receive regular feedback and praise notifications; he even achieved a functional skills qualification within his first term. He has attended the provision all through lockdown and we are really pleased with the difference it has made.
Mrs L. Arnold SENCO, Maths Teacher & Designated Teacher for Looked After Children Ingleby Manor School
CONTACT US
ADDRESS
The Skills Academy Marsh House Avenue Billingham Stockton-on-Tees TS23 3ET
You can find us off Marsh House Avenue in Billingham, near Bede Sixth Form College.
CONTACT
Tel: 01642 607 464 Email: tracey.laycock@stockton.ac.uk
www.stockton.ac.uk/skills-academy
FOLLOW US
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BEDE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE
RIEVAULX AVENUE
WOLVISTON ROAD
A19 N MARSH HOUSE AVENUE
Did you know?
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We have made a pledge to reduce our carbon footprint, improve sustainability, increase recycling and cut back on our general waste. That’s why, when you have finished with this guide we are asking you to pass it on to a friend or family member, recycle it, or return it to us at the freepost address below. Thank you!
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